Oklahoma DOC seeks $1.6B as inmate population soars

[TexasTowelie]

Since 2010, more than 30 states have seen a decrease in prison populations. Oklahoma is trending in the other direction, and it doesn't have the cell space to keep up.

"If Oklahoma truly wants to incarcerate that many people, (Oklahomans) will end up having to pay for it," former Oklahoma House Speaker Kris Steele said.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections communications director Terri Watkins said she expects the state's prison population to grow 25 percent over the next 10 years.

To combat the rising tide, DOC is pushing to appropriate more than $1.6 billion for fiscal year 2018, including $850 million for two new medium-security facilities.

Read more: http://www.swtimes.com/news/20170126/oklahoma-doc-seeks-16b-as-inmate-population-soars