In the Media
Oklahoma County jail beyond saving, commissioner says after tour
County Commissioner Brian Maughan's annual tour of the troubled Oklahoma County Detention Center left him pleased to see improvements, but reinforced his insistence that the jail is beyond saving.
Oklahoma County voters urged to vote for sales tax for new jail campus
Oklahoma County voters will decide whether to keep the old jail downtown or finance a national "showcase" criminal justice campus, at 1901 E Grand in the county sales tax election on Nov. 3.
Tricia Everest, state secretary of public safety, used "showcase" at a forum presented by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Petroleum Club downtown.
Listen to Vicki Behenna, Oklahoma County DA, discuss the current jail
Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna talks about the flaws of the current county jail, and why a new facility is needed.
Should tax hike for Oklahoma County jail be OK'd? Our take | Editorial
Oklahoma County voters are being asked on the Nov. 3 general election whether they approve a 0.4-cent sales tax for the next 25 years to finish construction of a new jail.
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Past Articles
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October 5, 2026 – Sales tax could determine future of Oklahoma County jail and behavioral health center KOCO-TV
October 1, 2026 – Oklahoma County leaders seek support for sales tax to fund new jail KOCO-TV
August 12, 2026 – OK County commissioners call for sales tax election to finish, run new jail The Oklahoman
August 12, 2026 – Game on: Oklahoma County commissioners set jail sales tax vote for Nov. 3 ballot NonDoc
August 12, 2026 – Oklahoma County commissioners back 0.40% sales tax to fund new jail, operations FOX25-TV
August 12, 2026 – Sales tax proposal to fund new county jail will be on November 3rd ballot KOCO-TV
August 12, 2026 – Oklahoma County voters to decide on permanent sales tax for new jail KWTV
August 12, 2026 – Oklahoma County voters to weigh 25-year sales tax for new jail funding in November KOCO-TV
August 6, 2026 – Citizens board pushes for county sales tax election to fund new jailThe Oklahoman
August 5, 2026 – Oklahoma County settles oil rights at new jail siteThe Oklahoman
August 4, 2026 – Oklahoma County may ask voters for more money for new jail after board recommendation KOKH-TV
August 4, 2026 – Proposal for new Oklahoma County jail sales tax moves forward to commissioners KFOR-TV
August 4, 2026 – Oklahoma County jail plan advances with proposed sales tax and $600 million funding push KOCO-TV
July 25, 2026 – Official: Despite troubles, spending mostly on track at new jail site The Oklahoman
July 17, 2026 – If OK County can't fix jail crisis, it risks federal takeover | Opinion The Oklahoman
July 8, 2026 – Oklahoma County jail project gets $55,000 more; commissioner says voters may fill gap FOX25-TV
July 7, 2026 – Groundwater issue under new jail kitchen triggers $50,000-plus design change FOX25-TV
July 3, 2026 – OK County taxpayers will foot bill for jail humanitarian crisis | Opinion The Oklahoman
July 1, 2026 – County jail is failing on basic requirements. Let's start there | EditorialThe Oklahoman
June 29, 2026 – Board in dark as county seeks pay for swapping jail site's oily soilThe Oklahoman
June 25, 2026 – Latest county jail sales tax proposal fails on lack of commissioners' supportThe Oklahoman
June 24, 2026 – Another Oklahoma County Jail sales tax proposal flopsNonDoc
June 24, 2026 – Proposed half-cent sales tax for public safety fails to advance without secondFox25-TV
June 23, 2026 – Oklahoma County to weigh another jail sales tax proposal despite doubtsThe Oklahoman
June 1, 2026 – Waste Watch: Oklahoma County approves $70,000 for new jail site testingFox25-TV
March 23, 2026 – Leadership shake-up in Oklahoma County commissioners clouds certainty of future jail decisionsKOCO-TV
March 19, 2026 – Midwest City Mayor and Oklahoma County leaders oppose jail sales tax proposa lKWTV
March 9, 2026 – Exclusive hard hat tour: Inside Oklahoma County’s new Behavioral Care CenterKWTV
February 26, 2026 – Taxing vapes and marijuana? A new approach to funding a new Oklahoma County JailKWTV
February 11, 2026 - Rev. Scobey aims to resurrect Commissioner Lowe's jail tax planThe Oklahoman
February 10, 2026 - Oklahoma County Jail Trust supports push for eventual sales taxKWTV
January 22, 2026 - Commissioner's Oklahoma County jail sales tax plan fails without a voteThe Oklahoman
January 21, 2026 - Lowe’s county jail sales tax proposal stalls as Davidson, Maughan hold out NonDoc
January 18, 2026 - Oklahoma Chronicle: Should the sheriff's office take over the Oklahoma County Jail?KOCO-TV
January 14, 2026 - Details of 2 OK County sales tax plans for the new jail, public safetyThe Oklahoman
January 13, 2026 -Oklahoma County Jail may return to sheriff amid overcrowding, death concernsKOKH-TV
January 13, 2026 -Oklahoma County May Have a New Plan to Pay for a Long-Needed Jail - and Keep It RunningKWTV
January 13, 2026 -OK county commissioner wants to disband jail trust; sales tax floatedThe Oklahoman
January 12, 2026 - County officials considering 2nd jail trust to run Behavioral Care CenterThe Oklahoman
January 12, 2026 - Oklahoma County commissioner proposes sales tax to fund new jailKOCO TV
January 5, 2026 – Second: Help solve the jail crisis, City of OKC (Commentary)NonDoc
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December 31, 2025 - OK County backs jail center operator in state mental health agency bid The Oklahoman
December 30, 2025 - As price tag climbs and stages pondered, 2026 could be do or die for Oklahoma County Jail project NonDoc
December 14, 2025 - County commissioners in negotiations with CREOKS Behavioral Health Services as new mental health provider KWTV
December 8, 2025 - OK County picks Tulsa nonprofit to run jail Behavioral Care Center The Oklahoman
December 4, 2025 - Commissioner explains why the OK County jail price has risen so much | Opinion The Oklahoman
December 3, 2025 - What will it cost to build Oklahoma County’s new jail? KWTV
December 2, 2025 – Price tag for new OK County jail soars past $800 million The Oklahoman
November 1, 2025 – A nonprofit will run OK County's new jail-related behavioral care center. Which of three?The Oklahoman
October 31, 2025 – Cutbacks cursed the OK County jail from the start. Will new one have everything it needs? The Oklahoman
October 31, 2025 – Construction crew brings in steel at new Oklahoma County jail site The Oklahoman
September 16, 2025 – County Commissioners warned about contaminated soil …KFOR TV
August 20, 2025 – Plans for new Oklahoma County Jail moving forward …KFOR TV
August 15, 2025 – New Oklahoma County Jail funding package could go before voters in April NonDoc
August 11, 2025– Flash Point: The status and future of the Oklahoma …KFOR TV
May 14, 2025 – Oklahoma County jail trust lumbers on despite leadership vacuum The Oklahoman
April 30, 2025 – Oklahoma County jail trust Chairman Joe Allbaugh resigns The Oklahoman
April 16, 2025 -- New commissioner tours OK County jail, trustee believes …KFOR TV
April 4, 2025 -- See plans for Oklahoma County's new jail The Oklahoman
February 10, 2025 -- Oklahoma County tries to stop jail expenses from continuing to grow KOSU
January 31, 2025 -- Officials break ground on new behavioral care center …KFOR TV
January 1, 2025 – What happens next for the new Oklahoma County jail site? KOCO TV
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December 31, 2024 -- $40 million deadline met for new mental health facility KFOR TV
December 31, 2024 -- Opponents rail against OK County commissioners, but the new county jail will move forward The Oklahoman
October 26, 2024 -- Could a hefty loan help fill budget shortfall for new Oklahoma County jail? The Oklahoman
September 6, 2024 -- Oklahoma County sales tax proposed to help fund jail KOSU
September 5, 2024 -- Oklahoma County wants a cease-fire in court fight with city over proposed jail location The Oklahoman
September 4, 2024 -- Could Oklahoma County implement a sales tax to help pay for new jail? The Oklahoman
August 2, 2024 -- Oklahoma County officials move forward with Behavioral Care Center construction KOSU
June 23, 2024 -- Schematic designs for new county jail aim to reduce criminal justice needs, designer says The Oklahoman
June 18, 2024 -- An inside look at the plan for a new Oklahoma County … KFOR TV
April 24, 2024 -- OK County hundreds of millions short of what's needed to build new jail The Oklahoman
February 29, 2024 -- Oklahoma County Jail design is one step closer to … KFOR TV
February 21, 2024 -- Oklahoma County commissioners choose Grand Boulevard land as jail's new home The Oklahoman
January 3, 2024 -- Oklahoma County hires contractor to build new jail; considers new sites The Oklahoman
September 27, 2023 -- Where will the new Oklahoma County jail be built? Committee narrows list of locations to four The Oklahoman
July 28, 2023 – Group goes to Nashville to get idea of what new Oklahoma County jail could look like KOCO TV
July 27, 2023 -- Oklahoma County agrees to pay HOK $23 million to design new jail, mental health facility The Oklahoman
June 28, 2022 -- Voters approve Oklahoma County jail's $260 million bond package in primary election The Oklahoman