Security Top Priority for Faith-Based Prison Plans

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

WAKITA, Oklahoma -- Security tops the list of concerns surrounding a faith-based prison that's planned for Oklahoma. Nearly two dozen state lawmakers, religious leaders and supporters met to discuss the costs and control of a prison that would be like none other in the state.

Many of them came out of the meeting, pleased at what they had just heard, but still wanting to know more.

“It's an interesting concept. We'll have to see more details on exactly how the prison will be set up,” said Rep Joe Dorman.

For nearly two hours, the group met to discuss the possibility of putting a faith-based prison in the city of Wakita. City leaders of the small town near the Kansas border say such a facility would help boost its economy. The man who came up with the idea said it's also a win for the state.

“It’s going to stop the cycle. It's going to stop the merry-go-round,” said Bill Robinson with Corrections Concepts, Inc.

Bill Robinson said his non-profit prison would house only those inmates who agree to Christian counseling and were within the last two years of their release date. The goal of the counseling is to reduce the state's rate of repeat offenders.

Inmates would also earn money to pay for some of the costs of their incarceration, which is something Senator Debbe Leftwich likes.

“And according to this model, when they get out, they have a nice sum of money to get them started somewhere,” said Sen. Leftwich.

But Leftwich and others say they need more details about how much oversight of the facility the state will have and what kind of security measures will be implemented.

Robinson and city leaders in Wakita say those and many more issues are being addressed, but in the meantime, they need more support, which was the point of Monday’s meeting.

By getting the support of lawmakers and community leaders, Robinson and city leaders hope they'll be able to gain the support of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and ultimately the governor.