Senate Leaders Deny Prison Closing Reports

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- On Friday, NEWS 9 reported that senate leadership was looking into closing three state prisons. Monday, leaders denied those reports even though NEWS 9 found growing evidence to the contrary.

Senate Majority Leader Anthony Sykes said there are no plans to close corrections facilities in Helena, Granite and Stringtown, even though a Department of Corrections e-mail stated otherwise.

Another senator who has one of those prisons in his district is still not convinced. Senate Leadership was quick to react to NEWS 9's report last week about the possible closing of three state prisons.

"Any talk of prison closing is based on speculation and on rumor and not based on any kind of fact," State Sen. Anthony Sykes said.

That response contradicts an internal department of corrections e-mail obtained by NEWS 9. It references an "ongoing review of possibly closing James Crabtree Correctional Center, Mack Alford Correctional Center and Oklahoma State Reformatory."

When Senator Sykes saw the e-mail he said DOC was absolutely wrong in this regard.

In a statement, Sykes blasted fellow Senator Tom Ivestor for speaking out against the reported plans. But Ivestor said that e-mail was not his only source of information. He points to a news release, put out by DOC Director Justin Jones. It uses the same wording as the inter-office e-mail.

"To me that's pretty clear when they've been asked by legislative leadership to look at the possibility of closing some state facilities," Ivestor said.

The Oklahoma State Reformatory is in Ivestor's district.

"It would be devastating for southwest Oklahoma to lose a $10 million payroll in southwest Oklahoma. That would be a huge hit," Sen. Ivestor said.

Ivestor said he's not prepared for that to happen.

Sen. Sykes has scheduled a meeting Tuesday with the DOC to discuss what Sykes calls "discrepancies" between the facts and the rumors.

Many believe state leaders are looking at opening more private prisons in Oklahoma. Both senators Ivestor and Sykes support private prisons, although Ivestor said no Oklahoman should lose their job because of them.