The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is under fire once again from a legislator who is proposing the agency’s name be changed to the Department of Corruption.
Rep. Justin Humphrey, a Republican from Lane, filed House Bill 1310, which would also change the agency director’s title to “Director of the Department of Corruption” and the name of the agency board to the “State Board of Corruption.” He said he’s bringing more attention to problems he and others have raised about the Corrections Department.
Specific problems Humphrey mentioned include a $90,000 raise for agency Director Steven Harpe, proper approval of a new department headquarters, the number of correctional officers in the state’s prisons, how the department handles open records requests and alleged civil rights violations at several prisons.
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Humphrey said he won’t fully pursue the bill, but the goal was to renew attention on problems, and he said people need to know what’s actually going on.
Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, filed a bill that would change the name of the state corrections department to the Department of Corruption.
“All I’m doing with that bill is calling out that Steven Harpe is one of the most corrupt individuals that I believe I’ve witnessed in all of my 35 years’ experience in state government,” he told The Oklahoman.
The Corrections Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the legislation.
Rep. Justin Humphrey a frequent critic of Oklahoma Department of Corrections
Humphrey has been a strong critic of the department and has called for outside investigations. He also invited many former employees and family members of incarcerated people to speak during House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee meetings last year.
During the last legislative session, former employees told legislators a culture of fear exists within the department, and inmates’ family members say it’s hard to get answers from the department.
Last fall, the department issued three news statements about improvements and changes in correctional facilities. One statement pointed to progress reducing inmate-on-inmate assaults that led to serious injury. The agency cited reforms such as managing population in a strategic way, stricter enforcement policies and enhanced technology.
Overall, the department saw a 14% reduction of such incidents from October 2023 to May 2024.
One facility that made significant improvements was the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton, which saw an overall reduction of 44% violent incidents between inmates from July to September.
The department also announced it is being guided by a new mission statement: “To build a stronger Oklahoma by transforming lives in a safe, rehabilitative, and compassionate environment.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma DOC would be renamed Department of Corruption under new bill