February 20, 2023 By News Director Jared Atha The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a fire weather watch for parts of Western Oklahoma tomorrow due to forecasted highs in the mid 70s, high winds, and. He listened to new music, read book after book and took part in educational programs. There has been one staffing emergency the past six months that has since been resolved, agency spokesman Justin Wolf said. Krabbenhoft said the goal is to build a new, women-centric facility near the Heart River Correctional Center near Mandan. Part II. They were able to send me videos, and I watched them over and over and over again. CCA, a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT), is the nations largest owner of partnership correctional, detention, and residential reentry facilities and one of the largest prison operators in the United States. Rep. Jon Nelson, R-Rugby, said he thinks funding for a new prison has a good chance of passing. North Fork Correctional Center Oklahoma Department of Corrections: . This is a big reunion of anyone who attended. These services are intended to help reduce recidivism and to prepare offenders for their successful reentry into society upon their release. As the incidents pile up, Cleveland worries that the states prison system is becoming increasingly vulnerable. We have the addiction counselors, were able to provide the services, Juntunen said. February 1, 2023 Washita Co. Election Board Press Release Early voting begins Thursday February 9th 2023 for voters in Washita County. The lease agreement commences on July 1, 2016, and includes a five-year base term with unlimited two-year renewal options. They're all committed to the mission. Thompson quit after five months to work on a friends cattle ranch, a job that offered a shorter commute and better work-life balance. This never would have happened if they had enough people.. Residents around the locations are invited to. If you take into consideration the people that work there, they're also buying stuff in town, paying taxes and everything else. 5:01 AM EDT, Sun June 13, 2021. We own or control 73 correctional, detention and reentry facilities, with a design capacity of approximately 75,000 beds, and manage 11 additional facilities owned by our government partners with a total design capacity of approximately 14,000 beds, in 20 states and the District of Columbia. For Baldwin, who was incarcerated for 26 years, getting the tablet defined the moment he decided to change his life, he says. What was described as an. On September 26, 2019, Micah Wascher pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the original indictment alleging possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This tablet is one of the things that will prove whether or not were serious or faking about wanting to rehabilitate our nations prisoners, Baldwin said. The prison does still have 106 inmates in quarantine and 65 in isolation, according to the departments website. Box 16545 Atlanta, GA 30321-0545 Alternatively you can send money to inmates located at Davis, Cimarron, and North Fork Correctional through Western Union. Nashville, TN 37215, Fax (for employment verification only): The Court also imposed a term of 5 years supervised release for Micah Wascher and a term of 2 years supervised release for Travis Wascher. According to Wolf, no corrections department data shows a link between low staffing and increased assaults. On April 23, 2000, a riot broke out at the North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, Oklahoma, a private prison owned by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). Also included in House Bill 1015, the funding proposal is headed for House Appropriations approval before being heard on the House floor. If you would like to contact a facility, visit our Contact page. They make a mistake and the next thing they want to do is discipline. Follow him on Twitter at @_KeatonRoss. CCA takes no responsibility for updating the information contained in this press release following the date hereof to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or the occurrence of unanticipated events or for any changes or modifications made to this press release or the information contained herein by any third-parties, including, but not limited to, any wire or internet services. If a facility is particularly short on corrections officers, he said officials will restrict prisoner movement until more staff can come in. Michael Baldwin, a former inmate at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility in Corcoran, California, is one of over 300,000 incarcerated individuals across the United States who have used a Securus tablet. Its pretty neat, I have never seen one. The tablets represent a critical update to the communications and technology services we offer inmates here at the department of corrections, ODOC spokesman Justin Wolf told CNN. February 17, 2023 Press Release Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) will hold town hall meetings in Harmon, Greer, Beckham, Custer, and Washita Counties on Tuesday, February 21st and Wednesday, February 22nd. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections has locked down all correctional facilities in the state after an assault at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre. North Fork Correctional Facility - CCA Inmate Search and Prison Information Updated on: September 4, 2022 Public Records Online Search Criminal Records and Contact Info aggregated from real law enforcement agencies and government court houses. CoreCivic expanded the facility in 2007 by 1080 beds. Seven inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 have died. But as inflationrisesand service industry employersboostwages to attract and retain workers, the starting wage for corrections officers has become less competitive. Some of the women are in and out of the State Hospital in Jamestown and land back at Dakota Womens, where theyre not equipped to deal with serious mental illness. North Texas law enforcement officials are searching for a teen who escaped from guards in Ellis County Wednesday. But unlike the earlier plan to be transferred to a revamped, existing prison facility, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation hopes to build one specifically for women. All six victims were transported to a nearby hospital and treated for non-life threatening lacerations. Maxwell was serving a 200 year sentence for lewd and indecent proposals. "We saw mass fighting all over the yard." Sixteen inmates were taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries, according to a statement released about 8 p.m. by the . And the program will expand to include all state prisoners by October 2021. Published Three staff members have died after testing positive for the virus, according to the DOC website. According to Cleveland, $8 million is enough to raise the starting wage for corrections officers to at least $17 an hour, which could attract more young people to a career in corrections. Three inmates escape Athens County correctional facility, one apprehended. Weeks after being hired on and graduating from the agencys training academy, he said he was tasked with overseeing entire housing units on his own. "Providing flexible and innovative solutions to meet the needs of our partners is at the core of CCA's value proposition and this lease arrangement allows the state of Oklahoma to avoid making a significant capital investment for new bed capacity, illustrating the taxpayer benefits realized through public-private partnerships.". February 28, 2023 By News Director Jared Atha More details are emerging regarding the extent of the damage caused by the tornado that struck Cheyenne Sunday night. Thompson said he took pride in protecting the public from some of the states most notorious prisoners, many of whom are serving out life sentences or facing capital punishment. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, One guard received 12 stitches to the head and spent six days in the hospital after seven prisoners allegedly beat and kicked him. To download a photo of U.S. Attorney Downing, click here. Krabbenhoft said hes committed to seeing that the facility in New England and the people who work there remain relevant to DOCR. The hourly wage increases to $16.52 after six months of employment and $17.35 after 18 months. The company said it is working with California officials to "identify all active participants, who may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action and/or criminal prosecution.". And video chats, limited to inbound chats, will cost inmates 75 cents per message, according to Securus. This case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. North Fork is close to a century newer than the state reformatory and offers better medical facilities. Inmates were involved in fights at various locations throughout the 2,500-bed, medium-security prison, said Lt. Ralph Jackson of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Hours for MCI-Norfolk. They have access to 24-hour nursing care and to addiction counselors. MCI-Norfolk (MCI-N) is the largest medium security level facility in Massachusetts, housing criminally sentenced males. I actually blew a tire on the side of the road one time almost falling asleep, Thompson said, citing extreme fatigue after working a 12-hour shift. In 2018, 52% of positions at the facility were vacant. February 21, 2023 By News Director Jared Atha Elk Citys latest water line replacement project is about to begin. In late 2018, Ms. Wascher began smuggling methamphetamine and contraband cell phones into the prison at the direction of UAB members in exchange for money and narcotics for her personal use. The prevalence of mental illness in the facility population has grown, Juntunen said. A K9 officer alerted to something underneath the bottom bunk, where authorities would find, among other things, illegal contraband that allegedly included marijuana, methamphetamine, and two vials of THC. As of June 17, the agency had funding to fill 314 vacant correctional officer positions. The corrections department spent $19.4 million on overtime pay in fiscal year2020, up 46% from fiscal year2017. A team of California prison officials has been dispatched to Oklahoma to investigate the fighting, Jackson said. Inmates at the North Fork Correctional Center learn to use their tablets. A list of factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in the filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release contains statements as to our beliefs and expectations of the outcome of future events that are forward-looking statements as defined within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Please review the rules and regulations for State - mediumfacility. Inmate Stephen Maxwell, 54, has died after being found unresponsive in his jail cell at the North Fork Correctional Facility on Thursday, the . John Wetzel, Pennsylvanias secretary of corrections, toldCBS Newsthat the agency has also made mental health counselors available at facilities. It was like, Oh my God. It really bought me life, he said. The Waschers were, at the time of the offenses, Correctional Officers at the North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, Oklahoma. DOC shows off North Fork Correction Center By tulsaworld.com- Graham Brewer: Published: 06/24/2016: SAYRE Warden Tracy McCollum walked into a quiet cell block at the North Fork Correctional Center on Thursday, a group of reporters carrying cameras and tripods following closely behind, and looked around at the dozens of open cell doors in the two-story pod. All rights reserved. CCA specializes in owning, operating and managing prisons and other correctional facilities and providing residential, community reentry and prisoner transportation services for governmental agencies. Planning is underway for the Elk City High School reunion of all classes through the school year of 2003. In addition to providing fundamental residential services, our facilities offer a variety of rehabilitation and educational programs, including basic education, faith-based services, life skills and employment training and substance abuse treatment. OKLAHOMA CITY MICAH LYNNE WASCHER, 37, and TRAVIS EUGENE WASCHER, 43, both of Canute, Oklahoma, were sentenced earlier today for their roles in distributing methamphetamine for incarcerated leaders of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood (UAB), announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Many features, including the phone and messaging service, will slowly roll out through the year as the inmates become accustomed to their tablets. Manning said he wasnt scared to work alone but would have felt better having another officer to back him up. Inmate Found Unresponsive In Cell At North Fork Correctional. I saw first hand dudes that would normally feel disrespected, and immediately fight, walk from a situation because they didnt want to be disconnected from their tablet, he said. The New England facility is contracted for 55 full-time staff members who drive in from all over southwestern North Dakota. Boggess, now working as a dispatcher for the Noble Police Department, said a good start for corrections officials would be to address employee mental health and recognize the consequences of long overtime hours. Krabbenhoft said there are approximately 400 children who are offspring of the women currently in DOCR facilities, and most were primary caregivers to those children before being incarcerated. Oklahoma is facing a significant shortage of corrections officers, anongoingproblem advocates warn is causing widespread burnout among existing workers and is putting everyone who lives and works in state prisons at risk. The facility has operated with as few as 20 correctional officers supervising more than 2,500 prisoners . The two cellmates who occupied the cell, 49-year-old Richard A. Barrett and 35-year-old Jack D. Glaspie, both of Lawton were both charged with trafficking in illegal drugs and two counts of possession of contraband. The new womens facility would offer inmates a better chance at rehabilitation and better opportunities to reconnect with their children before they get out. February 2, 2023 By News Director Jared Atha Slick roads may be to blame for a 6 vehicle pile up accident on Interstate 40 in Custer County that claimed the life of a Georgia man. Upon commencement of the lease of the North Fork facility, CCA will lease seven correctional and residential reentry facilities to third party operators, containing 5,765 beds in four states. The number of incarcerated women in North Dakota has risen steadily over the 20 years the facility in New England has been open. California has a prison population of about 164,000 people, but its corrections facilities are only equipped to house around 100,000. Sometimes, those women are put into the special management unit, or cells meant for disciplinary segregation, not for someone suffering from a mental health episode. For updated visitation schedules due to the coronavirus pandemic, click here . It inspired me to do everything in my power to be free again.. North Fork is one of several prisons where gangs launched coordinated attacks last year prompting the Department of Corrections to order a statewide lockdown that lasted for months. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The corrections department is aware of low staff morale at certain facilities, Wolf said. Just like anything in a small community this size, its people coming in and out your door, and that's what it's about, he said. As more Oklahomansmoveto metropolitan areas, the number of people living near state prisons is steadily declining. Meth Found Inside North Fork Correctional February 15, 2022 Featured Slider, News February 15, 2022 By News Director Jared Atha Details have been released of the findings of contraband inside a cell at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre that landed two inmates additional felony charges. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. The co-workers at this facility are really great. At this point, it is not clear why he was moved. "It's got the support of almost everybody on the committee and to a person, everyone agrees that we need to do something with the women inmates," Nelson said. And because of how short-staffed and the hours they work, it ruins relationships., Keaton Ross is a Report for America corps member who covers prison conditions and criminal justice issues for Oklahoma Watch. The North Fork Correctional Facility is a 2,500 inmate medium security facility located near Sayre in Beckham County. The way you get people is they start talking to their friends and saying hey, you ought to come work for DOC, they really treat you nice, Cleveland said. Do you have a story idea for the News & Eagle? Burgum hopes North Dakota legislators will approve funding for a new women's correctional facility to be built in Mandan Residents of the Dakota Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation. While locking down a prison can be a temporary solution to a sudden staff shortage, expertswarnthat extended lockdown periods can worsen mental and physical health among prisoner populations. Two NFCC Inmates Charged With Murder February 2, 2021 News February 2, 2021 By News Director Jared Atha Two inmates housed in the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre have been charged with murder in the first degree - deliberate intent after allegedly stabbing a fellow inmate. February 1, 2023 Washita Co. Election Board Press Release Voters in Washita County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the March 7th 2023 Statewide Special Proposition Election SQ 820 should apply now, County Election, Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.3; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/103.0.0.0 Safari/537.36, Elk City Farming Family Given Conservation Award, Cheyenne Tornado: Five Homes Determined to be Total Loss, Moore, others, Rebuke State Superintendents Statement Regarding State Colleges, Severe Weather, Tornadoes Strike Western Oklahoma, Lucas Comments on Oklahoma Air & Space Port, Elk City Burglary Suspect Caught in Arkansas, Early Voting For March 7 Election Approaching, Lucas Holds Town Hall Meeting in Elk City, Elk City Man Accused of Possessing Child Porn, Major Water Line Replacement Project Underway in Elk City, Health Department Deploys Mobile Wellness Unit in Southwest Oklahoma, Elk City Crews Contain Small Grass Fire Fire Conditions Return, Fire Weather Watch for Western Oklahoma on Tuesday, Former Deputy Arrested for Soliciting a Minor, Congressman Lucas Announces February Town Hall Meetings in Southwest Oklahoma, Active Shooter Training Planned in Weatherford, Rep. Moore Reacts to House Education Budget Plan, SWOSU and Rose State College Sign Transfer Partnership, Plans Underway For the 2023 ECHS Alumni Reunion, Elk City Transportation Bond Issue Passes, Municipal Elections Form in Western Oklahoma, Elk City Commissioners To Discuss Structures, Pioneer Cellular Discontinuing Cell Service, UPDATE: Details Released of Man Impersonating Federal Agent, Weatherford Man Receive Felony Charge After Allegedly Stealing Trailer, City of Clinton Exploring Trash Disposal Options, Weatherford Man In Critical Condition After Two Vehicle Wreck Near Taloga, February Sales Tax Report Shows Positive Numbers For Area Cities, Elk City Commission Moves Forward with Architect for Possible Renovation Projects, Hutchs C-Store Employees and Customers Give Back, Former Western Oklahoma State Rep. Watched them over and over again to new music, read book after book and took part educational. 21, 2023 Washita Co. 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