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Oklahoma County Commissioners select site in southeast OKC for new county jail

The Oklahoma County Detention Center in west downtown Oklahoma City, Okla.
Ryan LaCroix
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KOSU
The Oklahoma County Detention Center in west downtown Oklahoma City, Okla.

Oklahoma County commissioners voted Wednesday to locate the new county jail in southeast Oklahoma City.

Commissioners selected the site at 1901 East Grand Blvd, a location that's drawn push back from residents and elected officials from that area.

Commissioners have selected this site located at 1901 East Grand Boulevard.
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Commissioners have selected this site located at 1901 East Grand Boulevard.

Del City leaders say they plan to fight back against the commissioners' decision to locate the jail near their city. The city is seeking legal advice from outside attorneys.

Nine potential locations were under discussion at yesterday's meeting, including a site on Oklahoma City's northeast side.

That site at NE 23rd and Coltrane was removed from consideration, following an early morning march by state and local elected officials and concerned citizens.

Rapper and community organizer Jabee Williams was among the marchers.

"It was important for a bunch of reasons. The main reason to show how serious we are about not having a jail on the east side," Williams said. "Also to show how long it takes for people to get from - if a jail’s over there - all the services that are down here. You know what I’m saying? It’s a two and a half hour walk."

The next step in the process is that OKC City Council has to rezone the East Grand property.

Commissioners have been discussing potential jail sites for several months, and faced a deadline in order to use federal funds to build the new jail.

The current jail in downtown Oklahoma City opened in 1992, and has been cited for numerous health and safety violations by state and federal authorities.

Logan Layden is a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma.
Deborah is local host/reporter for NPR’s All Things Considered afternoon news program on KGOU, joining the station in March 2023.
Nyk Daniels is KGOU’s Morning Edition host.
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