MUSKOGEE, Okla. -- Muskogee County Sheriff Rob Frazier met with judges and attorneys on Thursday to find a solution for his overcrowded jail.
The sheriff told 2 Works For You the jail is 90 inmates over capacity.
“I’m just waiting on a bond. Hopefully, we’ll get the ball rolling. I’ve got court in three weeks. I know what to do to get out,” said Shane Meneley, an inmate in the Muskogee County Jail.
Meneley said he has been in the jail for seven months after missing a court hearing.
“Just sitting in here we’re not making no money. We’re not helping. Our families are doing without trying to help us,” said Meneley.
Sheriff Frazier came up with a plan to fix his overcrowding issue.
“We’re not lessening the crime at all. We’re just trying to speed the process up and hopefully, that gives us a little relief here at the jail,” said Frazier.
The sheriff said it costs $40 to house an inmate each day.
With 90 extra inmates, the sheriff’s office is footing an extra $3,600 per day.
“Here in Muskogee County, we’re working hard trying to get the inmates in and our. We don’t just house them because we want to house them. We want them in, we want them out to be productive citizens. We don’t want them here. We want them to get their trials over with and give them another chance and get them out,” said Frazier.
At Thursday’s meeting with judges and attorneys, Sheriff Frazier brought a stack of letters written by inmates asking for help.
The sheriff said he wants to make sure inmates are getting a chance to ask for a bond reduction, take a guilty plea or move forward with their case.
Frazier said if his plan works, this could become a model for other counties and agencies to try out.
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