Mid-Del community questions if possible jail location would violate the law
OKLAHOMA COUNTY (KFOR) - Oklahoma County Commissioners have narrowed down the list of possible jail sites to just one location.
The property at 1901 East Grand Boulevard in southeast Oklahoma City is the current frontrunner, and the Mid-Del community is not happy about it.
There’s been a lot of talk at the meetings about the jail location being in violation of the Sex Offender's Registration Act. However, county officials say in this case, it would not apply.
There are five schools located under a mile near the site at East Grand and 15th Street. One of the schools is just 500 feet away, and another is just a half a mile down the road.
Mid-Del community members fear sex offenders who are released from jail would not only put children at risk, but be violating the Sex Offender’s Registration Act.
“Currently, if you're a registered sex offender, you have to reside at least 2,000 feet away from any school, playground or childcare center,” said Ed Blau, legal expert.
The Sex Offender’s Registration Act is something that’s been brought up frequently at the Oklahoma County Commissioner's meetings.
They question, what happens when sex offenders are released? They’re close to schools and parks that are located under 2,000 feet from the property.
“You now have this new information that it’s illegal to build a jail at 1901 East Grand. This will open the county up to a taxpayer lawsuit for wasting taxpayer dollars and purchasing unnecessary land in an illegal location. The Oklahoma Sexual Predator Act does not allow an exemption for a county jail to house sexual predators after its passage. The current jail location is grandfathered in,” said Michael Dean, Del City Ward 1 Council member.
However, Oklahoma County Commissioners say this law would not apply to the jail.
“I mean, certainly we're considerate to how it impacts any area of the community that we bring the jail ultimately to. But I don't think there's a law, in my view, that restricts us. I think that that's applying to someone's residence,” said Brian Maughan, Oklahoma County Commissioner.
Oklahoma legal expert, Ed Blau is backing those claims.
“Having a jail within 2,000 feet of a school playground won't violate the law. The inmates there aren't residing there for purposes of the law. It's not voluntary. They are being held there against their will. Also, they are locked up. They cannot leave,” said Blau.
Blau adds sex offenders would not simply be violating the law once released from the jail.
“Anytime you have a jail, people are going to be coming and going. Both incarcerated and being released. You cannot prevent everybody from coming within a certain distance of every prohibited spot. However, the law says that individuals who are convicted of sexual abuse of kids under 13 can't loiter within 500 feet of a school playground, etc. As long as when the inmates get out, they get to where they're going, no laws are violated,” said Blau.
At the end of the day, the Mid-Del community fears for the safety of their children.
“We will not rest until this jail is at least one to five miles from a public or private school. We will not rest if this is near Midwest City or Del City. We will not stand as our children are being sacrificed,” said Malana Bracht, representing Midwest City Moms.
While the Board of County Commissioners of Oklahoma County told KFOR the current jail location is not on their short list for consideration, it’s possible additional sites to evaluate could be added to their next agenda.