Oklahoma County jail touts big improvements as budget woes continue

Officials with the Oklahoma County Detention Center said the jail is turning a corner after making big improvements, even as they face a major budget shortfall.

>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter

Sign up for our Newsletters

Tim Kimrey, the current jail administrator, said there have been several operational improvements under his stewardship, but KOCO 5 reached out to the jail trust’s chairman to see how true the claims are.

“I’ve been in a lot of the meetings. Those weren’t done in one swoop. They were done over the last six months,” said Jim Holman.

Kimrey took over the role back in September 2025 and said that since then, jail deaths have dropped to an all-time low since the creation of the jail trust.

“It’s nice to be able to say something like that, but you wanna be careful you don’t gloss over it, as though a death isn’t significant. We’re talking about a life,” Holman said.

The only death reported in 2026 was 22-year-old Jeremiah Coffey, who was found unresponsive in his cell and later pronounced dead. The last inmate death before that was in July 2025.

In comparison, there were seven deaths in just the first half of 2025.

Officials also said drug overdoses are down more than 65 percent.

“Cell searches, we’ve stepped them way up, the contraband being confiscated is at an all-time high, and that one prevents the other,” Holman said.

Other changes include longer training at academies, a GED program, and a change in vendors to save money, which led to pay raises for some employees.

“From the business aspect, we found places we could save some money or better spend it, or a combination,” Holman said.

But even with those improvements, a new challenge is on the horizon.

The jail trust now warns of possible layoffs unless it can secure millions more in funding.

The trust has called an emergency meeting on Tuesday to ask the budget board for more money.

“A second agenda item will be if we don’t get that positive vote, then we have to talk about what we’re going to do in terms of layoffs, furloughs, a combination of both, or one of the other,” Holman said.

If they don’t get it, they risk having to lay off employees and could even turn to the National Guard or the Department of Justice to help operate the jail.

“And if the National Guard comes in, somebody has to pay for that. Because that’s not free,” Holman said.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday.

Top Headlines

• Multiple Homeland stores in OKC metro closing others statewide consolidating or up for sale
• VIDEO: Lightning strike captured lighting up woods outside of Pennsylvania home
• Secret Service agent assigned to Jill Biden accidentally shoots himself in leg at airport
• Iran-linked hackers breach FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal emails
• Savannah Guthrie to return to ‘Today’ as ‘part of my purpose’ in search for her mom

TOP STORIES FROM KOCO:

Special edition Stanley tumblers are selling out, but these are still in stock

READ THE FULL STORY:Oklahoma County jail touts big improvements as budget woes continue

CHECK OUT KOCO:Get the day’s top news, weather and sports from Oklahoma City and around the state. With the best in Oklahoma news, KOCO 5 News has you covered.

Berbagi :