Oklahoma Prisoners Extorting Tens of Thousands From Inmate Families
Pay or your son dies.
Imagine the threat — the agony of a text message such as that. Then compound it by considering that your son is locked in with the extortionist, who might only rape, stab or batter your child instead of killing him. And that the nightmare is likely to continue for a decade or more.
That’s the predicament Ruby Topalian describes today in her story about Oklahoma prison extortion, a tale of prisoners blackmailing families of fellow inmates. They do it using contraband cell phones, which the Department of Corrections can’t completely thwart; affordable technology is marginally effective and the good systems are cost-prohibitive.
Ruby interviewed dozens for the story and reviewed hundreds of records. What she found were families that have paid tens of thousands of dollars over a span of years, some to the point that their retirement plans and personal finances are in tatters.
It will take about 11 minutes to read the story. It’s worth it.
More worth reading:
Financial Issues Could Force State Park Closures
The Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation faces the possibility of state park closures or service reductions after the Legislature only delivered a tenth of the funds needed for maintenance and repairs. [Tulsa World]
Judge Faces Removal on Morality Grounds
Brian Lovell, a Garfield County associate district judge, is accused of affairs with two female bailiffs. The Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary is being asked to remove the married judge for offenses involving moral turpitude and other grounds. Lovell also is facing criminal charges in Texas and Oklahoma over drive-by shootings. [The Oklahoman]
Timeline on OSDE Investigation
If you’re not up to speed on why the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency is investigating the Oklahoma State Department of Education, check out News 9’s timeline. [KWTV]
Watonga Officer Won’t Face Charges
The Blaine County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file criminal charges against a Watonga police officer investigated for his use of force on a man walking with his son in July. The body cam video recording was widely viewed on social media. [KOCO]
People Are Renting Everything
Jami Jackson-Cole, an elementary-school teacher in Oklahoma, started renting her work outfits last year from Nuuly. The company, which is owned by Urban Outfitters, mails her six items each month for about $100, then another six after she mails those back. [WSJ]
On this day in 1986, postal worker Patrick Sherrill shot 14 fellow workers dead in Edmond.
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
