Oklahoma County Moves Forward with Phased Jail Project Despite Major Funding Shortfall

Oklahoma County commissioners are preparing to begin construction on a long-planned new jail, despite a massive funding shortfall that leaves hundreds of millions of dollars unaccounted for. Their solution: a phased construction strategy, starting with a new intake center.

Commissioners say the intake facility, which is projected to cost roughly $220 million, will be funded through the $260 million bond package voters approved in 2022. It will serve as the first phase of the broader jail replacement project, with additional phases to be pursued once new funding is secured.

"That intake will allow us to treat individuals more humanely when they come in through the process, do diversion services right there in the front before they even go through the process and allow us to treat individuals who are going through a mental health crisis," said County Commissioner Myles Davidson.

Construction is already underway on a nearby behavioral health center on East Grand Boulevard, which is expected to complement the new jail’s mission of addressing mental health and substance use challenges among detainees.

The planned intake center would include close to 400 holding cells for individuals awaiting bond and would act as a connecting point between the current facility and the future jail.

"If we’re able to keep those locally out of the jail, or half of them, and keep them out of the downtown facility and keep them from going into a highly insufficient building, this will allow us to serve them better as individuals," Davidson explained.

While the intake center is fully funded, completing the full jail project is expected to require approximately $400 million more. That means county officials will have to return to voters to request additional financial support.

"We’re going to have to come to the voters in the spring. We’re putting that package together. It's exactly how that will look. I think it’ll be a multitude of things the voters will be focused on, and there are multiple things we need to do," Davidson said.

The bond election for the remaining funding could be scheduled for as early as April or May 2026. If all goes as planned, construction on the intake center could begin as soon as this fall.

This phased approach comes after months of uncertainty surrounding both the project’s location and cost, including a rejected proposal to swap land with a local school district.

While the commissioners’ current strategy is seen as a practical way to move forward, it also raises questions about whether voters will be willing to approve additional funding amid ongoing concerns about transparency and planning.

Originally reported by Meghan Mosley in Koco News 5.