Black Oklahoma City clergy, invited by new District 1 County Commissioner Jason Lowe, toured the long-troubled Oklahoma County Detention Center this week and said they saw “eye-opening” examples of “inhumane” conditions − and justification for building a new county jail.
Rev. Derrick Scobey, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church and a member of the county Criminal Justice Authority, which operates the present jail, called for a county sales tax to pay for the new one planned − and severely underfunded − at 1901 E Grand Blvd. County commissioners have been considering a sales tax.
“We hear the horror stories … and most of those are true,” said Rev. Dr. Lee E. Cooper, pastor of Prospect Church and president of Concerned Clergy for Spiritual Renewal…