Governor's Veto Fails To Resolve Dispute Over Incarceration Costs

By Randy Ellis Staff Writer rellis@oklahoman.comOklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has vetoed a bill that would have eliminated financial consequences to counties for failing to properly notify the Department of Corrections within five days of a county jail inmate being sentenced to state prison. The veto puts Oklahoma sheriffs in the uncomfortable position of having to violate the Oklahoma constitution under circumstances over which they have no control, according to Ray McNair, executive director of the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association. It also leaves unresolved a funding dispute between county sheriffs and the state Department of Corrections that has been going on for years. The dispute centers on the payment of incarceration expenses between the time a county jail inmate is sentenced to state prison and the time the inmate is actually transferred to the state prison system. Under current Oklahoma law, it is generally the responsibility of the state Department of Corrections to pay for the housing and medical care costs of a county jail inmate from the date they are sentenced to the date of transfer and beyond. However, another clause in the law requires the county to provide the Department of Corrections with a copy of the judgment and sentence within five business days.Read more on NewsOK.com