Audit of Oklahoma Department of Corrections released

Governor Mary Fallin requested the audit following the resignation of former DOC Director Justin Jones last year.

“The audit includes 10 recommendations to help DOC reduce costs, improve efficiencies, and better manage its inmate population,” State Auditor Gary Jones said. “You can’t overlook the fact its funding is down while the number of inmates it houses is up.”

Recommendations include:

• Create an audit committee
• Improve financial oversight
• Perform an in-depth staffing analysis
• Consider further medical cost savings measures

“As the population continues to age, medical costs will continue to rise,” Jones said. “From 2010 to 2013, DOC spent $135 million for healthcare costs including medical and mental health treatment, medical supplies and equipment. More than 11 percent of all expenditures by DOC goes to healthcare.”

One cost saving measure immediately implented was an increase in medical and prescription co-pay fees to $4.00, an effort to encourage offenders to purchase over the counter medicine from the facility canteens.

The audit covered a five year span from fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2013.

“We recommend DOC’s governing board continue its effort to increase its financial oversight of the agency including obtaining additional financial reports from its chief financial officer,” Jones said.

The full audit report is available online here.