The Cleveland County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with a correctional consultant to investigate potential causes of death within the Cleveland County Detention Center.
According to a press release sent to OU Daily the board approved a contract on Aug. 9 with SIMCO Correctional Consulting, LLC, a firm specializing in the operation and safety of correctional facilities.
“The rising number of jail inmate deaths at the Cleveland Detention Center has been a growing cause of concern for Cleveland County Commissioners over the course of Sheriff Chris Amason’s tenure in office,” Joy Hampton, Cleveland County public information specialist, wrote in the release.
Seven inmates have died in the last two years. The most recent being Nicole DeAnn McComb, who in August was taken off of life support at Norman Regional after attempting suicide in her cell.
According to the press release, the board requested proposals earlier this year to identify and prevent inmate deaths as well as enhance safety and health protocols within the detention center.
“Commissioners are saddened by the loss of life at the detention center and, while recognizing that inmate populations tend to be higher-risk than the average population, they find any preventable loss of life unacceptable,” Hampton wrote.
According to Hampton, as written in the release, SIMCO will conduct an investigation into potential causes of death and will provide detailed recommendations for the facility.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. Geethika Kollu and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
