Oklahoma Corrections Professionals

We’ve all been braced for the worst over the past four months of the legislative session, expecting budget cuts anywhere from seven to 12%, but in the end, the Legislature came through as they promised and held both agencies to much lower budget cuts for FY’11. The Pardon and Parole Board ended FY’10 with $2,334,162 and that’s exactly where they’ll stay- a 0% budget cut for FY’11!  DOC will take a 3% cut to its new base.  This means the agency ended FY’10 with an appropriation of $476,225,000 and will begin FY’11 in July with an appropriation of $462,141,777, a decrease of $14,083,223.

While these cuts are much better than they could have been, the fact is that both agencies will still be operating at budgets far below their fully functional levels.  So what will these FY’11 appropriations actually look like for each agency in the upcoming year? 

With just two weeks left in the legislative session, things are happening very quickly.  There is still no budget agreement, but the word around the Capitol is that it could be announced very soon.  OCP is continuing to work on your behalf, informing legislators of just how damaging substantial budget cuts could be to the DOC and PPB, with the hope that they remember how important it is to protect the public safety.  See below for information on two important bills: one would affect your health insurance and one could affect your annual leave.  If you plan to contact your legislators about either of these, please do so as soon as possible, as time is running out!

"My Take" by OCP Legislative Liaison, J'me Overstreet

To our valued public servants: 

On behalf of the Oklahoma Corrections Professionals Board, Executive Director Amanda Ewing, and I would like to say once again, “thank you”!!  Thank you for your continual dedicated service and commitment to public service.  Thank you for making a difference in lives each day, protecting your community and fellow workers and being a part of something bigger than all of us.

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard these last few weeks to ensure our voices are heard around the State!  Budget cuts will inevitably occur for FY'11, but OCP is working hard to keep our elected officials true to their promises to protect the public safety as much as possible.  Click on the links below (or copy and paste them into your browser) for stories in the news this week mentioning OCP.  OCP strives to be the most passionate and reliable voice on issues relating to corrections and we're quickly becoming the go-to source for the media when they want to know what employees have to say on these matters.  Keep checking the website- there will be plenty more in the weeks to come!

Department of Corrections Budget Presentation – OCP Member Rally

Hello Members:  

Thank you to all of you who took time off today to come to the capitol and participate in our rally.  As I have said and will continue to say, employee engagement and presence really does make a difference and today was more proof of that.

As we stood in the wind holding signs and wearing grey t-shirts the media began to show up.  Video interviews of David Ramsey, our president; members, and me were conducted by news channel FOX 25 Reporters and photographers from the Capitol and the Tulsa World also took photos, and conducted interviews.

OUR LAST CHANCE TO AFFECT THE FY11 APPROPRIATION THIS SESSION IS AT THE

DOC BUDGET HEARING MONDAY 26TH AT 2:30 PM AT THE CAPITOL...BE THERE!  

Oklahoma is still #1 in Female Incarceration rates per 100,000 populations

Oklahoma is #3 in Male Incarceration rates per