OCP Day at the Capitol - Last Minute Details

Monday, 29 March 2010 09:48 | Written by Amanda Ewing |

Hello OCP Members!

This is your final email reminder that the OCP Day at the Capitol is this Wednesday, March 31^st. We’ve gotten a great response from you all so far, but we still need many more members to attend! The facilities listed below have already had members RSVP. If you don’t see yours on the list, it’s not too late to round up some friends and make the trip to ensure the issues facing you and your co-workers are heard!

Facilities with Members Attending OCP Day at the Capitol

Bill Johnson Correctional Center

Dick Conner Correctional Center

Jess Dunn Correctional Center

Joseph Harp Correctional Center

Mabel Basset Correctional Center

Oklahoma State Penitentiary

Oklahoma State Reformatory

DOC Headquarters

DOC Holding Facility in Lindsey

Ardmore Community Work Center

Beaver Community Work Center

Healdton Community Work Center

Madill Community Work Center

Pardon and Parole Board

If you know you’ll be there and haven’t RSVP’d yet, please do so today by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you don't RSVP but find out on Wednesday you are able to attend, just come on and don't worry about it!

For those of you who are attending, here are a few details to know:

UNIFORMS

The Director's office issued a policy exception that allows OCP members to wear their uniforms to the Capitol on Wednesday.

LEAVE TIME

If you were scheduled to work on Wednesday but received permission to go to the Capitol, you will have to use personal leave to attend.

PARKING

There is visitor parking in the main parking lot on the South side of the Capitol. If that lot is full, there is an overflow lot you can access to the East of the Capitol across Lincoln Blvd. on NE 21^st Street. If you park there, there is an entrance with a tunnel you walk through to get into the Capitol.

LOST? NEED LAST MINUTE INFO?

If you have any problems finding us Wednesday, call (405) 295-5883.

For those who can’t make it, please help OCP out in one of the following ways!

· Call or email your hometown and/or facility legislators on Tuesday or Wednesday. Remind them Wednesday is OCP’s Day at the Capitol, that OCP represents over 2,000 employees of the DOC and PPB, and that if they get the chance, you would appreciate them taking the time to meet with OCP members when they stop by. Feel free to use the letter below if you’d like to have a more detailed conversation.

· Write or type a letter to your hometown and/or facility legislators asking for their support. Give it to someone who is making the trip to the Capitol Wednesday and we’ll pass it along for you. They will definitely read it and appreciate hearing from you! Feel free to use the letter below.

As always, remember you are not allowed to use agency equipment to contact legislators.

Dear Senator ___________,

I am a member of the Oklahoma Corrections Professionals, Oklahoma’s largest law enforcement association. We have over 2,000 members who work for the Department of Corrections and the Pardon and Parole Board. Wednesday, March 31^st, is OCP’s first-ever “OCP Day at the Capitol.” While I cannot be in attendance in person on Wednesday, I am sending you this letter to express my support of OCP. Please try to take the time Wednesday to meet with my fellow members to discuss the issues affecting my profession.

There are serious issues facing the Department of Corrections and the Pardon and Parole Board in FY’10, and, as you know, the outlook isn’t much better for FY’11. Right now, DOC staffing levels are at 75% of authorized FTE, and 73% for Corrections Officers. The Pardon and Parole Board is facing a second full year of furloughs in FY’11. We understand that receiving additional money for these agencies in FY’11 is hardly an option, as every agency is forced to take budget cuts during these difficult times. However, I welcome you to sit down with our OCP members and discuss the policy options available to our legislature to decrease costs to the State. Alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders and removing the Governor from the Pardon and Parole process for non-violent offenders are just two options that would save Oklahoman’s millions of dollars in incarceration costs, and free up valuable funding for the successful operation of these agencies.

Thank you for all the good work you do for Oklahoma, and thank you for your time and consideration of this letter.

Sincerely,

_________________

Facility you work at

Hometown address

Thanks to everyone for your hard work in support of the Oklahoma Corrections Professionals. Our strength is in our numbers, and it looks like we’ll have BIG numbers showing up at the Capitol or contacting legislators by phone or email on Wednesday.

Last Updated (Thursday, 01 April 2010 10:51)