Statement from the City Attorney for the City of Midwest City Regarding Decisions Made by the City Council of Midwest City on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
To clarify the decisions made by the City Council of Midwest City at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the Midwest City Councilmembers voted to deny renewal of an agreement with the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC). The Oklahoma County Jail is operated by the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, a separate entity (governmental trust) from CJAC. The City Council's action to deny the agreement with CJAC does not affect the operations of the Midwest City Police Department. Midwest City Police can still transport a prisoner, arrested on State charges, to the Oklahoma County Jail.
There was another agenda item on the Tuesday, September 27 Council Meeting that would have instructed City of Midwest City staff to research, select and commence negotiations with other county jail facilities for the services currently being provided by the Oklahoma County Jail. That agenda item was denied by the City Council. Therefore, prisoners arrested in Midwest City on State charges will continue to be transported to the Oklahoma County Jail.
Additionally, questions are frequently being sent to Councilmembers and City staff regarding the City of Midwest City's jail agreement with The City of The Village. An agreement has been in place for at least two years wherein the City of The Village pays the City of Midwest City to process individuals arrested on municipal charges in The Village. This agreement was just renewed by the City Council of Midwest City at a June 2022 meeting. The agreement with The City of The Village expires in June of 2023.