Oklahoma State Penitentiary
By Lee Mann
Warden's Assistant
Prior to statehood in 1907, all felons convicted in Oklahoma Territory were transferred to Kansas, at a cost of 25 cents per day. After statehood, McAlester was chosen as the site for the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and 1,556 acres northwest of McAlester was set aside for the maximum security facility.
Construction began in 1908, when $850,000 was appropriated by the legislature. Inmates were returned from Kansas to do the work. The first buildings constructed at the site were the West Cellhouse and the Administration Building. Later, the Rotunda and the East Cellhouse were constructed. Additional buildings were constructed on an as-needed basis.
In order to provide work for the inmates, an industry program was developed. A tailor shop, shoe manufacturing plant, and cane mill were among the first industry programs implemented.
The first prison escape (from behind the walls) occurred on January 19, 1914. Three inmates stole a gun in the escape attempt. They killed three prison employees and federal judge John R. Thomas. The employees killed were Deputy Warden P.C. Vales, Bertillon expert H.H. Dover, and storekeeper F.C. Godfrey. The inmates involved were Ching Reed, Tom Lane, and Charlie Koontz. The convicts were later killed behind a rock ledge located on a ridge overlooking a wagon road.
In the beginning, women inmates were housed on the fourth floor of the West Cellhouse. Over a period of time, and as the female population grew, it became apparent that an appropriate building would be needed to house the women. Monies were appropriated in 1925 to build the unit on a site approximately one mile west of the main institution. The building was completed in 1926 and 26 women inmates were moved into the new unit. In 1983, all female inmates were moved to Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in Oklahoma City.
As the population inside OSP grew, new housing units were added. The "F" cellhouse was added in 1937, and later the New Cellhouse was constructed. Of the four main housing units occupied, only the new cellhouse no longer exists. This unit was severely damaged in the riot of 1973, and was torn down in 1976. Later, a 50-man disciplinary unit was built west of the main institution. The inmate population nicknamed this unit "The Rock."
OSP, having over 1,500 acres to maintain, established a trusty farm crew to provide food for the main institution and the women's unit. This crew was used to maintain a beef cattle herd, hogs, and chickens. They also planted and harvested vegetables. This crew was housed in several different locations on the reservation until about 1948, when a permanent unit was constructed one-half mile south of the main institution. This unit was destroyed by fire in January, 1975. The trusty population was moved behind the walls into the "F" cellhouse until the women could be relocated into another unit and the building could be renovated. In 1985, the trusty unit was separated from OSP and renamed the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center.
Warden Jess Dunn was the only warden of OSP killed in the line of duty. On August 10, 1941, four inmates captured Warden Dunn and another employee, secured a state vehicle and, using Dunn and the employee as hostages, managed to escape. However, they did not get very far. Local and state law enforcement agencies surrounded the car. Rather than surrender, the inmates chose to fight. In the shoot-out, three of the four inmates were killed. The fourth inmate was later executed. The warden and a deputy sheriff were killed by the inmates.
The first behind the walls rodeo utilizing inmates as contestants was initiated in 1942. The rodeo was so popular that it became an annual affair. The rodeo was discontinued after the 1973 riot, but was reestablished in 1976.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on July 27, 1973, the most costly riot in the history of the United States broke out. Starting in the mess hall, approximately 14 inmates high on home brew, took mess hall staff hostage and began vandalizing the area. The riot quickly spread to the housing units and work shops. Fires were started by the inmates in all the industry work areas and the housing units; locking devices were destroyed. A total of 23 employees were taken hostage. Two inmates were killed by fellow inmates. One inmate died due to medical problems. On July 28, 1973, the inmates released all hostages. An attempt was made to secure the inmates in the housing units; however, this failed resulting in the inmates being returned to the yard.
Eventually, the cells were fixed and the inmates were returned to the housing units with the exception of the new cellhouse. Damage due to this riot, was estimated to be between $20 million and $30 million.
In 1978, a federal court found OSP to be unconstitutional in total cell space, as well as other administrative areas. Consequently, four new housing units were built. In addition, the East and West cellhouses were closed in 1984. Units A and C were designed to hold 112 inmates each, but population growth made it necessary to double bunk these cells and increase the capacity of each unit to 224 inmates.
Units D and E were originally designated as high security units and not double bunked, but with the recent building of the H unit (high maximum unit), the D and E units were double bunked to provide 78 cells per unit.
H unit includes administrative segregation, death row, and the execution chamber. Oklahoma has executed a total of 91 men between 1915 and 1996. Eighty-two were executed by electrocution, one by hanging (a federal prisoner), and seven by lethal injection.
On December 17, 1985, the inmates became disruptive and attempted to gain control of and take hostages on the first floor of the "F" cellhouse. They were unsuccessful in this area, but were able to control and take hostages on A and C units. Five employees were taken hostage and there was destruction totaling approximately $375,000 to the two units. The inmates on C Unit seriously wounded three of their hostages which resulted in permanent physical injuries to two of the officers. These officers were released in order to receive medical attention. The remaining officers were released at approximately 11:30 a.m. on December 18.
The ultimate result of this very serious incident was a total change in the operation of OSP. Very tight security was imposed. Inmates were allowed to move freely, but had to move in small groups escorted by security staff. Recreation was limited to one hour per day. A level system was implemented, requiring inmates to advance from the lowest to the highest level before a transfer to another facility would be considered.
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