OKC, Oklahoma County Reach Jail Detainee Housing Deal

New agreement aims to improve cooperation and stability for financially-strained county jail.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 5:55am

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After months of negotiations, Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County have reached a new agreement on how much the city will pay the county for housing its arrestees in the county jail. The deal includes a lump-sum payment of $600,000 for the first half of the fiscal year, as well as reduced per-day rates for incarceration. County officials say the agreement is an important step forward in creating a more cooperative environment between the city and county.

Why it matters

The county jail has faced significant financial challenges, with the bulk of its inmates coming from the Oklahoma City Police Department. This new agreement aims to provide more stability for jail operations and allow the facility to continue making improvements, rather than facing drastic budget cuts.

The details

Under the new deal, the city will pay a lump-sum of $600,000 for the first six months of the fiscal year, followed by a rate of $171.31 for the first day of incarceration and $71.53 for each subsequent day. This represents a 19% decrease from the previous per-day rates. The county had initially sought at least $192 for the first day and $66 for each additional day, but the city countered with $166 for day one. The final agreement was reached with the help of a cost adjustment study by consulting firm MGT.

  • The negotiations have been ongoing since last summer.
  • The deal was finalized in late January 2026.

The players

Oklahoma City

The city whose police department brings the majority of inmates to the Oklahoma County jail.

Oklahoma County

The county that operates the jail and has been seeking more funding from the city to cover the costs of housing city arrestees.

Valerie Littlejohn

OKC police captain who noted the deal has yet to go before the city council for final approval.

Tim Kimrey

Oklahoma County jail administrator who said the lump-sum payment will help jail finances, though more funding is still needed.

Myles Davidson

Oklahoma County Commissioner who serves on the jail trust and sees the agreement as a sign of improved city-county cooperation.

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What they’re saying

“This wasn't about winning or losing — it was about creating a more cooperative environment where everyone is pulling in the same direction.”

— Myles Davidson, Oklahoma County Commissioner

“The timing of this funding matters. It comes at a point when it can directly support jail operations and give Mr. Kimrey and his team the stability they need to keep making meaningful improvements at the Oklahoma County jail.”

— Myles Davidson, Oklahoma County Commissioner

What’s next

The agreement still needs to be approved by the Oklahoma City Council before it is finalized.

The takeaway

This new deal between Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County represents a step forward in improving cooperation and stability for the financially-strained county jail, which houses a majority of inmates brought in by the city's police department. The agreement provides crucial short-term funding and sets the stage for continued collaboration between the city and county.