The Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association is supporting Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III in his legal dispute with Attorney General Gentner Drummond over who should transport county jail inmates to and from court.
Who is Responsible for Transporting Inmates?
Sheriff Johnson argues that transporting detainees is not his responsibility. He says it falls under the county Criminal Justice Authority, the public trust that has managed the jail (formerly the County Detention Center) since 2020. Johnson, elected in 2021, has never run the jail himself.
However, Attorney General Drummond issued an opinion saying that Johnson must ensure detainees get to court, even though Johnson wants to end the contract that has his deputies escorting inmates and supervising them at the courthouse.
Johnson wants to save the trust $800,000 a year spent on inmate transport and free his deputies to post in district courtrooms, a need noted by District Judge Sheila D. Stinson. Johnson plans to appeal the attorney general’s opinion, but no appeal had been filed as of May 18.
Impact on Court Proceedings
On May 11, the day after Johnson announced he would stop the transport service, no detainees made it to court. Deputies attempting to deliver inmates returned after detention officers failed to meet them for a hand-off. District Attorney Vicki Behenna said the delay disrupted legal proceedings and could cost taxpayers, though the exact amount is unknown.
Normally, deputies escort detainees from the jail to court and back. On this day, deputies expected detention officers to take over once inmates arrived, but officers could not legally accept or escort them.
The Board of County Commissioners planned to discuss hiring outside legal counsel for the sheriff on May 13, but a contract could not be prepared in time. Undersheriff Jim Anderson said he could not estimate the cost and that the sheriff’s legal staff could not handle it.
Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association Stands by Johnson
Ray McNair, executive director of the Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association, said the group supports Johnson. He emphasized that as a duly elected constitutional officer, Johnson should manage his office independently, like other elected officials.
McNair noted that Drummond’s opinion confirmed the sheriff has legal duties to transport inmates for court appearances. However, the Oklahoma County jail trust operates differently from other counties, where sheriffs usually do not transport pretrial inmates.
“In light of that distinction, Sheriff Johnson III is justified in seeking relief from contractual duties that go beyond the standard framework,” McNair said. He added that respecting the sheriff’s authority strengthens public service, accountability, and the structure of county government.
