SHERIFF PLANS TO USE GARAGE AS JAIL SPACE

PAULS VALLEY -- Faced with a possible deluge of new prisoners, Garvin
County Sheriff Bob Davis is planning to convert his department's parking
garage into an 18-inmate holding cell.

"We have to find a way to expand this jail," Davis said.

Law enforcement officials across the state are awaiting the final version
of a 'truth-in-sentencing' law, which promises to dramatically increase
Oklahoma's prison population.

And since the prisons already are filled past capacity, the overflow of new
inmates will end up in county jails, Davis said.

"It's the same old story -- nobody has any money. I'm trying to raise the
funds myself," Davis said.

The sheriff said his budget, as defined by the county commissioners, "won't
even cover salaries."

"I can't get any money from the county commissioners," he said.

Davis makes ends meet by collecting profits from his jail's inmate phone
system, having his deputies serve civil court papers and collecting fees
for housing inmates for the state Corrections Department.

Meanwhile, Davis' jail, with a capacity of 43 inmates, averages about 65,
he said.

Davis estimates a conversion of the department's parking garage should cost
between $20,000 and $30,000.