OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, has filed House Bill 1310 to rename the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) to the Oklahoma Department of Corruption. Humphrey is vice chair of the House Public Safety Committee.
“The Oklahoma Legislature has published all the bills for our upcoming 2025 session,” Humphrey said. “It is not unusual that I would receive some negative comments, and several media stations have questioned why I file certain bills. One such bill that has been drawing numerous questions is changing the name of the Department of Corrections to the Department of Corruption. Many think this is childish waste of time. I disagree.”
Humphrey blamed the legislation on the department’s director, Steven Harpe, who he said is the worst he’s seen at the job in his 35 years of working for or with corrections. Humphrey said the director has zero experience but has increased his salary from $185,000 to $275,000, a $90,000 increase.
Humphrey said he made an official open records request for documentation authorizing the raise and was advised no records existed.
“Based on the claim of no records, this seems like embezzlement,” Humphrey said.
He said he also requested records to show legislative approval for a new headquarters building, which he believes is required by law.
“Again, I was advised that records do not exist,” Humphrey said. “I can tell you this building is not cheap.”
Humphrey said he was notified by the department that if he wished to see any records, he would be required to come to the department’s headquarters to view the records and would not be allowed to make copies. He said he also was told he would be required to sign a non-disclosure contract because of his release of nonpublic records. When he asked what records he had released, he said department officials refused to provide the information.
“I can state for a fact, I never received any nonpublic information from the department,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey said he’s turned over to law enforcement massive evidence of DOC officers involved in raping inmates. He’s also turned in the department for violating the state Whistleblower Act after a doctor was fired who reported on the rapes. Humphrey said the state attorney general claimed to have investigated the matter, but to his knowledge the office’s investigator never talked to any of the witnesses he provided, including the original witness – the doctor.
Humphrey held a committee meeting last year to provide proof of these allegations, but key department witnesses were not subpoenaed. Humphrey said despite this, the committee was provided overwhelming evidence of the department’s coverup, but he said nothing has been done.
Humphrey also alleges Director Harpe has lied about excessive travel. He also said the department has numerous lawsuits for wrongfully firing employees.
“It appears the director fires quality employees to replace them with zero-experienced, overpaid cronies from his previous agency, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services,” Humphrey said. “I have exposed human rights’ violations, murders, stabbings and recently what appears to be the departments attempts to completely cover up a very questionable death.”
Humphrey said HB1013 brings attention to one small example of what he calls “the Oklahoma swamp.”
Justin Humphrey serves District 19 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Choctaw and Pushmataha counties and parts of Atoka and Bryan counties.
