On Monday, June 22, Oklahoma Department Of Corrections will no longer provide free phone calls for inmates.
The calls replaced visitation, which ODOC suspended on March 13 to prevent COVID-19 infection and spread inside facilities. The agency resumed visitation last weekend in response to phase 3 of the state’s plan to reopen. Since mid-March, ODOC provided each inmate two free 5-minute phone calls each week, understanding the value of maintaining the inmate’s connection with loved ones.
ODOC said on Facebook that by suspending visitation early, as part of the agency’s pandemic plan, only two inmates have tested positive for the virus. In order to reintroduce visitation safely, ODOC implemented additional safety protocols following CDC guidelines for social distancing, sanitation, and health screenings.
