Oklahoma Closes Last Private Prison in $312M Deal

Oklahoma has ended its use of private prisons by purchasing the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility from The GEO Group for $312 million, renaming it Red Rock Correctional Center (RRCC). The acquisition, which excludes vehicles and weapons, brings all state correctional operations under public oversight and marks the closure of Oklahoma's last for-profit prison. Governor Kevin Stitt and ODOC Executive Director Steven Harpe emphasized that the transition will expand rehabilitation, education, and workforce development programs while improving safety, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. The purchase includes 400 acres of vacant land for potential expansion. David Rogers, a 36-year corrections veteran, has been appointed interim warden to oversee the transition. The move is widely regarded as a long-term investment in improved outcomes for both staff and inmates, addressing prior issues of violence and contract violations at the facility.