Photo: Charles O'Rear / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images
The Oklahoma County Jail Trust claims surprise jail inspections by the state Health Department are against the law and has filed a petition to stop them. The petition claims the Legislature did not give the health department authority to conduct the surprise inspections at the jail, even though the department can randomly inspect other facilities, including nursing homes. Jail staff has repeatedly refused to let the health department inspect the facility, which led to automatic failed inspections. Health Department officials allege jail officials want to stage conditions for inspections.