Oklahoma prisoners claim they're facing many challenges following inmate's meningitis death

Inmates say they are facing many challenges a week after an inmate at the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton died from bacterial meningitis.

HINTON, Okla. (KFOR) - Inmates say they are facing many challenges a week after an inmate at the Great Plains Correctional Center in Hinton died from bacterial meningitis.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) officials told KFOR the prisoner’s unit that was infected at Great Plains Correctional Center remains under quarantine. That means inmates are not allowed to leave the unit. 

“Nothing surprises me anymore because it's every day I'm being told something. Every day there is something going on in one prison or more... We really need the Feds to come in and take over because our prisons are out of control,” said Emily Barnes, Director and Founder of Hooked on Justice. 

Emily Barnes with Hooked on Justice, an Oklahoma prison advocacy organization, says prisoners at the Great Plains Correctional Center are asking for help following new safety protocols after an inmate infected with bacterial meningitis died last week. 

“They're not even being fed properly... A good four days they went without showers... That all kind of really started when they found this outbreak,” said Barnes. 

Barnes says prisoners at the facility have been sick following the meningitis outbreak. 

She says inmates claim ODOC won’t provide them with cleaning supplies or medical care. 

The men have been locked inside their units while living in eight-man cells. They are unable leave or even go outside with the current quarantine mandate. 

“A lot of them are feeling better. You know, they were having their own diarrhea, sweating, but unfortunately, they weren't getting medical care. They weren't being seen. They just came around and gave guys the option to take an antibiotic. And that was it,” said Barnes. 

An ODOC spokesman told KFOR, “The inmates impacted by the quarantine are being delivered three meals a day, and provided preventative medication, and PPE.” 

He goes on to say, “The GPCC staff also uses sanitizing foggers multiple times each day to lessen the risk of spread. It’s very similar to our 2020-21 COVID protocol.” 

He also adds they’ve distributed thousands of masks, gloves and isolation gowns. 

On top of it all, religious services and programs have been put on pause until further notice. Barnes says the isolation is only creating more mental health issues. 

“There’s nothing for these guys to do but sit around all day... It's depressing. You're looking at... concrete walls all day long and 139 other men with all different personalities. That's why we have a lot of violence,” said Barnes. 

ODOC officials told KFOR, “According to medical staff at the facility, there have been no additional cases of meningitis.” 

Visitations are canceled for this upcoming weekend.  

Officials say they will lift the quarantine protocol once they know the risk of the spread has been mitigated. They are hopeful to be back to normal operations by Easter Weekend. 

You can find the full statement from the ODOC spokesman below: 

According to our medical staff, there have been no additional cases of meningitis at the facility. The safety protocol we implemented appears to be working.  As a precaution, we remain under quarantine until we know the risk of spread has been mitigated. The inmates impacted by the quarantine are being delivered three meals a day, and provided preventative medication, and PPE. We currently have 18,000+ disposable masks, 8,000 pair of gloves, and 3,275 isolation gowns available.  The GPCC staff also uses sanitizing foggers multiple times each day to lessen the risk of spread. It’s very similar to our 2020-21 COVID protocol.   

Unfortunately, we have had to suspend visitation and religious services until further notice. We cannot jeopardize the health and safety of the public, staff and our prison population. Once our medical team gives the “all clear,” programs will be reinstated. We are hopeful to be back to normal operations by Easter weekend.