§ 57-54. Person authorized to act as jailer - Civilian employees - Oath - Liability - Jails operated by private prison contractors.

The jailer, jail director or keeper of the jail shall, unless the sheriff elects to act as jailer in person, be a deputy appointed by the sheriff; provided, that the sheriff may, with approval as provided in Section 162 of Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes, appoint civilian employees as the sheriff may require to operate the county jail.  Those persons hired as civilian employees need not complete the training prescribed for peace officers, as provided by Section 3311 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, but need only complete such training as the sheriff deems necessary for the civilians to properly perform the duties assigned to them, or such training as may otherwise be prescribed by law.  The jailer shall take the necessary oaths before entering upon the duties of the office.  A jailer in a county having a population of greater than four hundred thousand (400,000), according to the latest Federal Decennial Census, may be authorized by the sheriff of the county to use nonlethal weaponry upon completion of appropriate training.  The sheriff shall in all cases be liable for the negligence and misconduct of the jailer as of other deputies.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to jails operated by private prison contractors pursuant to a contract with the board of county commissioners.

R.L. 1910, § 4592.  Amended by Laws 1980, c. 98, § 1, emerg. eff. April 10, 1980; Laws 1987, c. 80, § 8, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 2001, c. 325, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2001.