New private prison near Lawton considered

[Informer]

LAWTON -- A corporation that already operates a private prison in Lawton wants local officials to consider building a new facility nearby that could bring several hundred jobs to the area.

Comanche County commissioners will vote Monday on a resolution to authorize construction of a 1,536-bed prison to be located southeast of the 2,400-bed GEO Correctional Facility in Lawton.

The medium-security prison would sit just outside the Lawton city limits, so by law, the county commission is required to make the decision, officials said.

Commissioners are expected to take up the issue at a special meeting following its regular meeting.

GEO Group, owner of the other prison, purchased the property for the new center from a private owner in July 2006, according to county records.

Commissioner Ron Kirby said GEO originally approached officials in the town of Stroud with the proposal, but began discussing with the commission the idea of creating a second facility in Comanche County about a month ago.

"I think it's a win-win," Kirby said.

Other commissioners couldn't be reached for comment.

The new facility may help constant overcrowding at the Comanche County Detention Center, and communities in the county will benefit economically from the activity, Kirby said.

An estimated 300 jobs will be created during the construction phase and there will be significant local spending on materials, he said. Once the facility is operational, there will be 300 permanent jobs with an estimated annual payroll of $12 million, Kirby said.

The Geronimo school district may also benefit, he said.

GEO Group has been a good corporate neighbor for Comanche County and the city of Lawton, Kirby said.

The county won't incur any costs for building the prison, either, he said.

"They're quiet, out of the way, pay their bills on time ... and require nothing from the county or the city," he said.

[Prugor]

They actually own a lot of land around that Prison. Geo was considering another location, somewhere near Tulsa I believe, but that was shot down.

[buckeyedavidk]

This facility was to have gone to Stroud, OK. A small group of people complained and wanted to put it on ballot....GEO Group did not have time for that nonsense and pulled out...This could have been a tremendous boost to the economy there at Stroud. Why does the minority seem to always get the upper hand on things????

Buckeyedavidk