OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, today issued the following statements regarding a lawsuit recently filed against the Department of Corrections alleging gross negligence and inhumane treatment of inmates in DOC custody.

On April 9, attorneys Richard Labarthe and Alexey Tarasov filed a lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Court on behalf of seven plaintiffs against the DOC, Corrections Director Steven Harpe, and several unnamed employees, supervisors or administrators at the Great Plains Correction Center in Hinton.

The lawsuit alleges inmates were locked in 3'x3' or 2'x2' shower stalls and forced to remain in these stalls for days at a time, stripped of essentials, while the cells were filled with human feces. The lawsuit also claims inmates were held with inadequate food, water and other provisions such as a mattress, blankets and clothing.

"This lawsuit is largely the result of the work done by the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, which I chair," Humphrey said. "I've been assisted by Oklahoma Correctional Professionals (OCP) who have been exposing inexcusable human rights violations including the horrific shower incidents, reports of rapes being covered up, murders, assaults, extortion and many other serious human rights violations. It is believed that this lawsuit could be only one of many to come."

Humphrey believes Oklahoma could be on the hook for millions of dollars with this and other lawsuits against the department. In August, nine former DOC employees took action against the department alleging wrongful termination. Humphrey said he anticipates more lawsuits from executives making the same claims.

"The House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee has held hearings providing massive evidence of the horrendous human rights violations and the appalling treatment of employees," Humphrey said. "The committee has called for investigations and requested subpoenas but have been largely ignored. Recently, employees, inmates and family members have bravely stepped forward to verify these reports. This lawsuit is certainly one more component in proving the accusations are more substantial than previously reported."

Humphrey said he will continue to sound the alarm that Oklahoma is facing a corrections disaster.

"The Oklahoma Department of Corrections could be close to returning back under federal control or facing the horror of a prison riot," he said. "This latest lawsuit should be a wakeup call to the governor, the state's attorney general and other legislators to take immediate action."