OKLAHOMA CITY - Private prison interests have given nearly $200,000 in campaign dollars and gifts to 79 of the 149 members of the state Legislature since 2004, a Tulsa World analysis shows.
From a meal valued at $3.87 for one lawmaker to $22,500 toward T.W. Shannon's Speaker's Ball, private prison and halfway house influence has become well entrenched at the state Capitol.
As the state's prison population has climbed, so has spending on private prisons, which was nearly $73 million last fiscal year, up from slightly more than $57 million in fiscal year 2004.
Halfway-house expenditures were nearly $14 million in fiscal year 2012, up slightly from more than $12 million in fiscal year 2004.
Since 2004, lobbyists, private prison and halfway house employees have given $375,425 to 165 elected officials and candidates for office.
The contributions and gifts come from lobbyists and others affiliated with Avalon Correctional Services, The GEO Group Inc. and Corrections Corporation of America. All three have operations in the state. The lobbyists' representation is not limited to one private prison or halfway house company. They have contracts to represent dozens of far-ranging interests.
House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, is the top recipient of private prison-linked dollars. Shannon has received $34,950. The sum includes $22,500 donated by three private prison companies to fund the 2013 Speaker's Ball.
People make donations to the speaker's campaign because of his ideals, not to buy a spot for theirs, said Joe Griffin, a Shannon spokesman.
"This office makes decisions based on what is best for Oklahoma," Griffin said.
Gov. Mary Fallin ranks No. 2 in private prison dollars. Private prison interests, which include employees, political action committees and lobbyists employed by the companies, have donated $33,608 to her campaigns.
"Campaign donations do not affect the way Gov. Fallin makes policy decisions, period," said Alex Weintz, a Fallin spokesman.
Because she ran a large statewide campaign, it is not surprising that she has large amounts of contributions from any particular group of donors, he said.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, is the top recipient of private prison and halfway house dollars in the Senate and No. 3 recipient among elected officials overall. Jolley has reported receipts totaling $30,450 toward his campaigns.
Jolley said employees of Avalon live in his district, which could account for his ranking.
Jolley said people are going to believe what they want about politicians and donations.
"But my vote is not for sale," Jolley said. "It never has been. It never will be."
State Treasurer Ken Miller received the bulk of his contributions in his current position but collected $2,250 as a member of the Oklahoma House.
Political action committees representing CCA and The GEO Group also have donated nearly $100,000 since 2004 to candidates.
In 2012, private prison interests donated nearly $50,000 to campaigns.
Private prison interests donated $72,900 to 2010 campaigns, records show.
In 2008 and 2006, private prison interests donated a respective $72,900 and $71,395 to political campaigns.
Republicans, who control houses of the Legislature and all elected state offices, have received about 83 percent of the contributions from private prisons since 2004.
Since 2010, The GEO Group and Avalon Correctional Services both reported gifts to various lawmakers and legislative staff.
Most of the gifts were given while the Legislature was in session.
Cooper "Brett" Robinson, a lobbyist on behalf of Geo Group, paid for $865.71 in meals and a "movie night" for lawmakers and their spouses during 2010 and 2011. His clients range from Bank of Oklahoma to the City of Oklahoma City, according to a filing with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
Tammie Kilpatrick, a lobbyist for Corrections Corporation of America who has also worked for Avalon, reported paying for meals valued at $235 for legislative staff and one lawmaker over 2010 and 2011. She works for one of the larger if not the largest lobbying firms in the state, with dozens of clients.
Private prison lobbyists reported no gifts to lawmakers in 2012. Reports for the first half of 2013 won't be due until later.
Steve Owen, a spokesman for Corrections Corporation of America, said lobbyists who work for the company do not make donations on the company's behalf. The company has four private prisons in the state, two of which are under contract with Oklahoma. Another one houses California inmates. The fourth is not operational.
"Lobbyists represent dozens of clients," Owen said. "To attribute whatever contributions lobbyists make to a specific client, I don't know. Unless there is some evidence and information that support that the two are connected, I don't know how anyone can make that claim."
Corrections Corporation of America supports candidates who are generally supportive of public-private partnerships, Owen said.
"A big part of what we are doing is educating elected officials and policymakers on the merits of public-private partnerships," Owen said.
Brian Costello, Avalon president and chief operating officer, said his company ended its lobbying contract because it could no longer afford it.
The company, which has halfway houses, has a lot of empty beds not being used by the Department of Corrections, he said, adding that reimbursement rates have been frozen.
"I guess my point would be that it is clear we are not buying any influence but support candidates that provide good government to the state," Costello said.
The GEO Group declined a request for a phone interview but issued a statement saying it provided significant savings to the state and quality services.
"Our company participates in the political process, as do other organizations including private corporations and organized labor organizations, through lobbyist representation and political contributions," part of the statement said.
Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Forest Park, has been a longtime, largely unsuccessful advocate for sentencing reform and opponent of longer sentences and additional penalties.
"I am shocked but not surprised," Johnson said of the donations. "My take is that what I have noticed about how the policies are flowing, pro-private prisons, pro-enhanced felonies, the thing I stand up and argue about all the time. Follow the money. This whole notion of special interests having undue influence on the legislative process, this is proof."
Top recipients of private prison donations, 2004 to present
Speaker T.W. Shannon (R)
$34,950*
Gov. Mary Fallin (R)
$33,608
Sen. Clark Jolley (R)
$30,450
Lawmakers benefit from private prison donations
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