By Barbara Hoberock
Tulsa World
OKLAHOMA CITY —- The operator of a controversial Tulsa halfway house offered to remove the facility’s administrator as part of a plan presented Friday to the state Board of Corrections.
The Department of Corrections notified Avalon Correctional Services that it intended to remove its offenders from Avalon Tulsa after an investigation found problems there. A video released to news media that shows offenders fighting can be viewed attulsaworldtv.com
The agency told the company serious infractions were found that affect inmate safety. The inmate brawl is among several concerns the agency had that were severe enough to result in the cancellation of the contract.
The facility has 390 beds for men and is in downtown Tulsa.
Brian Costello, Avalon Correctional Services chief operating officer and president, spoke to the Board of Corrections and presented a plan for changes.
Costello said the agency’s decision to remove offenders from the facility came as a shock to his company.
The company will replace the halfway house administrator, Donald Coffman, with Chris Villalobos, the company’s vice president for operations, he said.
Coffman has been placed on suspension with pay, Costello said. Villalobos will remain as administrator until a suitable replacement for Coffman is identified, he said.
If DOC continues to use Avalon’s facility, the company also will pay for a full-time DOC monitor to ensure offender safety and compliance until all the investigations are finished, Costello said.
“After the conclusion of the investigations and review of reports, we propose to work with the DOC at the direction of the board to determine what, if any, other changes are required to ensure the continued viability of this facility and the reintegration programs we provide there to offenders,” Costello said.
He said the plan’s adoption would keep approximately 100 offenders who have full-time jobs employed. It would also allow another 40 offenders to continue to search for jobs and another 38 to remain employed with public works crews in the Tulsa area.
“We truly understand the department’s concerns, and we also believe this proposal effectively addresses those concerns, at least on an interim basis,” Costello said. “We urge the board to consider this proposal and reach agreement on its implementation with the Department of Corrections leadership.”
The Board of Corrections took no action Friday.
“Since this item is not on the agenda, we are not prepared to take any action here today,” said Kevin Gross, Board of Corrections chairman. “But we encourage you to continue to work with the Department of Corrections leadership to resolve these issues.”
Gov. Mary Fallin weighed in on the issue during a press conference Friday to discuss the recent naming of a new Department of Corrections director, Robert Patton, currently the division director of operations for the Arizona Department of Corrections.
“What happened was wrong, and they (Avalon) need to fix it,” she said, adding that she was pleased that the company has made personnel changes.