'It’s a big morale boost for the inmates': Prison rodeo restart stalled in current session

The House in March passed House Bill 3749 by Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, that would create a revolving fund to restart the prison rodeo at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – In March the Oklahoma House passed House Bill 3749 by Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, that would create a revolving fund to restart the prison rodeo at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

As of Tuesday, House Bill 3749 has been placed on pause after Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe informed the legislative panel his agency was no longer pursuing an $8.3 million appropriation this session.

Instead, the agency wants the Legislature to authorize an interim study, according to Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe.

House Bill 3749 is set to direct the fund to be used for complete revitalization of the prison rodeo grounds in McAlester. The last rodeo was held at the facility in 2009, according to prison officials.

"For many years, the prison held a rodeo in this facility that was very popular with inmates and their families as well as staff, and it drew visitors from across the nation to Southeast Oklahoma," Grego said. "The rodeo was discontinued due to a lack of funding and deterioration of the grounds, but we have support now to reintroduce this event and reap the economic reward it will bring."

The Prison Rodeo, at the State Penitentiary in McAlester, brought in fans from around the world which boosted the local economy, according to Dan M. Reynolds, the prison’s warden from 1991-1994.

“You had all the hotels full, you had restaurants full,” said Reynolds, the prison’s warden from 1991-1994. “As soon as the rodeo was over, we were in a meeting the following week talking about next year’s rodeo.”

Reynolds said the rodeo began in 1940 to help provide medical needs to poor inmates. As it grew in popular, so did the production. “It’s a big morale boost for the inmates,” said Reynolds.

Currently Harpe says, Louisiana is the only state that has a behind-the-walls prison rodeo and although he is confident the rodeo would generate revenue and is committed to getting this done, the agency could not restart it without additional dollars.

However, not everyone is onboard. Representative Andy Fugate (D-OKC) said the event still exploits those who participate.

“These people will sign away their rights for their health. They’ll sign away all of their protections for their health because they are desperate to participate in a spectacle,” he said. “When it’s all said and done, what we will create with this is a gladiator arena filled with prisoners who are desperate to earn time off.”

Rep. Fugate’s concerns ride the coattails of a recent Federal Bureau of Prisons Institutions survey that points out how the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City is overworking its correctional staff, sometimes forcing employees to work at least three back-to-back double shifts in a week.

The survey also exposes a lack of training for staff.

Rep. Grego said participating inmates will have to sign a waiver that would prevent the prison from being held liable for any injuries or death resulting from the event.

Efforts are now set to move into a interim session during the summer to involve
other concert promoters that want to use the facilities in demonstrating to the Legislature a thorough plan with the issue brought back next session.