He was 15 when he killed his sister’s abuser. Even after years of good conduct, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has rejected recommending him for release.
At least four Cleveland County jail detainees have died this year. The county faces lawsuits over some deaths.
Emmanuel Littlejohn was sentenced to death for the murder of an Oklahoma City convenience store owner. Gov. Kevin Stitt did not act on a recommendation from the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to grant clemency.
Emmanuel Littlejohn has been on death row for 32 years. He was sentenced to death for killing an Oklahoma City convenience store clerk during a robbery in 1992 but says another man pulled the trigger.
The company says it’s exiting the jail because of Oklahoma County’s “chronic, severe” lack of security staff. The jail is moving forward with plans to find a new medical provider to avoid medical care interruptions for detainees.
Prison contractor The Geo Group tried to negotiate a $3 million pay increase with Oklahoma this year. But records show state prison officials found the company violated its contract by failing to lock prisoners in their cells, conduct security checks and leaving prisoners alone in pods without staff supervision.
A tight budget means there’s little money to hire adequate staff or give employees a raise.
Turn Key’s contract with the Oklahoma County jail trust has expired and a vote on a new deal has been delayed. The company is now working on a month-to-month basis at the jail.
