Okla. Stat. tit. 57, § 57-54: Person authorized to act as jailer - Civilian employees -

Oath - Liability - Jails operated by private prison contractors.

The jailer, jail director or keeper of the jail shall, unless

the sheriff elects to act as jailer in person, be a deputy appointed

by the sheriff; provided, that the sheriff may, with approval as

provided in Section 162 of Title 19 of the Oklahoma Statutes,

appoint civilian employees as the sheriff may require to operate the

county jail. Those persons hired as civilian employees need not

complete the training prescribed for peace officers, as provided by

Section 3311 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, but need only

complete such training as the sheriff deems necessary for the

civilians to properly perform the duties assigned to them, or such

training as may otherwise be prescribed by law. The jailer shall

take the necessary oaths before entering upon the duties of the

office. A jailer may be authorized by the sheriff of the county to

use nonlethal weaponry upon completion of appropriate training. The

sheriff shall in all cases be liable for the negligence and

misconduct of the jailer as of other deputies.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to jails operated

by private prison contractors pursuant to a contract with the board

of county commissioners.

R.L. 1910, § 4592. Amended by Laws 1980, c. 98, § 1, emerg. eff.

April 10, 1980; Laws 1987, c. 80, § 8, operative July 1, 1987; Laws

2001, c. 325, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2019, c. 78, § 1, emerg.

eff. April 17, 2019.