§ 22-1277 — Prosecutions of offenses committed by inmates of penal

institutions - Habeas corpus - Costs, expenses, fees. A. The Department of Corrections shall pay a fee as provided in subsection D of this section for criminal prosecutions conducted in any county where a penal institution or community correction center is located in this state when the prosecution involves: 1. A violation of any criminal law committed by any prisoner housed in any penal institution or community correction center of this state; or 2. A crime committed in furtherance of an escape, flight or concealment as a fugitive from any penal institution or community correction center of this state. B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall apply whether the prisoner is confined or permitted to be at large as a trusty or otherwise. Provided, however, the provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply to inmates incarcerated in any correctional facility which is not operated by or under contract with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. C. The cost of any habeas corpus proceedings instituted by any prisoner of any penal institution or community correction center which is operated by or under contract with this state shall be paid by the Department of Corrections out of any funds provided for the support and maintenance of the institution of which the person committing such crime, or instituting such habeas corpus proceedings, is a prisoner, upon the filing of a verified and itemized claim from the court clerk of the county where the proceedings were held. D. The Department of Corrections shall pay a fee of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) upon the filing of a criminal action pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 or 2 of subsection A of this section, and an additional fee of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) upon acquittal or conviction of each such prisoner prosecuted, regardless of the number of charges or counts which arise out of the same incident. The fee shall be paid to the district court fund of the county where the action arose. The fee shall be in lieu of any expenses authorized by law for a criminal prosecution and chargeable against the Department of Corrections. The fee shall be paid at the conclusion of the prosecution and upon a proper invoice by the court clerk to the Department. Failure to pay the cost shall not constitute grounds for dismissal of the criminal action. E. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the court from ordering the costs and expenses of a criminal prosecution to be paid by the inmate or restrict the court clerk from collecting such costs and expenses from the inmate.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 1935, p. 20, § 1. Amended by Laws 1955, p. 201, § 1, emerg. eff. June 2, 1955; Laws 1957, p. 169, § 1, emerg. eff. May 28, 1957; Laws 1961, p. 238, § 1, emerg. eff. May 15, 1961; Laws 1986, c. 314, § 7, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1992, c. 319, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 2002, c. 159, § 1, emerg. eff. April 29, 2002.