Fight, investigation prompt statewide prison lockdown

• Quinton Chandler
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  Quinton is an Oklahoma native who started his radio career with KOSU Public Radio in 2011. He’s a graduate of Oklahoma State University. Before joining StateImpact, Quinton spent three years reporting in South Central and Southeast Alaska. Quinton loves writing, reading and has an intense relationship with his Netflix account.

A Monday night fight among approximately six prisoners prompted the Department of Corrections to lock down prisons across the state.

It’s the second time the prison system has gone on lockdown in less than a year.

After the fight at Mack Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown, investigators discovered a possibility more fights could erupt in other prisons.

According to a written statement, the Department of Corrections ordered a statewide prison lockdown as a precaution.

Visitation is canceled at all corrections facilities. During lockdowns prisoners are restricted to their cells for the majority of the day.

Last September, the agency also issued a statewide lockdown after multiple coordinated gang-fights in six Oklahoma corrections facilities.

Thirty-six prisoners were sent to hospitals, and one man was killed.