Oxford, AL – The Oxford Police Department (OPD) is investigating the reported escape of an individual from a rehabilitation facility in Oxford and raising broader concerns about the lack of oversight of similar facilities operating throughout Calhoun County.
According to OPD, on February 3, 2026, the department was notified by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office that a white male, identified as Daniel Lee Jackson, had been committed to a rehabilitation facility in Oxford. Officers later learned that Jackson reportedly escaped from the facility on February 2, 2026. OXPD stated it had not been notified by the rehabilitation facility at the time of the escape.
Investigators advised that Jackson has an extensive criminal history, including burglary and breaking and entering vehicles. Police noted that this incident highlights ongoing public safety concerns related to unregulated rehabilitation facilities housing hundreds of individuals across Calhoun County. In recent years, OXPD has investigated multiple crimes — including vehicle thefts, burglaries, assaults, and robberies — involving individuals transported into the county and placed in these facilities without adequate coordination or oversight.
OPD has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine whether additional individuals may have escaped from rehabilitation facilities in Oxford or elsewhere in Calhoun County without proper notification to law enforcement. Police also expressed concern over the practice of releasing individuals with significant criminal histories at retail locations or other public places without accountability, stating that such actions pose unnecessary risks to the community.
Jackson has since turned himself in to his parole officer and is currently in custody.
In response to the incident, the Calhoun County Commission issued a statement emphasizing the need for regulation of rehabilitation programs and halfway houses. County officials said they are working with stakeholders, including the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, municipal leaders, and other law enforcement agencies, to establish a framework that protects public safety.
The commission noted that legislation passed in 2025, HB211/SB41, provides authority to address these issues but acknowledged that counties face limitations under Alabama law compared to municipalities, which already have tools such as zoning, licensing, and inspection authority. As a result, the county must develop a regulatory and enforcement system from the ground up.
Both OPD and the County Commission reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for reasonable regulation, state certification, and accountability for rehabilitation facilities to ensure transparency, public safety, and community trust.
