| Columbia River Correctional Institution |
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| Mission Statement |
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- Maintain custody and control of inmates classified as minimum custody in a safe, secure, positive and humane environment.
- Establish an effective level of security and custodial supervision of inmates to provide protection for the community.
- Provide programs and opportunities for offenders to make positive changes in their lives and acquire new skills for productive living.
- Coordinate the release and return of inmates to the Portland metropolitan area, maintaining close working relationships with county community services staff, local law enforcement, and other public/private agencies and special interest groups.
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Within the confines of this mission, Columbia River Correctional Institution
will establish an institutional environment which mirrors the outside community
as closely as possible.
The focus at CRCI is on creating a smooth transition from the institution
back into the community.
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| General Information |
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Columbia River Correctional Institution (CRCI) is a 540 bed minimum security facility which was constructed on a 26 acre site in Northeast Portland at a cost of approximately $13 million. CRCI officially opened in September 1990. Located in the largest metropolitan area of the state, this facility is a combined restitution, alcohol/drug treatment center, and release facilty.
The facility provides a full range of correctional services and programs which directly support the Department of Corrections primary mission. These include:
(1) A 50 bed residential Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program (Turning Point), operating under a contract with a private provider, and a 50 bed dual-diagnosis Mental Health Treatment Unit (Freedom Program).
(2) Basic adult education, life skills and job readiness training. Restitution and Community Service work programs for 400 inmates, with assignment to public service crews.
(3) The institution employs 120 FTE general funded staff and approximately 50 staff provided under contracted services. CRCI has strong "community oriented" programming for inmates and utilizes a large number of community volunteers in its programs.
(4) Inmates residing at Columbia River Correctional Institution are required and expected to work. To that end, Work Crews are formed and subsequently employed by many public agencies, organizations and private businesses throughout the greater Tri-County area.
CRCI operates South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) , a 200 bed minimum-security correctional work camp for male inmates near Tillamook, Oregon, which is managed jointly with the Oregon Department of Forestry. Inmates assigned to the SFFC provide labor for forest management, firefighting, and parks maintenance.
CRCI is a two story structure designed to separately house 540 male inmates in dormitory style housing units. Two 50 bed dormitories have been designated as residential treatment centers where inmates are involved in an intensive Alcohol and/or Drug treatment program for six months or more. These two dormitories are self-contained providing inmates in treatment with the opportunity to successfully complete the program without unnecessary distractions from the general inmate population. The programs offered to other inmates in the facility focus on the development of work habits and skills necessary to obtain and maintain employment.
The building was constructed to be cost effective, durable and low maintenance. The metal roofing and siding materials are long lasting and low maintenance. The flat roofs are constructed with a single ply roofing and rock ballast. The exterior wall material provides insulation for the building and a durable, low maintenance surface. The concrete wainscot provides a strong surface at ground level.
The interior was designed to be open for maximum visibility throughout the main corridor and from within the control center. Natural lighting was used to reduce the need for artificial lighting. The finish materials on the inside were chosen, once again, for their durability, low maintenance, and cost effectiveness. The dormitories consist of exposed tilt-up concrete walls and concrete masonry walls. The floors are covered with vinyl tile, except for the bathrooms, which have ceramic tile. Again, only durable, long lasting materials were used.
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| CRCI Management Team |
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CRCI Management Team Main Number 503-280-6646
Paula Myers
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Superintendent |
ext 206 |
| Dave Conway |
Operations Manager |
ext 218 |
| Dean Harlow |
Institution Security Manager |
ext 215 |
| Kari Lady |
Transitional Services Manager |
ext 256 |
| Dale Ahlstrom |
Physical Plant Manager |
ext 237 |
| Greg Smith |
Safety and Sanitation Manager |
ext 212 |
| Karen Ireland |
Medical Services Manager |
ext 220 |
| Frank Hernandez |
Food Services Manager |
ext 250 |
| Chuck Haas |
Counseling and Treatment Services Manager |
ext 240 |
| Susan Erickson |
Executive Support / Public Information Officer |
ext 217 |
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| Visiting Information and Tours |
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Families and friends may visit inmates housed at CRCI on specific days and times providing the necessary forms have been received by the institution prior to the visit. These forms (CD 50D) must have been submitted by the inmate in question, not the visitor. To visit an inmate at CRCI, you must first contact the inmate (by phone or mail) and request to be added to their approved visitor list. The inmate will then fill out the appropriate forms and initiate the process.
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| There are several types of visits allowed, ranging from special visits to basic visits. Most friends and family members of inmates will fall into either the privileged visit or basic visit categories. |
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| In addition to inmate visits, the public may arrange for group tours of the institution. This will allow you to see, first hand, what day-to-day activities within an institution are like. Please be aware that the following conditions must be met prior to a tour of the Columbia River Correctional Institution. |
- No minors are allowed - with some exceptions made for schools or class groups.
- All visitors will be subjected to a background check.
- Visitors must abide by the D.O.C. Rules of Conduct for Visitors.
- Please call at least a week before your group wishes to tour the institution and make the arrangements.
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For more information on institution tours for your group, please contact CRCI´s Public Relations Officer,Susan Erickson, at (503) 280-6646 ext. 217.
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Your conduct as a visitor in an Oregon Department of Corrections Institution is expected to conform to standards of common decency and consideration for others.
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VISITING HOURS |
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| DAY |
AFTERNOON |
EVENING |
| FRIDAYS |
No Visiting |
6:30 PM -to- 9:00 PM |
| SATURDAYS |
2:00 PM -to- 4:00 PM |
6:30 PM -to- 9:00 PM |
| BASIC VISITS |
2:00 PM -to- 3:00 PM |
6:30 PM -to- 8:30 PM |
| SUNDAYS |
2:00 PM -to- 4:00 PM |
6:30 PM -to- 9:00 PM |
| BASIC VISITS |
2:00 PM -to- 4:00 PM |
6:30 PM -to- 8:30 PM |
| HOLIDAYS |
2:00 PM -to- 4:00 PM |
6:30 PM -to- 9:00 PM |
You must arrive at least one half hour before visiting ends or you will not be permitted to visit.
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| Types of Visits: |
| (1) Accompanied Visit: A visit which involves a minor child and is authorized only if the minor child remains in the company of an adult visitor as agreed upon in writing with the custodial parent or guardian.
(2) Basic Visit: The opportunity for an inmate and approved visitor to see and talk with each other, on a scheduled basis for a reasonable amount of time, with no physical contact.
(3) Privileged Visit: The opportunity for an inmate and an approved visitor to see and talk to each other in an informal setting, on a scheduled basis for a reasonable amount of time, with limited physical contact.
(4) Special Visit: A visit granted to a person not on the approved visiting list; an extra visit granted an approved visitor beyond established limits; and/or, a visit granted to occur at an hour and/or place when visits are not normally permitted.
(5)Business Visit: Visits for nonsocial purposes by attorneys, representatives of criminal justice agencies and other public or government agencies may be approved as business visits. Such visits should be made by appointment during visiting hours. These individuals must present credentials at the visiting desk identifying themselves as attorneys, representatives of criminal justice agencies, and/or other state agencies, e.g., Oregon State Police.
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| The Visiting Point System: |
| Visits with inmates at CRCI are calculated on a point system. Inmates are granted 24 visiting points per calendar month. Each visit results in subtraction of points depending on the day and time of visit. Visits on Friday evenings are worth one (1) point per visitor (children included). Visits on weekends or holidays are worth two (2) points per visitor (children included). When all points are used up, no further visiting is allowed until the next calendar month. |
| Other visiting considerations: |
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Visitors are allowed only one (1) visiting session per day on weekends and holidays
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An inmate may receive no more than four (4) visitors at any one time
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Inmates can have up to fifteen (15) visitors on their approved list
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Children under the age of ten (10) years of age are not counted as one of the maximum number of fifteen permitted to visit, although their names must still be on the approved visiting list
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Visitors may not be on more than one inmate´s approved visiting list at the institution where confined, except for visitors who are immediate family members
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| Rules of Conduct for Visitors: |
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Visitors who exhibit indication of the use of alcohol, narcotics, or other intoxicants shall not be permitted visits.
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No physical contact, except for a brief embrace and kiss upon meeting and leaving. Hand holding and holding of small children under eight (8) years of age are the only physical contact permitted during visits.
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Visitors should wear conventional clothing in a manner which is not unduly suggestive or tight-fitting, does not resemble inmate attire, and does not create a security hazard. Clothing, hairstyles, insignias or other paraphernalia associated with street gangs will not be permitted.
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(3a) Dresses, skirts, jumpers, culottes, and pants should not be worn more than two (2) inches above the knee cap. Slit dresses/skirts are only allowed if the slit is not more than two (2) inches above the knee. Wraparound skirts are not allowed.
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(3b) Halter dresses, halter tops, tube tops, and dresses or tops with plunging/low-cut necklines are not allowed.
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(3c) See-through clothing, including sheer fabrics and loose weave, are not allowed. Clothing that exposes an undue amount of flesh (e.g., exposing chest, back, thighs, or midsection) are not allowed.
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(3d) Visitors are required to wear underclothes.
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(3e) Hats are not allowed within the main visiting room.
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(3f) Outer garments such as raincoats, ski jackets, and other garments which protect against rain and other inclement weather are not allowed within the main visiting room.
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(3g) Footwear must be worn.
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All documents/items will be searched prior to entering or leaving the visiting area.
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Visitors may not exchange any object or article with an inmate.
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Visitors with small children must keep them under control at all times. Children must be removed from the visiting area if necessary to avoid disturbing other visitors.
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No smoking is allowed in any Department of Corrections visiting area.
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| Health Services |
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Health care services are provided by the Oregon Department of Corrections, Health Services section. Emergency care is available at local hospitals, when needed. CRCI provides security escort and supervision, as well as hospital watches when inmates from CRCI or other institutions are hospitalized in the Portland area.
The Medical Clinic provides a daily "sick-call." If necessary, an inmate may be scheduled to see the nurse practitioner, available in the clinic five days per week, or the physician, who is available two days per week.
Dental care is also available three days per week. Additionally, mental health services, provided through the department Counseling and Treatment Services (CTS), are available to inmates as needed.
Programs include HIV Awareness, AIDS Counseling, Domestic Violence Group, and Victims Abuse Group. Treatment service providers schedule groups and counseling sessions four days per week.
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| Recreational Activities |
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| In an effort to promote good health and well being, inmates are encouraged to take part in many recreational and other outdoor activities offered to them every day. Inmates are allowed access to the Recreation Yard three times per day for recreational purposes. |
Organized yard activities include:
- Soccer leagues
- Basketball leagues
- Volleyball leagues
- Pickle-ball leagues (like tennis with a wiffle-ball and high net)
- Iron Man competitions
- Annual summer yard concerts
- Native American pow-wow's
- Latino Folkloric Ballet
- Special holiday "Summer Fun 'n Games" (Labor Day, July 4th, & Memorial Day - activities include 3 legged races, Frisbee® toss, 60 meter dash, relay races, "Hot Shots" free-throw competition, etc.)
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Individual recreational activities include:
- Weight lifting
- Jogging / walking trail
- Hackey-sack
- Other miscellaneous games and activities
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Indoor activities include:
- Aerobics
- Yoga
- Stationary bicycles
- Bingo
- Karaoke
- Numerous board games and other indoor activities (cards, chess, etc.)
- Current-run movies are shown nightly
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| CRCI Prison Advisory Committee |
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The Department of Corrections (DOC) recognizes the importance of creating partnerships with Oregon Communities where correctional facilities are located. Therefore, the DOC, in cooperation with Portland, Oregon established the Columbia River Correctional Institution Prison Advisory Committee on September 11, 2000.
“The mission of the Columbia River Correctional Institution Prison Advisory Committee is to enhance the effectiveness of CRCI by communicating with and advising CRCI Administration on correctional issues affecting the community”
Purpose
1. Serve as a citizen advisory group to the facility superintendent and designated Department of Corrections representatives regarding correctional issues, activities and practices affecting their community.
2. To promote open and effective communications between the DOC, the Columbia River Correctional Institution and the community during the life of the facility, from siting through operation and ultimate closure.
3. To serve as a community-based conduit through which information is disseminated to and received from the public.
4. To work in cooperation with the Superintendent to address specific issues that develop during the life of the facility.
5. To assist the Superintendent in developing and promoting safe opportunities for utilization of inmate labor.
6. To work in cooperation with the Superintendent to promote, support, and communicate DOC’s mission, vision and values.
Minutes of the latest CRCI Prison Advisory Committee Meeting can be viewed here.
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