| Corrections News On-Line April 2003 |
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| Directors Message |
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We had a great visit on the east side of the state last month. On March 17, we went with Assistant Director for Institutions Mitch Morrow to visit institutions and meet with members of the Eastern Oregon communities in which our prisons are located. The trip was successful, and led to some good conversations with DOC staff and community leaders.
It’s gratifying how much support our prisons get from their communities. Ask citizens in Baker City, Ontario, and Umatilla to take an interest in their local prison and the response is overwhelming. Positive community involvement is important on a number of fronts. First of all, DOC employees and their families are members of those communities and play a valuable role in the local economy. We buy houses, send our children to schools, and are a part of the fabric of everyday life.
Second, in most communities inmate work crews are out and about cleaning up roadsides and parks. Local citizens reacting positively to our crews goes a long way toward providing inmates with opportunities to work and make a positive contribution.
Third, strong ties between the prison and the community lead to cooperation and creative solutions. For example, in Baker City, the community is helping to build a facility for inmates to recycle printer toner cartridges. Civic leaders also presented a number of ideas for partnerships. Another example is the City of Wilsonville, which has become one of the department’s staunchest supporters, working with us to find new ways to help Coffee Creek inmates return to their communities as better parents and responsible citizens.
As we prepare to fill several superintendent positions around the state, we are looking for leaders who understand the importance of strong relationships with their communities and building positive citizen involvement. However, community relationships take more than just a superintendent. Each of us is an ambassador for the work of the Oregon Department of Corrections, and we are proud of what we do.
Warm regards,
Ben de Haan Nick Armenakis
Interim Director Deputy Director
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| Inmate Reentry Savings Account |
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This month, Powder River Correctional Facility begins a six-month pilot on a new Inmate Reentry Savings Account program as part of the Oregon Accountability Model. In preparation for their release back to the community, PRCF inmates will be required to save at least 10 percent of their funds from the following sources until they have accumulated $160 in their accounts:
- Certified pay
- Hobby Shop sales
- Inmate Work Programs awards
- Money orders/Certified checks
- PRAS Awards
- Social Security checks
The 10 percent will be deducted from the total amount deposited, before any other debts are collected. Inmates may choose to donate up to another 20 percent. Deposits during December and funds identified for medical/dental/optical services won’t be withheld.
An inmate also can choose to move money from his Inmate Trust Account to his Inmate Reentry Account during Admission and Orientation, and once a year after that (any fines owed will be deducted from his Inmate Trust Account first). After the inmate has saved $160, any further deposits to the account are voluntary. Money cannot be moved back from the Reentry Account to the Trust Account.
Further, all PRCF inmates will be required to attend money management classes, where they will create budgets using their Reentry Accounts after release. Once created, the counselor will meet with the inmate to ensure the inmate has included necessary expenses, such as bus tickets, food, clothing, and housing.
Funds in the Reentry Savings Account won’t be subject to debt collection. If the inmate is transferred out of PRCF, he is removed from the pilot but his funds remain in his Reentry Savings Account for his eventual release.
Approved reentry-related expenditures from the account will be allowed before release. The balance of the account will be transferred to the inmate’s Oregon Trail Offender Debit Card approximately two days before release.
In six months, the department will evaluate whether to continue the pilot or to expand it throughout the department. For more information, contact Heidi Steward at (503) 945-9056 or by e-mail: heidi.r.steward@doc.state.or.us
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| Role Modeling |
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Role Modeling - Be Worthy of Respect And Imitation
(Third in a series of articles focusing on the Oregon Accountability Model in DOC in-service training)Emerson wrote: "That which we are, we shall teach, not voluntarily but involuntarily.” In other words, our behavior - whether good or bad -- is observed and imitated. Like it or not, every minute on the job each of us is a role model to co-workers and to the inmates in our care.
In our work -- no matter where we are or what we are doing -- others observe us. They see how we interact with others and how we react to different situations. They watch how we express ourselves and our level of confidence. Every action we take can be a learning experience for those around us.
How many times have you been at a public event where something unexpected happened? Did you look at the leader of the event to see his or her reaction to it? Sure you did … and so did nearly everyone else in the audience. Was that person’s reaction worthy of respect? It is in these moments that much of our perceptions of a person are formed.
Take a step back and look at yourself. Are you consistently modeling pro-social interactions? Would you like to see released offenders use you as a role model in their interactions with their families or in other social situations in the community? Like it or not, what we do, we teach.
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| Imminent Domain |
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“Domain” … what does it mean and why is it important to you? Well, Webster’s Dictionary says that a domain is: “a territory over which rule or control is exercised.” However, you have to go to a computer-speak dictionary to get the definition used in this article: “A group of computers whose host names share a common suffix, the ‘domain name.’”
The department’s Information Systems Services Division (ISSD) has been “migrating” (moving) individual users and work locations to a new “DOC” domain, switching everyone from Windows NT to Windows 2000 servers. Most of the changes will be invisible. The main difference users will notice is the five different drive letters on the servers. Here’s what they mean:
C Drive: This is the home for files on your computer that don’t get backed up and are not centrally stored on the server. When you save to the C drive, you cannot access the file from another computer. Also, files saved on C drives are not centrally recoverable. Thus, if your hard drive crashes, you likely will lose these files unless you have personally saved them elsewhere.
H Drive: This is the home folder for your own documents. The security permissions are set so only the owner can access them. These files are backed up on the central server each night, and are recoverable for about two weeks. You can access your H drive files from other locations on the DOC network.
P Drive: This is the public folder on the server for your local network for documents you wish to share at your physical location or facility. Each physical location or facility has its own separate P Drive. To use the P Folder, ask the ISSD Helpdesk to set it up to share with particular people. The Helpdesk can help you set permissions on the documents you own. For example, you can post documents as “read only.”
U Drive: This is a universal folder for department wide sharing. Users follow the same process as for the P folder by contacting the Helpdesk, but this folder can be shared with any DOC employee(s), regardless of their work location(s).
“We expect to use the U drive in a lot of ways to replace public folders in Outlook,” says ISSD Technical Support Manager Roy Bruce. “Right now, postings get copied to all mail servers, and this becomes a storage issue. The U drive will solve that problem.”
Z Drive: This is used internally by your computer to create your H drive and exists only for internal processes. ISSD requests that users disregard the Z drives on their computers and not use them.
Bruce reports the conversion to the DOC domain is 95 percent complete. “The new drive system gives users choices and can ensure that important department information is backed up, accessible from other computers, and that the computer system is more efficient,” concludes Bruce. For more information, contact him at: roy.v.bruce@doc.state.or.us
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| Orange Alert Precautions |
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On March 17, the national security warning system threat was raised from yellow to orange, based on information suggesting an increased risk of potential attacks on the United States and its interests abroad.
While we have no reason to believe that Oregon would be a target for terror, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) says Oregon is prepared to respond. State agencies have been working together since 1999 to guard against and respond to terrorist attacks. The following list of activities from DAS gives us some practical steps we can all take:
Building Security:
- Enforce appropriate security practices (such as wearing required ID badges).
- As you enter and leave your building, be vigilant and check for things or activities that look out of place or are not normally there. Report anything of concern to your supervisor.
- Review evacuation plans with managers, including the identification and roles of evacuation coordinators. Hold practice drills as needed.
Mail and Packages:
“Cyber Attack”:
- DAS/IRMD can immediately shut off access to the Internet in the event of a “cyber attack.” IRMD actively monitors the statewide area network for intrusions or unusual activity, and can restrict data flow between network segments, even down to the specific protocol level (web, email, or any other kind of traffic). In the event of a major intrusion attempt, they will shut down Internet connectivity entirely at both the Portland and Eugene connection points.
General Preparedness:
- Every Oregonian is encouraged to develop a family disaster response plan, including preparation of a disaster kit and a family communication plan. A good resource for developing such a plan is the American Red Cross Web site: www.redcross.org.
- For state and national updates go to: www.oregon.gov.
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| GETsmart Research Service |
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The Oregon State Library can deliver almost any article or book directly to your desk, even if the only copy of what you need is in a library thousands of miles away. A service to those needing information to conduct agency business, the State Library’s ”GETsmart” service can get you what you need.
When you register for services, you can also, at no extra charge to you or the department:
- Access full text journals, books, legal information, maps and a variety of other useful services online.
- Create announcement and discussion lists to help you conduct agency business.
To learn more about “GETsmart” services, log on to: www.smartorgov.org.
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| More News... |
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- Congratulations to CRCI Superintendent Frank Thompson, a recipient of this year's African-American "Living Legends" award from Willamette University.
- Kudos to TRCI Superintendent Robert Schiedler, honored by the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce as the “2003 Outstanding Businessperson of the Year.”
- Fax number change: Payroll, Records and Recruitment's fax number is now (503) 378-5312.
- Deployments: Our very best wishes go to:
OSP Capt. Dave Andrews and OSP CO Cecil Reaves, who were called up March 15.
EOCI CO Douglas Byerly is in the Army. His wife, Shannon Byerly, is a nurse at EOCI.
EOCI CO Mick G. Mikkelson is in the Air Force in Spokane and may be deployed overseas.
SRCI CO Ezra Haynes is currently activated in Boise, Idaho as an MP with the Idaho National Guard at Gowen Field.
SRCI CO Mike Clark is in Kuwait with the Idaho Air National Guard.
SRCI CO Steven Brown is at Ft. Carson with the Idaho Army Reserve
SRCI CO Darren Lee is with the Army National Guard's Special Forces
Correction: SCI Food Services Coordinator Scott Roberts deployed last month for a year of active duty with the Air Force. Scott’s wife is Institutions Division Executive Support Specialist Susan Roberts.
Known contact information for deployed staff:
Matthew Brady (CCCF Lt.)
E-mail: bradymj@bragg.army.mil
Steven Brown (SRCI CO)
E-mail: Brownsr55@yahoo.com
Currently deployed to Ft. Carson, Colorado with the US Army Reserves
Janet Christy (CRCI CO)
E-mail: janetchristy1@yahoo.com
Richard M. Clark (SRCI CO)
E-mail: Richard.Clark@jaber.af.mil
Currently deployed in Kuwait with the Idaho Air National Guard.
Alan Humphrey (TRCI CO)
E-mail: HHC1249EN@yahoo.com
Darren Lee (SRCI CO)
E-mail: Clown924@aol.com
Darrell Saxton (SRCI CO)
E-mail: Derwood@fmtc.com
Currently deployed to Diego Garcia with the US Naval Reserves.
Sheldon Roy (OSCI Lt.)
E-mail: sheldon.w.roy@us.army.mil
Currently deployed in Kuwait with the Army.
Scott Shively (SRCI CO)
E-mail: Scottglocku701@netscape.net
Currently deployed to Diego Garcia with the US Naval Reserves.
Mailing address: Nav Chap, PSC 466 Box 56, FPO AP 96595-0056
(Editor’s note: If you know of other DOC staff who have been or will be deployed, who want their e-mail addresses shared, or who have recently returned, please let Corrections News OnLine know.)
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| Coming Events... |
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Fifth Annual DOC Golf Tournament on June 21
You are invited to play in the 5th Annual Oregon Department of Corrections Benefit Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 21, 2003 at the Pendleton Country Club. The tournament will have a four-person scramble format and an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. Each team must include at least one current or former DOC employee.
The $55 per person entry cost includes green fees, lunch, T-shirt, free soda while you are playing, and the chance to win some great prizes. For more information, contact TRCI Lt. Robert Hillmick at (541) 922-2047 or robert.w.hillmick@doc.state.or.us.
OCJA’s 2003 East Region Pistol Match on May 10
Snake River Correctional Institution will again host the Oregon Criminal Justice Association’s East Region Pistol Match. The May 10 competition is open to all active and reserve police officers, correctional officers and parole and probation officers. Family members are welcome to attend (with appropriate safety wear).
The pre-registration deadline is April 15, 2003. You can get more information and download registration forms at: www.ocja.org/
DOC Corrections News
Oregon Department of Corrections
Ben de Haan, Interim Director
The mission of the Oregon Department of Corrections is to
promote public safety by holding offenders accountable for their
actions and reducing the risk of future criminal behavior.
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