| Corrections News On-Line December 2003 |
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| Directors Message |
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As you read this, our nation has just celebrated our annual “giving of thanks” for how much we, as Americans, have been blessed. I encourage each of you to take the time to reflect on the blessings in your life as we move into the holiday season.
As deputy director, I have the unique opportunity to help lead an organization that has a key role in the public safety – and thus the livability – of Oregon. It’s an honor to represent DOC’s 3,600 employees when my work takes me outside the agency. I truly appreciate this chance to grow both personally and professionally as we work to implement the Oregon Accountability Model and shape the Department of Corrections of the future.
You’ve likely heard a lot about succession planning, and you are going to hear more. We’ve had a lot of movement in the upper levels of this department’s management over the last two years, and that’s had a ripple effect throughout the agency. Retirements, promotions and structural changes create opportunities for many people to look at other jobs in the department and inspire them to develop new skills to move into those positions. This is a very good thing.
Also, we must not forget those who decide to remain where they are within our organization and the leadership they bring as they perform the many critical functions of this department. I appreciate and support both career paths, and know that without both this department would not be as great as it is.
The department has a succession planning website for employees at: www.oregon.gov/DOC/HR/s_welcome.shtml. It contains information about mentoring, leadership qualities, and how to become formally involved in the DOC’s succession planning efforts. I encourage you to visit the site and learn more about where your future in the Oregon Department of Corrections might take you.
As I’ve said before, I am grateful for your talents and thankful for all we do together. Be proud of it.
Warm regards,
Mitch Morrow
Deputy Director
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| PERS Update |
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Using Accrued Sick Leave at Retirement
With recent changes to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), there seems to be confusion about how accrued sick leave and vacation time are calculated at retirement. The following Q&A addresses some questions recently received by Human Resources:
Q. Do accrued sick leave and vacation time count toward my retirement?
A. They can. If you are PERS Tier 1, unused sick leave and vacation time can be used as part of your retirement calculations. If you are PERS Tier 2, unused sick leave can count, but not vacation time.
Q. Why the difference between the tiers?
A. When Tier 2 was created by the Legislature, it established a different level of benefits for those who began their eligible service on or after January 1, 1996. Part of that change was benefits would be calculated on wages earned, and would not include the credit for lump-sum payoffs for accrued vacation that Tier 1 members receive. So, cashed-in vacation time earnings only count toward retirement benefits for Tier 1 members.
Q. How can unused sick leave be used at retirement?
A. If a PERS employer offers the option of valuing unused sick leave (the State of Oregon does offer this option) and an employee chooses to retire under Full Formula or Formula Plus Annuity, half the value of employee’s unused sick leave will be used to increase the employee’s retirement benefit.
Q. What does that mean?
A. As retirees move away from the Money Match formula, using accrued sick leave this way can increase your monthly retirement benefits. Here’s how it works: Suppose you have 1,600 hours of unused sick leave at the time you retire. If you retire under the Full Formula or Formula Plus Annuity calculations, the value of 800 additional hours (about five months of pay) will be credited toward your final average salary calculation, thus increasing your retirement benefit.
Q. What if I have more questions about using accrued sick leave or vacation leave at retirement?
A. You can e-mail PERS or read more at the PERS Web site: www.pers.state.or.us.
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| Reintroducing Superintendents |
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Coffee Creek Correctional Facility: Bill Hoefel, superintendent (Nov. 2003). Bill began his career with the DOC in May 1983 as a prison steward in the kitchen of the Oregon State Penitentiary. He became OSP’s Food Services manager in 1994. Since then, Bill served as OSP acting assistant superintendent of General Services for several months before becoming assistant superintendent of Security. Bill served as OSP's assistant superintendent of General Services from 1998 until February 2001, when he was selected as assistant superintendent of General Services for the startup team at Coffee Creek. In February 2003, Bill moved to central office as chief of Support Operations. He succeeds Joan Palmateer, who became Institutions Division Administrator.
Columbia River Correctional Institution/ South Fork Forest Camp: Michael Gower, superintendent (Nov. 2003). Mike joined Corrections in May after a nearly 20-year law enforcement career. Formerly an Oregon State Police lieutenant and station commander of the Capitol Mall Patrol Office, he began as a patrol officer in Massachusetts in 1983. He joined Oregon State Police as a trooper in 1994. Mike’s affiliation with corrections reaches back many years, having worked with the department on investigations and other projects that gave him a solid understanding of the DOC. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from North Adams State College and a certificate in public safety management from the Mark Hatfield School of Government.
Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution: Sharon Blacketter, superintendent (Nov. 2003). Following a short time as superintendent of Shutter Creek Correctional Institution, Sharon succeeds Tony Santos as superintendent of EOCI. Working in corrections since 1991, her experience covers a broad array of corrections disciplines including counseling, work programs, training, cognitive programs, physical plant management, budgeting, security, and education. Sharon also managed Snake River’s 154-bed minimum-custody facility. Before joining the DOC, Sharon worked for 12 years in the administration of the Ontario school district.
Oregon State Correctional Institution: Nancy Howton, superintendent (Nov. 2003). Nancy joined the DOC in 1985 as a correctional officer at OSCI, where she promoted to corporal in 1986. In 1997, Nancy became a lieutenant at Santiam Correctional Institution in 1997 and a captain at OSCI in 1999. While at OSCI, she served as Operations captain, Security Threat Group manager, and acting executive assistant to the superintendent. In April 2001, Nancy joined the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility startup team as assistant superintendent. She holds an associate’s degree in industrial technology with an emphasis in criminal justice from Chemeketa Community College and an executive-level DPSST certification. Before joining the DOC, Nancy served four years’ active duty in the Marines. Nancy succeeds Jim Bartlett, who retired.
Oregon State Penitentiary: Brian Belleque, superintendent (June 2003). Beginning his DOC career as a correctional officer at OSP in 1983, Brian worked through the security ranks to hold positions of leadership at both OSP and Oregon State Correctional Institution. These positions included serving as manager of the Intensive Management Unit and security manager at OSCI. Brian became acting superintendent at OSP in September 2002 and superintendent in June 2003. He holds a bachelors’ degree in criminology from Southern Oregon State College and several DPSST certifications. He also attended the Legacy Program at Portland State University.
Powder River Correctional Facility: Dan Johnson, superintendent (Sept. 1998). Following a tour of duty in Vietnam as a paramedic, Dan went to work as a counselor for the Children’s Home Society of Idaho. Making the jump to corrections in Idaho, in 1972 he moved to Oregon as a correctional officer at OSCI. Serving OSCI in positions including recreational therapist, recreation manager and security manager, Dan was selected to be superintendent of Powder River Correctional Facility in 1987, overseeing its construction. In 1994 Dan became superintendent of Snake River Correctional Institution. He moved back to PRCF as superintendent in 1998. Dan attended both Oregon College of Education and Chemeketa Community College, where he focused on corrections administration.
Santiam Correctional Institution/Mill Creek Correctional Facility: Frank Thompson, superintendent (Nov. 2003). Frank joined the DOC in 1994 as superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary. In 1997 he moved to the central office as an assistant director for Institutions, later becoming superintendent of Columbia River Correctional Institution. His earlier career in Arkansas included work with the Job Corps, an economic opportunity agency, and 10 years with the Arkansas Department of Corrections, where he served in positions ranging from personnel administrator to superintendent. Frank holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas in social welfare and did graduate work in law and public administration.
Shutter Creek Correctional Institution: Tim Causey, acting superintendent (Nov. 2003). Tim joined the DOC in July 1990 and served six years as a correctional officer at Oregon State Penitentiary, including five years in the Special Management Unit. In 1996, Tim transferred to Shutter Creek as a counselor. He was AFSCME president and chief steward at SCCI for the non-security unit for two years. Following a job rotation as food services manager, Tim became SCCI Program Services manager in August 2002. He holds an associate's degree in corrections from Chemeketa Community College in Salem, and served in the U.S. Air Force.
Snake River Correctional Institution: Jean Hill, superintendent (Sept. 2002). Jean joined the DOC in 1990 as assistant director for Information Systems. She then served as superintendent of Powder River Correctional Facility and of Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution before becoming superintendent at SRCI. Earlier, Jean worked in public safety for county and city government in both Oregon and Montana. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with minors in political science, corrections and social work from Montana State University.
Two Rivers Correctional Institution: Guy Hall, superintendent (May 2003). Guy joined the DOC in September 1998 as superintendent at Santiam Correctional Institution and Mill Creek Correctional Facility. He moved to TRCI in May 2003. His earlier career included 15 years with the State of Hawaii Department of Public Safety. Guy holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Hawaii and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Willamette University.
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| DOC's New Porject Manager |
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DOC’s new project manager is Mary Philp. A native Oregonian, she grew up in Salem. Her career began with Marion County Public Health where she worked on the start-up of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program. After a time working as a research chemist, Mary joined state service as a caseworker for Adult and Family Services in 1991. She worked briefly as an investigator for the DCBS Workers’ Compensation Division before moving into staff training, organizational development and managing projects for state agencies including the Oregon departments of Human Services, Administrative Services and Justice. She holds a bachelor’s degree from NW Nazarene College.
Married to City of Salem firefighter/paramedic Mark Philp, they live in Salem with their two children and a nearly 200-pound English Mastiff named Katie Bear. When she isn’t working, Mary enjoys collecting antique jewelry. Mary succeeds Tonya Ruscoe, who left for a position in the private sector with Holiday Retirement Corp.
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| Static-99 Training |
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Changing the Tool for Assessing Sex Offenders
Accurately assessing a sex offender’s risk for recidivism requires special tools. The Oregon Department of Corrections is in the process of changing from the SORA (Sex Offender Risk Assessment) to Static-99.
“Studies show that Static-99 is a good predictor of the levels of risk for the offender being reconvicted and imprisoned for a new sexual or violent offense,” says DOC Counseling and Treatment Services Administrator Arthur Tolan. “DOC staff are training on Static-99 now, with the complete switch from SORA by the end of January.”
The new evaluation tool is targeted at adult males who have already been convicted of at least one sexual offense against a child or non-consenting adult. After Static-99 evaluation, offenders are rated in one of four categories (low, medium-low, medium-high or high) based on their previous offending history, characteristics of their offenses, their ages, and the status of their domestic relationships.
“The strengths of the Static-99 are that it uses risk factors that have been empirically shown to be associated with sexual recidivism and gives explicit rules for combining these factors into a total risk score,” Arthur says. “It provides clear probability estimates of sexual reconviction, is easily scored, and has been shown to be robustly predictive across several settings using a variety of samples.”
Static-99 results will be used to set custody status while in prison as well as terms of supervision in the community after release. For more information, contact Dr. Arthur Tolan at (503) 378-8373 or by e-mail to: arthur.tolan@doc.state.or.us.
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| Intake Center |
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Staff Works to Meet Increased Demand
The unexpectedly high number of new inmates coming into Oregon's prison system led the department to open the Intake D-Unit ahead of schedule. On November 12, 108 new beds opened to bring the total capacity of the men's intake center at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility to 432.
"We had 474 intakes in October," says Intake Center Administrator Kevin Hormann. "We were forced to send a number offenders out to the institutions before they went through the complete intake process. While we tried to divert only those inmates with less than 12 months left, on some days we had to reach out further." In those cases, Kevin says only the minimum evaluation of medical, mental health, security classification and Incarceration Plan needs assessments were done. "We were just maxed out on our ability to do all the criminogenic risk assessments."
Adding to the challenge was a number of vacant intake counselor positions. Those have been filled, and the new staff is beginning the training needed for the complex criminogenic risk factor assessments. "We hope to be up to speed in a few months," Kevin says. "I know this has been frustrating not only for us, but also for the receiving institutions."
Kevin reports that all of the inmates moved out of intake early because of crowding have been caught up at least on their Incarceration Plans and security classifications. He says there are a few inmates who were sent out early because of medical or disciplinary reasons who will have those assessments over the next few months. "The number of incoming inmates rose so significantly and so quickly," says Kevin. "Our thanks go to all of you who are working to get us through this challenging time!"
For more information, contact OCIC Administrator Kevin Hormann at (503) 570-6460 or by e-mail to: kevin.r.hormann@doc.state.or.us.
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| Internal Audits |
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Strive to Increase Efficiency
As part of ongoing efficiency efforts, the DOC is always on the lookout for ways to “do more with less.” A new focus on performance audits will help define these opportunities.
Performance audits look at systems, not individuals. For example, the Internal Audits team might look at ways to consolidate work activities to get economies of scale, improve efficiency, and streamline processes. Internal audits also can compare what we are doing as an agency with our stated mission, goals and budget notes.
Typical questions asked by Internal Audits include: “What keeps you up at night? … What concerns you?” It’s finding answers to these questions about risk to the agency that guides Internal Audits’ work.
“We’re turning our focus to be proactive, not reactive,” says Internal Audits Administrator Denise Teixeira. “We want to figure out potential problems and deal with them before they become real problems.”
Denise and Senior Auditor Stacy Lesikar are working on an agency-wide risk assessment. In particular, they are looking at where the DOC can improve its ability to meet its mission and goals, including the Oregon Accountability Model.
For more information on Internal Audits, contact Denise Teixeira at (503) 945-8960 or by e-mail: denise.l.teixeira@doc.state.or.us.
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| CCCF Recognized |
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Innovative Work to Improve Outcomes for Children of Incarcerated Parents
Coffee Creek Correctional Facility and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Project are among the first recipients of the Oregon Judicial Department’s new “Blue Ribbon Awards.” The awards are presented by Citizen Review Board volunteers to recognize local community partners who have shown outstanding support of children, youth and families.
Coffee Creek and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Project were honored for “the parenting curriculum, therapeutic visitation, specialized visiting room for children, Early Head Start and Even Start programs at the prison site, and strong use of volunteers to help released female inmates parent their children again.” The award was presented in Eugene on November 19.
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| More News... |
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- EAP and the Holiday Season: Holidays can be a time of joy connecting with family and friends, yet is also can be a time of added stress. Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) invites you to use them as a resource to help you learn stress-reducing ways to enjoy the holiday season in addition to its full range of crisis management and counseling services. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you can reach Cascade Center by e-mail at: www.cascadecenter.com. You can call them statewide at 1-800-433-2320, in Salem at 503-588-0777, and in Portland at 503-639-3009.
- Inmate debit calling is coming soon to a prison near you: The DOC is expanding to all prisons the debit phone calling system recently piloted at CCCF. Inmates will be able to choose between purchasing pre-paid phone time and placing the traditional collect calls. Debit calls will be at a discounted rate and also will eliminate the problem of blocked collect calls. The schedule and more information will go out to inmates in coming weeks. Changes to the system will begin in early 2004.
DOC Corrections News
Oregon Department of Corrections
Benjamin de Haan, Ph. D., 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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