| Corrections News On-Line January 2002 |
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| From Dave Cook & Ben de Haan |
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Measuring Performance to Meet Our Goals
The department’s mission is to promote public safety by holding offenders accountable for their actions and reducing the risk of future criminal behavior. That makes preparing inmates for release a job for all staff, not just inmate counselors.
We are often asked by legislators and taxpayers why it is important to give inmates work skills, alcohol and drug treatment, and provide religious services. Why does the department offer parenting education and anger-management classes? We have answers based in science: Because these programs work. They make prison operations safer and more efficient, and they help improve success rates for released offenders.
Measuring performance is always essential. The department has increased its focus on research and analysis. Solid numbers are far superior to "hunches" in showing that a program accomplishes what it is supposed to do.
Are our programs resulting in fewer inmate-on-staff assaults? Are department operations fiscally sound? Do we have more inmates in Measure 17 compliance? Is recidivism dropping? In answering these and other questions, the department developed seven key "assumptions" that guide us in our performance measurement efforts (See "Measuring Progress," below).
Through this newsletter, e-mail, the DOC Web site, training, and your supervisor, you can learn more about how the department is working to manage individual performance to meet our overall performance goals, and how each of us fits into this new equation. The more we know, the more effective and efficient we can become.
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| Measuring Progress |
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Posting Our Performance on the WebPosting Our Performance on the Web
The Oregon Department of Corrections developed "outcomes" to gauge progress in areas that support our mission. Closely tied to the department’s 24-Month Plan, they have specific targets in seven different areas. There are measurable goals within each area, such as the number of inmates on outside work crews, OCE’s progress toward economic self-sufficiency, and staff understanding of the DOC mission statement. These goals are public information on the department’s Web site.
The department’s status toward achieving the goals is illustrated with graphics that look much like the speedometer on a car. They show at a glance whether the department is at, below, or ahead of target for each area. Below are the seven key areas tracked. You can find the measures of the department’s progress at: http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/ADMIN/2004_annual_report.shtml
Safe and Secure Institutions
Assumption: Inmates must live in a fair, safe, and drug free environment in order to practice the skills and attitudes necessary to make their return to the community successful.
Effective Programs
Assumption: At least 95 percent of the inmates will ultimately return to their communities and the average prison sentence is 37 months. Programs must have empirical support in the research literature and must produce effects that transcend short-term adaptation by inmates to the prison environment.
Safe and Healthy Workplace
Assumption: DOC employees are our largest investment and our greatest asset in changing inmate attitudes and behavior. To be effective employees must feel safe, be free of work-related health problems and work in an environment that supports a high level of achievement.
Community Corrections
Assumption: DOC can only attain its primary outcome of reducing the likelihood of future criminal conduct if community-based programs and offender transition are successful.
Planning and Support
Assumption: DOC will hold operating costs to the absolute minimum by bringing prison beds on line only when necessary, by increasing administrative efficiencies, and by providing adequate information for decision making.
Business
Assumption: Inmate work crews and Oregon Correctional Enterprises will be self-supporting and they will focus on activities that allow inmates to practice the skills which will lead to post release employment.
Internal Communications
Assumption: To be successful as a department, each DOC employee must have a thorough understanding of how their individual activities relate to the department´s primary public safety mission.
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| The Oregon Model in Action |
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The department’s Inmate Management And Transition System (IMATS) is fast becoming fully integrated in the Oregon Department of Corrections’ culture. It is expected that soon there will be no separate, identifiable "IMATS." Referring to the new way of operations as the "Oregon Model," the current IMATS will be so well implemented that everyone -- including the inmates -- will know which facilities specialize in what programs, activities, and work opportunities.
"IMATS is no longer a distinct program or project of the department," says Assistant Director for Correctional Programs Scott Taylor. "It’s now the way we deliver correctional services." Taylor reports that DOC’s institutions will be responsible for fewer correctional programs, but will be held to a higher level of accountability for those they offer.
Oregon Model components include assessment, programming, parenting classes, vocational programs, re-entry programs, and a seamless transition of medical and mental-health services as the offender returns to the community.
"Inmates and staff will know that each inmate’s incarceration plan will be the key guide in how we make decisions about an inmate’s activities and life while incarcerated," concludes Taylor. "The focus will be reducing his or her particular risks of committing new crimes after release."
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| Oregons Smoke-Free Workplace |
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As of January 1, Oregon law [ORS 433.835-433.990] requires (with few exceptions) that: "An employer shall provide a place of employment that is free of tobacco smoke for all employees." A place of employment is "every enclosed area under the control of a public or private employer that employees frequent during the course of employment."
Exceptions to the new law include taverns, bars, tobacco shops and bowling alleys.
Enforcement will be based primarily on citizen reports of violations. To report violations of the law, call this confidential, toll-free number: 1-866-621-6107.
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| Information to Inmates |
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Information to Inmates About Legislative Changes
Here’s what recently went out to inmates in newsletters and bulletin boards:
Inmate Releases Before Weekends and Holidays (House Bill 2379, formerly House Bill 2100): When an inmate is scheduled to be released on a weekend or holiday, we can now release him or her a day or so early, depending on the situation. This will allow the released offender to get home on a workday to make use of community services.
Assault on Public Safety Officers (House Bill 2646): It is now a Class C Felony to assault any corrections staff, contractor, or volunteer (it used to be a Class A Misdemeanor).
Reimbursement of Costs of Inmate Care (Senate Bill 183): This law allows the Department of Corrections to collect costs of care from inmates. The department will soon draft the rule for this new law. As the department testified to the Legislature, it is our intent to apply this law to the few inmates who have substantial financial resources. Inmates will be given adequate notice when the proposed rule is open for comment.
Obtaining DNA Samples (House Bill 2664): Each person in Oregon who was convicted of a felony after September 28, 1991 must give a DNA sample that will be kept by the Oregon State Police. If an inmate doesn’t have one on file, sometime in the next six months the department will take a sample of the saliva in his or her mouth using a cotton swab.
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| Health and Dental Insurance |
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Plan Numbers
All State of Oregon employee medical insurance cards expired December 31. New cards should have already arrived with your member handbooks. If you haven’t yet received your new card, you can find your plan identification numbers below:
Medical Plans:
Cascade East Health Plan: PEBB01
Kaiser Permanente: 7029
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon: 01510100
Dental Plans:
Kaiser Permanente: 7029
ODS Traditional: 6570
ODS Preferred Option Plan: 6571
Willamette Dental Group: Z250
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| Sustainability Update |
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Little Things Add up to Big Savings
According to Portland General Electric, a standard PC system costs about 3 cents an hour to operate. Doesn't sound like much, does it?
Let’s do the math… For most of us, our computer is used about 40 hours a week. With 168 hours a week, if a computer isn’t shut off for evenings and weekends, 128 hours of power are wasted.
At 3 cents an hour, that's $3.84 a week for each computer. Multiply that by the department's 3,000 computers and 104 weeks in a biennium, and we would spend $1,198,080 powering computers that weren’t being used.
Styrofoam Recycling
What to do with unwanted Styrofoam to keep it out of Oregon’s landfills?
- Tuscarora, Inc. accepts polystyrene block foam at its Wilsonville manufacturing plant weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For directions, call (503) 682-8719.
- Most local packaging/mailing companies (including ASA Postal and Mail Boxes Etc.) accept and reuse clean, dry packing peanuts.
- If you are in the Salem area, a Styrofoam recycling event will be held Saturday, Jan. 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at East Salem Fred Meyer. Residentially generated clean, dry packing peanuts and #6 white block Styrofoam will be accepted.
- Contact your county solid waste management agency for more information in your area.
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| More News... |
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- According to DOC coordinator Sue Smith, State of Oregon employees contributed more than 15,000 toys to the Governor’s Toy Drive, hundreds of which were given by DOC staff.
- As a full member of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Hunger, the DOC and Oregon Corrections Enterprises contribute printing services from the OSCI Print Shop in support of the Hunger Relief Task Force. A recent project was a guide to using the Food Stamp Program to help end hunger in Oregon’s communities.
- DOC inmate work crews not only pick up litter from Oregon’s roadsides, they work to sort those yellow bags of trash into recyclables and keep them out of our landfills.
- If you would like Corrections News On-Line to also be sent to your home e-mail address, please send a request to correctionsnews@doc.state.or.us from your home computer.
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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