| Corrections News On-Line January 2004 |
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| Director's Message |
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As you read this, I have just come on board as the new director of the Oregon Department of Corrections. I am honored to have been chosen by Governor Kulongoski for this important job.
The DOC has a tremendous reputation for excellence both within Oregon and across the nation. I’m excited about working with and getting to know you as we tackle issues facing the agency and our partners.
As I said in my first e-mail to you on December 12, I’m committed to our mission of increasing public safety, holding offenders accountable for their actions, and reducing the risk of future criminal behavior. I stand behind the Oregon Accountability Model as our best method to achieve that mission.
Many of you already know I strongly believe in accountability at all levels. As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, last session I worked to pass a bill that requires many public safety agencies (including the DOC) to prove the effectiveness of their programs. The DOC already is well on its way toward meeting that requirement, with a history of focusing on “what works.” I look forward to building on those efforts to increase efficiency and effectiveness as we address the challenges facing us as an agency and a state.
Although I’ve been active in public safety and corrections policy, I will depend on experienced staff to bring me “up to speed” on operations issues. To get started, I asked Mitch Morrow and the rest of the Executive Team to help me develop a “90-day plan” to get me out to meet staff, visit with our community partners, tour our institutions and begin developing short-term goals for coming months.
In closing, I’ve had a chance to read through some of the director’s messages written by my predecessors. One thing that strikes me is the pride they had in this agency. I often read their encouragement to “be proud of what you do.” I can only echo that sentiment, and tell you I am proud to join the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Warm regards,
Max Williams
Director
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| Non-Custody Staffing... |
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Standards Moving Forward
Directed by the Legislature in a note attached to our 2003-05 budget, the DOC will report in March 2004 on new staffing standards for non-custody staff in our prisons statewide. This follow-up to the security staffing standards completed last biennium will be used as DOC’s 2005-07 budget is developed.
The process is meant to balance staffing across the department and allocate resources where they are needed the most to achieve the agency’s mission. In developing its standards the department chose a highly participatory process that involved line staff, labor organizations and others statewide.
The Executive Management Team will receive staffing standards recommendations on January 6 from the different divisions and their workgroups that met last fall.
“The participants in the process worked hard and with great professionalism and cooperation,” says DOC Deputy Director Mitch Morrow. “People are looking beyond the immediate needs of their work locations to the big-picture needs of the agency and are making excellent recommendations.”
The recommendations from the divisions will be integrated into one plan for the department. Once the standards are adopted each division will have an opportunity to discuss any recommended changes for their location and develop an implementation plan.
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| "Oregon Smart Buy" Expected... |
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to Lower Agency Costs
Oregon’s state agencies will soon have the means to combine their purchasing power to obtain better value for goods and services. The “Oregon Smart Buy” program’s mission is: “To identify and create sustainable cost savings through more effective purchasing practices while maintaining high-quality government services to the citizens of the state.”
All state agencies are expected to participate to help the state benefit from lower prices. In this first phase, a steering committee comprising most of the larger agencies (including Corrections) is working with a private-sector consultant to analyze spending data, identify areas that may provide the maximum benefit from collaborative procurement, and apply the best possible purchasing methods. Phase II will begin soon and will evaluate product and service specifications and obtain proposals from suppliers in each of the target categories. The steering committee will then determine which opportunities to pursue.
Savings from the improved process will benefit the state while retaining local spending control. The project isn’t looking at staff reductions, but rather at
reducing the costs of purchased items.
The project team is interested in receiving your questions, comments and suggestions.
Call (503) 373-7255 or e-mail oregonsmartbuy@state.or.us.
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| Overview: DOC's Hearings... |
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Section: Digital Attacks Against U.S. Rise in November
As part of the Inspections Division, the DOC Hearings Section is responsible for adjudicating charges of inmate misconduct, conducting investigations and sanctioning inmates found in violation of DOC rules. Conducting more than 15,000 hearings each year, the section sanctions violators according to a discipline grid that considers the severity of the misconduct and the inmate's conduct history while incarcerated.
Hearings officers and investigators work in person and by mail and telephone to interview staff and inmates. DOC Rules/Compliance/Hearings Administrator Carolyn Schnoor says it takes a lot of communication and coordination to keep the cases moving. “We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and timely responses when an investigator calls,” she says. “We depend on getting the information quickly to assist in processing our cases.”
Here is a list of Hearings Section staff by location:
Administration:
Rebecca Prinslow: Inspections administrator (Dome)
Carolyn Schnoor: Rules/Compliance/Hearings administrator (Dome)
Birdie Worley: Rules specialist (Dome)
Wade Scrogham: Statewide hearings officer supervisor (SRCI)
OSP: Hearings officers: Barb Cooney and Coleen Clemente, Support: Connie Barnett, Investigator: Woody Fogleman
OSCI: Hearings officer: Denyse Goldade, Support: Pat Carmichael
CRCI/CCCF: Hearings officer: Sam Nagy, Support: James Hanley, Investigator: Gloria Parra
TRCI: Hearings officer: Joe Capps, Support: Nancy Thornton, Investigator: Vacant
EOCI: Hearings officer: Peter Sturdevant, Support: Tami Schachtsick, Investigator: Dave Powell
SRCI: Hearings officer: Ron Myers and Christopher Powell, Support: Denise Bishop and Stacie Bullock, Investigator: Frank Serrano
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| Use of Personal Vehcle... |
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on State Business
DOC Policy 20.6.10 allows you to use your personal vehicle on department business, if you choose to do so and your supervisor approves. You are not required to use your own vehicle in your employment with the DOC.
If you want to use your personal vehicle, a written request using form CD1404 is required. Please read the policy and form before making the request. While it may be convenient for you to use your own vehicle, it also creates some specific risks for you:
- Using your personal vehicle for state/DOC business may affect your insurance costs.
- Your primary insurance coverage will be your own driver’s insurance. The state’s coverage will apply only to claims that exceed your policy’s limits.
- The state will not pay for any repairs to your personal vehicle.
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| Health Services... |
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Administrator Chosen
Larry Herring was recently selected as administrator of Health Services for the Oregon Department of Corrections. Larry has been acting in that capacity for nine months in addition to his duties as administrator of Programs Support for the division. Health Services is responsible for ensuring inmates have access to health care services, that their health complaints are evaluated by a qualified professional, and that care and treatment are provided as prescribed and are consistent with community standards.
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| More News... |
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- Parole Board changes: Diane Rea, chair of the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision is leaving for a new job as a hearings referee in Marion County Circuit Court, effective January 16. She will sit as a pro tem judge in Circuit Court and is expected to handle cases involving landlord-tenant disputes, debtor-creditor cases, small claims, civil commitments, traffic infractions, restraining orders, criminal arraignments and sentencings. Joining the board in February will be former Senator Lenn Hannon. The governor also reappointed board member Cindy Hanners to begin her second full term on the board in February, pending Senate confirmation. Michael Washington will become chair of the board. He is serving his second full term, which ends in June 2005.
- The U.S. Department of Justice’s Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January to June, 2003 is available online at: http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm. It compares nationwide data reported during the first six months of 2003 to data reported for the same time period last year.
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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