| Corrections News On-Line March 2004 |
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| Directors' Message |
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From arrest through post-prison supervision, Oregon’s criminal justice system crosses not only agency lines, but includes local, county, state and federal components. Increasingly, we must consider the impact on our criminal justice partners as we work to implement efficiencies and find better ways to achieve our mission. Those include the Oregon Accountability Model, evidence-based programs, and everything else we do to become more effective.
Taking a look at this “big picture” is the goal of a group of related public safety reviews being coordinated through the governor’s office this year. Six groups are bringing together people across agency and jurisdictional lines to review the following systems:
- Adult corrections
- Juvenile corrections
- Emergency response
- Sentencing issues
- Methamphetamine abuse
- Elder abuse
The Department of Corrections will be at the table as the groups discuss possible changes in laws, policies and resources. As we have declining resources, we need to work together to find new ways to hold offenders accountable and obtain justice. One of the first reviews we are involved in is the Criminal Justice Mapping Project – part of the adult corrections review. Working with the Criminal Justice Commission’s Phil Lemman, the project is looking at the criminal justice system as a whole and what resources we have to respond to crime.
I’ll share more about the Criminal Justice Mapping Project and the other reviews in future messages.
Warm regards,
Max Williams
Director
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| New Institution Assignments |
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New Institution Assignments Announced
Drawing on a strong internal candidate pool, on February 27, Assistant Director for Institutions Stan Czerniak announced the appointment of seven DOC employees to new positions in the department. Effective dates for these assignments are being worked out among the superintendents:
- Jeff Premo becomes OSP’s assistant superintendent of General Services, moving from OSP-Minimum, where he was manager. Jeff has 23 years of DOC work experience in security, institution operations, programs, physical plant management and new prison design and construction. Before joining the department in 1981, Jeff completed a tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps. Jeff holds an associate’s degree in industrial technology from Chemeketa Community College.
- Tom Wright, OSP security manager, will transfer laterally to succeed Jeff Premo as manager of OSP-Minimum. Tom joined the department in 1985 at SCI. A year later he transferred to OSCI, and promoted to security manager in November 1998. He transferred to OSP as Security manager in July 2002. He is a consultant with the National Institute of Corrections for security audits. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in corrections from Western Oregon University.
- Jennifer Bjerke, security manager at SRCI, transfers laterally to succeed Tom Wright as OSP’s Security manager. Jennifer started with the department in 1994 as a correctional officer at CRCI and promoted though the security ranks at five other DOC facilities. She has a broad understanding of staffing and operations issues within prisons of varying custody levels, and has worked extensively with both male and female special management populations. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Portland State University.
- Sonny Rider, TRCI captain, has been promoted by direct appointment to succeed Jennifer Bjerke as security manager at SRCI. Sonny served a number of years with the Naval Security Group and Naval Intelligence with tours in Iceland, Scotland, and aboard the USS Enterprise. In May 1986, he became a member of the start-up crew at EOCI. His experience includes emergency preparedness, security threat groups, TERT, crisis negotiations, and armory supervision; Sonny is a key contributor in developing the new Oregon Corrections Emergency Management System. Sonny holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice (corrections) from Blue Mountain Community College, and he attended Western Oregon University.
- Chris Popoff is transferring laterally through the recruitment process to return to CCCF as assistant superintendent of Security. Chris joined the department in March 1997 as a project coordinator for Inmate Work Programs. In March 1999, she moved to IWP’s Services Division as operations manager at OSCI. In July 1999 she became the manager of DOC’s Leadership Training Program. Chris was selected to become CCCF’s first Program Services manager in Sept. 2001, and in September 2003 became EOCI’s assistant superintendent for Program Services. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and a master’s degree in criminology from the University of Sydney (Australia).
- Tom Cupp will transfer laterally from assistant superintendent of Security at EOCI to become assistant superintendent of Programs. Tom has been with the department in a number of positions and prisons for more than 23 years. In 1999, he was promoted to EOCI’s assistant superintendent of General Services, supervising Physical Plant, Food Services, Inmate Work Programs and Safety.
- Don Mills, through direct appointment, is promoted to assistant superintendent of security at EOCI. Don spent four years in the United States Marine Corps and had two tours of duty in Vietnam. Following discharge, he worked at the Marion County Jail and as a police officer in Turner and Aumsville (where he served as chief for five years). Don joined the department in the late 1970s and worked for Oregon State Penitentiary for two years. Leaving for a brief stint as an investigator for the Washington Public Power Supply System, Don returned to the penitentiary in 1981, and has since held a broad array of security assignments. Don attended Chemeketa Community College, studying law enforcement and corrections.
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| New Administrator at OISC |
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The Offender Information and Sentence Computation Unit has a new administrator: long-time DOC employee Kim Brockamp. Kim began her career with ODOC in 1991, and has held many positions throughout the department. She worked on prison siting; the construction of SRCI Phase 2, TRCI and CCCF; and the OISC centralization project. Now as OISC administrator, Kim reports she is excited about her new opportunity and looks forward to working closely with OISC’s internal and external customers. Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oregon State University.
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| Sustainability Update |
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Planning for the Future
The concept of “sustainability” envisions people meeting their current needs in ways that enable future generations to also meet theirs’. The Oregon Department of Corrections employs the concepts of sustainability and sound fiscal management in its decision-making processes, enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Oregon. The actions proposed to support this process include:
- Incorporate the concept of sustainability in the design of our new prisons: Example: Use geothermal heat (a renewable energy source) at Warner Creek Correctional Facility to be constructed in Lakeview.
- Minimize the environmental impact of our existing prisons: Example: Expand the composting program at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility to other sites.
- Maximize resource management: Example: Refine the use of the solar heating system installed at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution and investigate opportunities to implement solar heating at other institutions. The DOC is committed to further reducing its total quantity and consumption rate of energy resources throughout the agency.
- Improve operational efficiency. Example: The DOC will implement strategic purchasing practices that balance short- and long-term costs to obtain the best value for the citizens of Oregon. Further, the DOC will develop and distribute sustainability information to all agency staff and conduct training for target groups to improve our sustainability efforts.
For more information about the department’s sustainability efforts, contact Business & Finance Division Administrator Sue Acuff at (503) 945-9007 or by e-mail to: sue.m.acuff@doc.state.or.us.
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| Inmate Telephone Options |
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Inmate Telephone Options Changing
The Department of Corrections will soon have new options for inmate phone calling. After it is installed this spring, the new phone system will offer inmates three calling choices:
- Collect calls.
- Debit calling (the inmate or someone on the outside puts money in an inmate’s phone account that can be used for the calls of the inmate’s choice).
- Pre-paid calling (someone on the outside puts money in an inmate’s phone account that may only be used to call one pre-defined number).
Debit calling will offer up to a 40 percent discount on local, in-state, out-of-state and international calls. There will be no discount on collect calls or pre-paid calling. Before an institution changes to the new system, inmates will get more information on how to use it and how their families and friends can use the debit and pre-paid calling options. The systems will begin to be installed in April.
For more information, contact Brad Halvorson at (503) 945-0941 or by e-mail to: brad.halvorson@state.or.us.
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| Hats Off to ISSD! |
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ISSD is happy to announce the rollout of HATS. Sorry to say this is not an initiative from ISSD to get everyone in the department a baseball cap that says: “We love ISSD.” What is it then? Well, it is a different way of accessing the CIS application. Instead of using the client-access software loaded on your desktop you will soon be able to go to a Web page much like going to Yahoo.com or MSN.com. This now may raise the question: “Can I access CIS using HATS from my personal home PC?” and the answer is “No.” The only way this new CIS Web page can be accessed is when you are signed on to the DOC network on a DOC machine. Think of HATS as CIS with a Web-like look to it.
What does HATS give us that CIS does not? You will now have the ability to use the Windows copy and paste functions, and if you wish you can navigate in CIS with a mouse instead of a keyboard. There are options to minimize the number of screens on which you have to enter data like combining multiple screens into one screen. Another new feature is the ability to look at an inmate photo while you are on the CIS Web page. Importantly, HATS will also allow us to seamlessly integrate CIS with new Web applications that are developed or purchased by DOC.
Who is going to get this? Right now access has been opened up to counselors in the institutions. The next step is to begin giving staff access to HATS on facility-by-facility bases; at this time ISSD is working on the order of the facility rollout. For more information about HATS please contact Jared Cornman at jared.r.cornman@state.or.us or call 503-378-3798 ext. 22447.
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| Employee Identification Change |
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Employee Identification Numbers Changing
In an effort to increase security against identity theft and to comply with the federal privacy regulations, each State of Oregon employee will soon be assigned a unique number for personnel records. The new Employee Identification Number (EIN) will begin with “OR” and be followed by seven digits. Employees should receive their new EINs early this month.
For more information, contact DOC Payroll Manager Cindi Cole at (503) 378-6489, ext. 7168 or by e-mail: cindi.j.cole@state.or.us.
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| New Leave Policy |
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New Leave Policy for Crime Victims
A new law, SB 610, requires agencies to grant paid and/or unpaid leave to employees who are crime victims to attend court proceedings. If you are a victim and need more information, please contact your supervisor or Human Resources consultant.
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| More News |
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- Don’t be misled by financial firms using “PERS” in their names: A number of investment firms and financial advisors are using “PERS” in their advertising and, in some cases, in the names of their companies. This can create the impression that the individual or company is affiliated with the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System. However, Oregon PERS doesn’t endorse or recommend any financial advisor or firm. American General Financial Advisors (AGFA) is PERS' only education partner. They provide members and retirees with retirement planning information in fee-based seminars and they don’t sell any products or other services to PERS members or retirees.
- E-Mail Junk Box Summaries change: You may notice a change in the Junk Box Summaries that are delivered to your inbox for review. Users have asked for the ability to view the content of a message marked as spam so they can decide if they want to leave it as spam or un-junk the e-mail. In response, ISSD upgraded the software to meet this need. If you’re unsure if a message should be un-junked before you actually un-junk it, you can now click on the “view” link. A window displaying the content of the e-mail in harmless, plain text will appear. You should then be able to decide whether to junk or un-junk the e-mail.
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| Additional Information |
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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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