| Corrections News On-Line October 2002 |
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| Directors' Messages |
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The budget: The governor reversed his earlier across-the-board budget cuts following the Legislature’s budget-balancing measures that ended the fifth special session. However, the cuts will again be ordered if voters turn down the temporary income tax increase at the January 28, 2003 election. Preparing for an uncertain future, we must continue to be careful stewards of our limited budgets. The state´s next budget forecast at the end of November is anticipated to show another revenue shortfall beyond the one met by the fifth special session earlier this month.
Prison construction delays: As we told you by e-mail last week, the planned October 2002 sale of the certificates of participation (COPs) used to pay for prison construction is on hold until at least March 2003. Because of this, we will rework our construction timelines for the Madras and Lakeview prisons and the SCCI expansion.
This delay in construction will give the new governor and Legislature time to review the laws and policies that are increasing the prison population and decide what action to take in light of Oregon´s economic difficulties.
Although pre-construction planning will continue, New Prison Construction Administrator Richard Ross is developing a business plan to lengthen our construction schedules and taper-off construction activities. This is a change in the construction timeline, but not a change in policy. We don´t anticipate any layoff of DOC staff related to the halt in COP sales.
CURE: Many of you already know about the important work of an organization called Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants, more commonly referred to as CURE. This support group works to strengthen the bonds between inmates and their families, and to reduce recidivism -- goals of the Oregon Accountability Model.
The department meets regularly with CURE representatives to discuss and find solutions to possible hindrances to family relationships with inmates, such as making visiting more constructive, notifying families when inmates are hospitalized, and helping family members understand the prison system and its rules. CURE and the DOC jointly offer an orientation for families and friends of inmates just entering the prison system. In addition to ongoing support groups, CURE partners with the department and Multnomah County Community Justice to offer an orientation for the families of inmates who are about to be released to Multnomah County, explaining what can be expected and how to help the released offender meet the requirements of post-prison supervision and transition successfully back to the family and the community.
CURE’s work and involvement gives us a perspective we might otherwise not have. Their partnership helps ensure our decisions assist inmates in successfully reintegrating with their communities after release from prison. For that, they have our ongoing appreciation and cooperation. If you are interested in learning more about CURE go to http://www.curenational.org/new/
Warm regards,
Ben de Haan Nick Armenakis
Interim Director Deputy Director
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| OAM Update:... |
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Early Head Start at Coffee Creek
An important part of the Oregon Accountability Model is the Children of Incarcerated Parents Project. As one of several strategies intended to help break the intergenerational cycle of criminality, the Children’s Project partnered with the Washington County Community Action Organization and received two federal grants for Early Head Start at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.
The program, which opened last month, will serve eight newborn to three-year-old children of mothers at CCCF. EHS provides comprehensive services including education, health and nutrition services to children, family support to mothers and caregivers as the primary educators of the child, and transition planning for the child upon the mother’s release from prison. The program will allow children and their incarcerated mothers to spend time together two days a week in a structured classroom setting.
"This is a tremendous partnership between the community and the prison system," says CCCF Assistant Superintendent for Programs Lory Humbert. "The Children of Incarcerated Parents Project brought together specialists in strengthening families that resulted in our successful grants for Early Head Start… it will make a positive difference in the lives of the children of inmates."
Housed in a manufactured building between the Records Office and the CCCF Medium facility, federal Early Head Start funding paid for start-up costs as well as ongoing operations. Inmate mother eligibility requirements include meeting DOC minimum-custody requirements and federal poverty guidelines, the ability to actively parent upon release, having a caregiver who actively supports the child’s participation, and involvement in the Parenting Inside/Out classes. EHS children will have slots reserved in community Head Start programs once their mothers are released.
For more information, please contact Lory Humbert at (503) 570-6800 or by e-mail to: lory.a.humbert@doc.state.or.us
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| Behavior Action Plans Guide... |
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New IMU System
The department’s Intensive Management System consists of IMU East (Snake River Correctional Institution) and IMU West (Oregon State Penitentiary). Together with the Classification and Transfer Unit, they have created a national model for managing the most-difficult and dangerous inmates.
Key to this model is a multi-disciplinary team approach to assess the behavioral assets and deficits of high-risk inmates. This assessment leads to a comprehensive Behavior Action Plan (BAP) for each IMU inmate. The BAP is geared towards helping these inmates eventually reintegrate successfully back into an open institutional population (general population).
The BAP outlines the behaviors to be targeted with programming designed to mitigate the behaviors that led to an IMU assignment. In keeping with the Oregon Accountability Model, pro-social behaviors are encouraged through verbal reinforcements and the opportunity to advance to higher levels that provide successively greater privileges.
A wide range of approaches helps IMU inmates gain insight into their problem behaviors. They learn to develop better control of anger and negative impulses, as well as how to make better decisions. Programs range from six months to three years or longer; the length depends on factors including the inmate’s misconduct record, the number of prior IMU admissions, and compliance with the BAP.
Programs are offered in sequence. If the inmate engages in unsuitable behavior or fails the assigned program, the BAP is re-assessed to reflect the corresponding change in behavior. Upon successful completion of the BAP and a review by the stakeholders and the Inmate Program Committee, the inmate may be recommended for transfer to a non-IMU housing assignment. A new database incorporates information for inmates from both IMUs. It allows individual inmate behavior changes and the relative effectiveness of IMU programming to be evaluated.
The new Close Supervision Unit (CSU) at TRCI now serves as the transitional housing unit for most of the inmates who have completed IMU programming. The CSU also uses the new database, ensuring the continuity of programs and training received in the IMU.
CSU transitions inmates from the highest custody environment into less-rigorous supervision and offers a greater degree of freedom of movement. The CSU is considered a program unit, and has most of the privileges of general population housing. An inmate who successfully completes the CSU program will be transferred to another DOC institution based on the requirements of his incarceration plan. Inmates who do not succeed at the CSU program may be returned to one of the IMUs for reevaluation and further programming.
The Mission of the IMU:
To preserve and maintain order in all other Department of Corrections facilities by the safe and humane management of the highest risk inmates in the Oregon Department of Corrections.
To encourage inmate behavior change through cognitive restructuring and behavior based programming which facilitate reintegration into less restrictive environments.
To develop, support, and empower professional correctional staff to manage high-risk inmates and to become members of an effective team through intensive training and mentoring programs.
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| Ghosts in the System |
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Ghosts aren’t restricted to Halloween for the Oregon Department of Corrections. We have them all over the country. The actual computer code is "ghst;" these "ghosts" are offenders who either owe Oregon incarceration time or who are serving Oregon prison time while incarcerated in another jurisdiction.
Ghosts are created when someone gets arrested and convicted in one state, but has a warrant out in another state. For example, after an Oregon conviction, another state might extradite the offender for trial on offenses committed there. With multiple convictions, the question becomes who has first jurisdiction? According to Classification and Transfer Unit Manager Brian Bemus, generally it is whichever state had the offender in custody first.
Sometimes a judge will look at the prior conviction and allow the offender to serve the sentences concurrently. However, the sentences are rarely ever exactly the same length. So, if the offender’s out-of-state sentence runs out before the Oregon sentence is completed, what do we do?
If the offender is in another state serving time, we put a detainer on him or her, so we will be notified before release. However, if the offender owes Oregon just a short time for a lesser crime, we often don’t have the extradition funds to bring the offender back to Oregon.
Instead, offenders are told by letter that they owe time in Oregon and are asked to voluntarily return. "Sometimes they do come back on their own," says Bemus. "If they don’t, we put out warrants for arrest listed as a special type of escapee …if they are found in Oregon they are arrested and returned to incarceration to serve out their time."
"Ghost cases have nothing to do with the interstate compact, which is the straight trading of current inmates," continues Bemus. "Ghost cases are purely the result of committing crimes in more than one jurisdiction."
There are ghosts in the federal prison system as well, but with an interesting difference. While most states allow time served to count regardless of location, the federal system doesn’t count state or local time served, only federal time. Even if the sentencing judge says the time for the two jurisdictions may be served concurrently, the U.S. Bureau Prisons won’t count it.
So, when someone asks if you believe in ghosts, you now know at least one type is real.
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| PERS: The Differences... |
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Between Tiers One and Two...
DOC Payroll has been getting many questions about the differences in the Public Employees Retirement System for employees hired at different times. Here is a brief explanation: In January 1996, PERS instituted a second "tier" of benefits for new hires. Meant as a cost-saving measure for public employers, benefits differ for those employees hired before January 1, 1996 and those hired on or after.
Both tiers:
- Six percent State contribution.
- Comp. time payoff counts as salary earned.
- Employees are eligible for PERS Variable Account.
- Police and Fire retirement age is 50 with 25 years.
- New employees to the State system have a six-month waiting period before eligible for PERS.
Differences:
Tier 1 (Hired on or before December 31, 1995)
Retirement age: 58
Account interest: 8 percent guaranteed
Disability: No offset for workers’ comp insurance payments
Final Average: Salary paid
Salary calculation: Wage + Accrued vacation time payoff
Tier 2 (Hired on or after January 1, 1996)
Retirement age: 60
Account interest: No guaranteed growth.
Disability: Will offset for workers’ comp insurance payments
Final Average: Salary earned
Salary calculation: Wage only (no vacation time payoff)
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| Organic Gardening Programs... |
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Harvest Rewards
It’s amazing how much food can actually be grown in what are essentially big "backyard" organic gardens. Scattered around the state at various institutions, inmates working in these gardens contribute toward lowering food costs and while providing fresh vegetables and herbs to their prisons’ kitchens.
Inmates in east-side institutions have harvested hundreds of pounds of onions and potatoes. West-side gardeners plucked salad greens, cherry tomatoes, and beans all summer. Produce grown in the gardens becomes part of inmate meals: used daily in sack lunches, as main line vegetables, in breads, in veggie trays and salads.
Inmates seem to eat more fresh vegetables and are willing to try new ones that have been produced from their gardens. Now when served a salad or vegetable, many inmates ask: "Did this come from our garden?"
OSP Minimum’s garden has more than doubled in size this year. The inmates chosen to work in the garden had no prior gardening experience, but within a few months they were operating like Master Gardeners. Next season, inmates will work with OSU Extension Service Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers to learn the science of gardening, including crop rotation, how to stagger planting times, organic pest control, and food preservation techniques.
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| DOC Awards Presented... |
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September 30
Congratulations to this year’s award winners, listed below:
Division Employees of the Year
Tom Ruddiman - Fiscal Services, Business and Finance Division
Denise Sitler - Community Corrections Division
Debbie Leno - Payroll - Human Resources Division
Corrina Brown - OISC PRCF, Information Systems and Services Division
Joe Capps - SRCI Hearings Inspector, Inspections Division
Tammy Smith - SRCI Pharmacy Technician, Correctional Programs Division
Susan Van Epps - EOCI, Institutions Division
Hal Lovejoy - Production Coordinator, Oregon Corrections Enterprises
Employee of the Year
Denise Sitler – Community Corrections Division
Correctional Officer of the Year
CO Michael Herbes - EOCI
Manager of the Year
Mary Calloway - Program Services Coordinator PRCF
Outstanding Service Award
Kirk Yancey - Facilities Services
Outstanding Citizen Award
Allen and Bev Duby - Nominated by PRCF
Pastor Gordon Robson - Nominated by TRCI
Coralee Huff - Nominated by SRCI
Contractor of the Year
John Long - A & D Supervisor SCCI
Community Corrections Outstanding Service Award
Marc Hess - Multnomah County Corrections Counselor in Domestic Violence Unit
Lifesaving Awards
CO Richard Bermel – EOCI, CO Steven Perrine – EOCI, CO James Kindle – EOCI, CO John Bartley - EOCI, CO David Keltz – EOCI, Jill Voyles, RN – EOCI, Monica Felix, RN - EOCI, CO Renee Melendrez - EOCI (deceased), Elaine Shaw, RN – EOCI, CO Jason Duchek – EOCI, Sgt. Ken Hogeland – EOCI, Sgt. John Schell – EOCI, CO Sharon Keizur – EOCI, Sgt. Bill Workman – EOCI, CO Bret Conner – EOCI, CO Cody Johnson – EOCI, CO Chester Kropornicki – EOCI, Risa Riggen – EOCI, Rick Rose - Physical Plant Mgr EOCI, Harold Olson - Correctional Maintenance Worker EOCI, Jim Aldrich - Landscaper EOCI, Capt Ken Crawford – EOCI, Sheila Scott, RN – EOCI, CO Mary Lou Ward – EOCI, CO Michelle Shreve – EOCI, CO Denise McFarlane – TRCI, CO Sergio Verduzco – OSCI, Cpl Al Norris – OSP, CO Ralph Thomason – OSP, CO Dave Ramseyer – OSP, Corinna Strouse,RN – OSP, Karen Ireland, RN – OSP, CO Leo Coolbaugh – OSP, Lt Dean Harlow – OSP, Cpl Aaron Bales – OSP, Cpl Robert Sherman – OSP, CO Merritt Richards – OSP, CO David Crockett – OSP, CO Billy Cooper – OSP, CO Raul Vallejo – OSP, CO Gary Pruitt – OSP, Darlene Lazarides, RN - OSP
Director´s Awards
Ginger Martin - Administrator for Community Corrections
Richard Ross - Administrator for New Prison Construction
Dan Howard - Construction Inspector, Facilities Services
Rick Rose - Physical Plant Manager (will be represented by David Johnson at ceremony)
Dan Kinsley - Corrections Plumber
Joedy Marlatt - Corrections Electrician
Harold Olson - Corrections Maint. Worker
Bobby Smith - Corrections Painter
Joe Wise - Corrections Carpenter
Lisa Large - EOCI
Deschutes Mobile Work Camp and forest fire crew support by:
- Security: Capt. Jeff Forbes, Sgt. Shawn Markuson, CO Peggy Patterson, CO Mike Jones, CO Ken Swilling, CO George Baker, CO Dan Russ, CO Ray Stanley, CO Jamie Berringer, CO Tina Holbrook
- Central Distribution Center/Warehouse Staff/Food Services: Barry Moss, Corrina Hutchens, Rick Robison, Daryl Cook, Everett Young, Laddie May, Gene Brabb, Jim White, Tracy Houston, Felix Vargas, Ed Shones, Randy Gurulé, Jon Stubel, John Stam, Gerald Hart, Alex Parker, Mark Youncs, Dan Walsh, Randy Elliott, Bob Culp, Dave Beiningen, Ron Lecce, Bob Yturri, Robert Brauner, Stacy Bullock, Katie Zandol, Bill Morgan, Betty Hansen, Susan Mitchell, Mary Calloway, Brent Edwards, Jerry Timblin, Betty Carter, Jack Thompson, Gary Hall, John Witbeck, Richard Ladeby, Kent Fanger, Chris Randall, Erica Sage, David Dawson, Dena Reynolds, Ken Robinson, Jerry Slater, Mike White, Bob Walsh, Darlene Withrow
- Accounting: Tami Simpson
- Purchasing: David Dunn, Renee Koch, Terri Woodvine
- Contracts: Shanna Youngclaus
- Central Trust: Pat Yoder
- Payroll: Cindi Cole, Debbie Leno
Staff Training Fleming Award
Amanda King – OSP
Service Pins
20 Years of Service
BAXTER, RONALD D EOCI INSPECTIONS 6/14/1982
BRIGGS, JAMES M SCI COUNSELING/EVAL 6/1/1982
CLAY, MARY ANN OSCI CLERICAL SUPPORT 10/25/1982
DAWES, EVERETTE C SCI CC FIELD TRANSITION SVCS 11/12/1982
HAYES, CARLTON E OSP GENERAL SECURITY 4/14/1982
HEPPNER, DAVID L OSP GENERAL SECURITY 1/25/1982
HERRON, MARTIN R TRCI ADMINISTRATION 1/2/1982
HOFFMASTER, ROBERT E SRCI ADMIN 4/1/1982
LEACH, LARRY P CRCI PHYSICAL PLANT 10/14/1982
MILLER, VICTOR LEE OSP GENERAL SECURITY 6/1/1982
MOHLER, WILLIAM A OSCI SECURITY 11/22/1982
PARLIN, LEISA ANN OSP PHARMACY 6/21/1982
PERRY, JOHN L SRCI PRG SVCS CMPLX 3 COUNSL 10/1/1982
RICE, RUSSELL R SCI ADMIN 9/7/1982
RICE, WILLIAM H OSCI SECURITY M17 5/10/1982
ROY, SHELDON W OSCI SECURITY 4/26/1982
THOMAS, RICHARD L OSP SECURITY M17 1/1/1982
WILSON, TROY D CCCF SECURITY 4/1/1982
25 Years of Service
BELLEQUE, KURT BYRON OSCI SECURITY 7/1/1977
BUCK, KELLY S OSP GENERAL SECURITY 10/1/1977
CALHOON, JERRY L SCI ADMIN 7/15/1977
DUNNIGAN, LAWRENCE L OSP GENERAL SECURITY 8/8/1977
FORBES, JEFF E OSP GENERAL SECURITY 3/1/1977
HARRIS, PATRICK J OSP GENERAL SECURITY 8/1/1977
HEATH, BRADLEY EUGENE CRCI SECURITY 7/1/1977
HERNANDEZ, JOE L OSP COUNSELING 1/16/1977
MCALLISTER, DAWNE L OSP HEALTH SERVICES 12/30/1977
MEIER, NICHOLAS T SCI COUNSELING/EVAL 1/1/1977
MURRAY, ARTHUR SRCI PRG SVCS CMPLX 3 COUNSL 8/26/1977
OLSON, HARRY R CENT AD INTERSTATE COMPACT 9/19/1977
PRINSLOW, DAVID J OSP GENERAL SECURITY 6/13/1977
ROBAK, JOAN A SCI HEALTH SERVICES 1/1/1977
SANDVER, GERALD E CRCI PHYSICAL PLANT 1/31/1977
STEWART, LUANA M CENT AD FISCAL SVCS 11/1/1977
WIRFS, MAHLON P OSP GENERAL SECURITY 1/26/1977
WOODEN, LARRY W EOCI COUNSLEING/EVAL 1/31/1977
30 Years of Service
ECKSTEIN, JERRY B OSP PHYSICAL PLANT 6/26/1972
JOHNSON, DANIEL P PRCF INSTITUTIONS ADMIN 11/1/1972
MCGEE, MICHAEL A OWCC INSTITUTIONS ADMIN 1/17/1972
WEIGEL, MERLE R OSP GENERAL SECURITY 1/1/1972
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| More news... |
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- October is PEBB Open Enrollment. If you are making any changes, completed forms are due by October 31. If you haven’t received your packet, please contact your Human Resources representative.
- Charitable Fund Drive: Oregon Department of Corrections employees have earned a reputation for caring about the communities in which we live and work. Last year, we contributed more than $44,000 to charities through the State of Oregon Employee´s Charitable Fund Drive. There are more than 1,000 charities in the seven donation groups that provide services to the most-needy people in our communities, as well as major research and support groups. You may contribute in cash or by credit card, check, or payroll deduction. Contact DOC Payroll with any questions.
- The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistic’s publication: Criminal Victimization 2001: Changes 2000-2001 with Trends 1993-2001, presents national levels and rates of personal and property victimization for 2001. Rates and levels are provided for personal and property victimization by victim characteristics, type of crime, victim-offender relationship, use of weapons, and reporting to police. View the report online at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cv01.htm
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DOC Corrections News
Oregon Department of Corrections
David S. Cook, 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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