Santiam Correctional Institution walks “Out of the Darkness”

AIC Pedro Perez speaks to SCI’s “Out of the Darkness” attendees as Dan Bielenberg, Shea May, and Ryan Price look on.

In early 2017, Santiam Correctional Institution (SCI) committed to build a partnership with AFSP in an effort to educate and assist with funding and research to reduce suicide in correctional settings. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has been a leader in research and reduction of Suicide in the United States since 1987. Thanks to this partnership, SCI was the first correctional facility in the nation to host such a suicide prevention walk!

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Native American Spring Celebration at Coffee Creek

Spring Celebration is a First Foods ceremony held by every tribe in the Plateau region. The four sacred foods—salmon, deer meat, roots, and berries—are gathered and prepared traditionally using ancient teachings, songs, and prayer.

These four foods are high in nutritional value and were the main staple foods of the Native American diet. This ceremony is about renewing the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional self. It is a time of forgiveness and gratitude for Native American people in the region, including Native American adults in custody (AICs) at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF).

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Shutter Creek Dog Graduates from JLAD

Adult in custody trainers pose with SCCI dogs

Last Saturday, Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD) held a graduation ceremony for dogs who have completed the program and were being officially placed with their recipients. Shutter Creek Correctional Institution (SCCI) was beyond excited to have Saber, one of the institution’s first JLAD dogs, as part of the graduating class. Saber worked with SCCI off and on over the past year and has now been placed with a young family and will be providing support to the mom in that family. You can follow JLAD on Facebook to see more pictures of the ceremony and updates on what the dogs do in their off weeks from SCCI.

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GED Graduates Recognized at Columbia River Ceremony

On April 24, 14 adults in custody (AICs) walked in Columbia River Correctional Institution’s (CRCI) spring GED graduation ceremony. Chief of Security and Interim Superintendent Joe DeCamp spoke to the graduates. CRCI has graduated 30 GED students this year so far, which is a fantastic accomplishment considering it’s one of Oregon’s smaller facilities.

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Coffee Creek Puppy is a True Lifesaver

Many of Oregon Department of Corrections’ (DOC) 14 institutions have dog training programs. DOC partners with local organizations to house, raise, and train puppies and dogs–sometime to give them a better chance at adoption, and sometimes to prepare the dogs for work as assistance animals. At Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF), the prison partners with Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) to train puppies who will then provide independence to a person with a disability.

These dog programs not only benefit the puppies, but the adults in custody (AICs) who work with the animals. In the case of CCCF, AICs train the puppies onsite for approximately 18 months before they move on to more expanded training. Recently, a woman who was matched with a canine companion who was trained at Coffee Creek shared this amazing story…

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Out of the Darkness Walk at Coffee Creek

Participants walk to spread mental health awareness

In partnership with Walk in the Light education team, American Foundations for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and with the help of Corporal Mecham, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) coordinated an “Out of the Darkness Walk” this month. The walk brought together 163 adults in custody (AIC) for suicide prevention and awareness and to create community among those who have been impacted by suicide.

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Powder River Gives Back to Baker City Community

Adults in custody (AICs) housed at Powder River Correctional Facility are encouraged to give back to the community that has graciously allowed the facility to operate inside the city limits for the past 30 years.

Powder River adults in custody stand with the results of the fundraiser!

For the month of March, AICs held a fundraiser that raised nearly $700. This money was used to purchase items for three different local organizations: New Directions Northwest Crisis Center, DHS Child Welfare and the Mayday Foundation. Each organization received care packages, including toys, books, personal hygiene items, Albertson’s gift cards, Subway gift cards, and children’s clothing. AIC Zaste, who participated in the fundraiser, expressed that “as people who are able, it is our duty to help those that are in need. I want these children to know that there are people in this world who care.”

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National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

Former President Ronald Reagan signed the first National Crime Victim’s Rights Week (NCVRW) Proclamation in 1981 in collaboration with National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) founders and leaders in the victim rights’ movement. Every year, the nation observes a week in April to honor advancing policies and programs dedicated to helping victims of crime.

This year’s NCVRW theme, “Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future,” celebrates the progress made by those before us as we work toward a future of crime victim services that is even more inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed.

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Tablets Come to South Fork

South Fork Forest Camp sign created by adults in custody

Telmate completed their installation of the tablet system at South Fork Forest Camp (SFFC) today, making the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) the first state correctional agency to have tablet services online and available at all facilities. The DOC-Telmate team began this work in August 2017, and SFFC was the last of DOC’s 14 facilities to receive tablets due to unique challenges in the installation process.

Adults in custody (AICs) housed at SFFC quickly logged on and began using the system. With a variety of messaging options offered through the tablets, AICs at South Fork now have another way of connecting to friends and family. Keeping AICs in touch with their community and support networks has been shown to reduce recidivism.

To learn more about Telmate and the services they offer in Oregon, visit their website or create an account.

Oregon Corrections Enterprises Collaborates with University

University of Oregon students and staff tour the OCE garment shop at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution

Last year, Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE) and the University of Oregon (UO) created a joint venture to connect design students with adults in custody at the Oregon State Penitentiary and Two Rivers Correctional Institution, with the goal of exploring furniture design and creating prototypes. Through a friendly competition, OCE awarded scholarships to the winning UO teams, and the project was featured at a furniture design show in New York City.

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