Statement of Accomplishment From Adult in Custody – Michael Dodge

“I have been incarcerated for 10 years. During my time of incarceration, I have managed to accomplish many programs and developed skills to use in the workforce.

I have worked in maintenance for 2 years, then I worked in the welding shop for 3 years, and currently I work in the electrical shop for the past 5 years. I am also a Fitness/Yoga Instructor for the mental health AICs. For 3 years, I have been a mentor for other AICs to inspire them to take the road less traveled.

This October, I successfully completed the Electrical Apprenticeship Program. I am now a licensed Journeyman Electrician. With the electrical license and skills, I have developed, I will be financially stable with a career that is in high demand.

I am proud of my accomplishments and grateful for the support of my family, friends, and the staff here at Two Rivers Correctional Institution for contributing in guiding me through this journey of learning and growing into the fullness of my potential.”

Michael Dodge

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Snake River Correctional Institution’s – Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk

Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) coordinated their first Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk at the Minimum Facility in September.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, also known as AFSP, provides awareness on suicide prevention and mental health conditions. This platform brings friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers together over all 50 states. It’s a program that allows individuals to connect with others that may have been affected by suicide.

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Former AIC Donates Books to EOCI

This article was written by the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution’s (EOCI) Supervising Executive Assistant, Chris Scarr. Chris received a call from a former adult in custody (AIC), Brent Leathers. Mr. Leathers graciously offered to donate books to the EOCI’s library. Continue reading about how Chris and Mr. Leathers worked together on the logistics and the excitement that followed, and get an update on Mr. Leathers.

In early June 2022, I received a call from former AIC Brent Leathers. Mr. Leathers informed me he is a member of the Library of America (LOA), a non-profit organization that preserves our nation’s literary heritage. He stated he had been given the opportunity to donate 50 books from LOA and would like to contribute them to the library at EOCI. A value of over $1100. He explained he enjoys reading, and it was reading books more than anything that helped him through his incarceration. He expressed he wanted to give back and hoped others would enjoy the same benefit from reading.

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Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution’s JLAD Service Dog Program

Here is a little history about the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI) Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD) Service dog Program. EOCI started the program in 2016, after almost a year of planning. Approximately 70 percent of the dogs graduate from the program, which is above the national average. The training program started with 16 puppies and has expanded to 32 dogs. Only 16 dogs are trained at any given time, as the dogs are rotated in and out every week.

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Art of Communication: Eliseo’s Story

Oregon Department of Corrections’ institutions across the state. Developed by Chaplain Trime Persinger at Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI), the course teaches AICs how to build positive relationships and manage conflict situations through everyday conversations. This post is part of a series which aims to share the stories of AICs who have been impacted by the program.

Below, AIC Eliseo Salinas uses the tools he learned in the program to demonstrate his patience and understanding. AIC Salinas shared his experience with Trime Persinger, who wrote it down as follows:

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Oregon State Correctional Institution partners with Corban University and Paid In Full Oregon

Pictured above: Heidi Steward, Acting Director – DOC, Tom Kohl, Founder – Paid In Full, and Tom Cornman, President- Corban University

Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC), Corban University, and Paid In Full Oregon partnered to bring a four-year Bachelor of Science degree program to Oregon State Correctional Institution (OSCI). Corban University is a private university in Salem, Oregon, accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities.

Paid In Full Oregon is a non-profit organization founded through a partnership with DOC and Corban University “to provide adults in custody (AICs) a fully accredited bachelor’s degree; potentially impacting the prison population throughout the State of Oregon.” Paid in Full Oregon raised all funds for this program, which started in the fall of 2019.

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Two Rivers Correctional Institution – Weddings and New Attire

Two Rivers Correctional Institutions Religious Services Programs support the Oregon Way. In late June, with the assistance of Security Managers and Rehabilitations Service Managers, adults in custody exchanged wedding vows. Exchanging vows wasn’t the only highlight of the day, AICs were authorized to “dressed up” for the event. Read their stories below.

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Two Rivers Celebrates Father’s Day with a Family BBQ – By AIC Erik Tester

Two Rivers Correctional Minimum hosted a Father’s Day Family BBQ Event. It was a cold day, but everyone appreciated the time together in a unique visiting experience outside. During the BBQ, nine adults in custody (AICs) had the opportunity to cook a meal for their family. Each family was provided a tabletop BBQ and a BBQ box which was loaded with food items.

AIC Erik Tester wrote the following about the days event…

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Art of Communication: Alberto’s Story

Below, AIC Alberto Rodriguez-Ramirez uses the tools he learned in the program to demonstrate his patience and understanding. AIC Rodriguez-Ramirez shared his experience with Trime Persinger, who wrote it down as follows:

When I fell, my daughters were seven and eight. They didn’t speak to me for eight years. I sent letters and cards but didn’t receive anything back from them.

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South Fork Forest Camp’s Main Benefit is Hope – But Firefighting, Forestry Projects, and Raising Fish Help All Oregonians

TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST, Ore.—More than 46,000 steelhead trout gush out of the rearing pond and into Tuffy Creek at South Fork Forest Camp on an unusual snowy day in April. After being confined to the pond for seven months, the three-to-five-inch fish now face a challenging journey — much like the people who raised them.

“This camp is the only one of its kind in Oregon,” said Dave Luttrell, South Fork camp manager. “We are a minimum-security facility run jointly by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Department of Corrections (DOC)—we house up to 200 adults in custody.”

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