-UPDATE: The date for submitting comments on the proposed Personal
Property Inmate) rule has been extended to June 21, 2004. If you have any
comments you would like to submit, please ensure they are submitted by
this date. Only send faxes and emails.
--------------------
Thanks to:
www.westernprisonproject.org for this information. . .
Oregon Department of Corrections has proposed changes to its
Administrative Rules (AR's). Administrative Rules govern the conduct of
ODOC employees and the ODOC administration, and rules changes are open
to public comment before they take effect. Once they take effect, they
are part of the public record.
There are a number of changes proposed to Chapter 291-117, which deals
with Inmate Property Rules. We are most concerned with a change that is
not a part of the formal Administrative Rules. Attached to the rules
change proposal is a document entitled "Authorized Inmate Property for
General Population Inmates". It does not appear to be part of the
Administrative Rules, but it specifically states that prisoners will be
limited to:
"Personal and authorized books, limit ten (does not include book(s) for
correspondence course)" This is in addition to books checked out from
the library or chapel.
Given the importance of education in reducing recidivism, it does not
make sense to limit the number of books that prisoners can own. It also
is not clear what the criteria will be for "authorized books", leaving a
potential for censorship or inconsistency. Since this document is not
part of the AR's, it can be changed without public comment.
Take Action! Submit public comments to ODOC demanding that ODOC not
limit the number of books prisoners can own as long as they are properly
stored.
Talking points:
* Since there are limitations specified in the AR's about how much
personal property a prisoner can own and how it is stored, it is not
necessary to limit the amount of reading material a prisoner has, as
long as it is stored properly.
* Reading is a positive activity prisoners can engage in. Their access
to books should not be arbitrarily limited.
* The word "authorized" is not clearly defined in this policy. There are
legitimate concerns that without a definition, it will be interpreted
differently depending on the prison and the officers, resulting in
disciplinary actions against prisoners.
* Limitations on Inmate Personal Property should either be included in
the Administrative Rules and subject to public review, or not enacted.
*Storage space: Prisoners should be able to have as many books as will
fit in their desk and drawer space.
*Sensory deprivation: Books offer one of the only sources of creative
input into prison life. Restriction of this is a form of further sensory
deprivation.
*Safety: Books are not the source of the hazard concerns with fire safety.
ODOC may focus on policy as a method of solving safety concerns, but the
real problems are in the small size of cells and the poor quality of the
aging prisons (especially Salem).
Other changes to OAR 291-117 include new costs to prisoners (for storage
containers); new rules about how prisoners will be able to access their
"excess" paper related to their legal case; other limitations on personal
property; and procedures for transfer of property when a prisoner is
transferred from one prison to another. The full text of the proposed
changes to these Administrative Rules (13 pages) is available from the
Department of Corrections, from the same office that receives public
comment.
Contact:
Carolyn Schnoor
Rules Coordinator
2575 Center St NE
Salem, OR 97301-4667
Phone (503)945-9090 ask for Carolyn Schnoor or
(503)945-0933
Fax (503)373-1173
 carolyn.schnoor@doc.state.or.us
------------------
Sample Letter:
Dear Carolyn Schnoor,
I am writing to object to the proposed changes to OAR 291-117 that
increase costs to prisoners, limits their access to their legal documents,
reading material and other property either while in residence at one
Oregon prison or during transfer to another.
However, my primary concern lies with a change that is not a part of the
formal Administrative Rules. Attached to the rules change proposal is a
document entitled "Authorized Inmate Property for General Population
Inmates". It does not appear to be part of the Administrative Rules, but
it specifically states that prisoners will be limited to:
"Personal and authorized books, limit ten (does not include book(s) for
correspondence course)" This is in addition to books checked out from the
library or chapel.
Given the importance of education in reducing recidivism, it does not make
sense to limit the number of books that prisoners can own. It also is not
clear what the criteria will be for "authorized books", leaving a
potential for censorship or inconsistency.
Oregon prisoners need books to preserve their mental well being and
psychological access to the outside world. Limiting the number of books
will only increase the sensory deprivation of prisoners in an extremely
bland environment. Books represent a valuable form of creative input, they
give prisoners something to look forward to and are a benign antidote to
idleness. Television cannot provide the mental stimulation of books, a key
component of rehabilitation.
Prisoners should be able to have whatever printed material fits into their
individual desk and drawer space. Clearly the Oregon Department of
Corrections current policy has done no harm and does not need to be
altered. If safety is the force driving these proposed rule changes,
specifically the fire hazard that paper represents, I would assert that
books are not the source of the problem in aging facilities with small
cell sizes!
I urge you not to proceed with the proposed rule changes. Thank you for
your time.
_
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homepage: 
PLEASE PLEASE FOLKS!! Take a mere moment to send an email NOW, BEFORE you log off!! I know this is a redundant email, but the importance cannot be stressed enough. For all Oregon Prisoners....please.
--UPDATE: The date for submitting comments on the proposed Personal Property
Inmate) rule has been extended to June 21, 2004. If you have any comments you
would like to submit, please ensure they are submitted by this date.
Only send faxes and emails.
here is an updated letter from supporters of Free.
Friends of Jeff Luers
=====================================
Dear extended friends/family of Free,
Jeff does not ask for help very often. He has been in
prison for four years this spring, and most of us have
not gotten a chance to pitch in to assist his current
efforts. As we fight to save wilderness, Oregon
prisoners are about to lose their right to even look
at pictures of it!
The Oregon Dept of Corrections is attempting to limit
the number of books a prisoner can own to 10! Please
take a moment to lodge your complaint with this
horrible compromise of sanity for prisoners. For many,
books are a strong reminder of what is real, the
natural world and loved ones--life! The deadline is
THIS FRIDAY, MAY 28th [now extended to JUNE 21st!] so call and email, or fax NOW! A sample letter and talking points are below.
Go to
Sign up for Jeff's list serve that is announcement
only and sends out Jeff's prison dispatches and
responds to emergencies [such as Jeff getting sent to
the hole etc}. To sign up for this list, send your
email to
For the wild and the wild ones trapped inside,
pam & madrone
Get off the internet, I'll see you in the streets.
Write Free at:
Jeffrey Luers, #13797671, Oregon State Penetentiary, Salem, OR 97310
Donate to Free's Legal Defense:
1-Online Donations-see
2-Send a check or money order to: Free's Defense Network,
POB 3, Eugene, OR 97440.