I
SPENDING TIME INSIDE...
My preconceived image of a state penitentiary was of rows and
rows of dark. cold, cramped cells On my first visit to one I found
they're not nearly as cold or dark as some of the inmates' faces
Inside the approximately 30-foot tall concrete wall surrounding
the Oregon State Penitentiary, I had to sign in and show
authorization' at the administration building before I was allowed
to go any further
Everyone visiting is filed through a metal detector and all
packages are searched and X-rayed People have been known to
smuggle things inside unopened cigarette packs and even inside
hollow boot heels
Anyone touring the pen must be accompanied by a guide My
guide was Carl Beals, the OSP s social services manager
After we passed through security it took us 15 minutes to pass
down a 30-foot hallway, where a succession of four metal-bar doors
are opened electronically and one by key Each door must close
and lock before the next door can be opened
As the final door clanged shut behind us, I was informed we
were inside the prison The building was surprisingly bright, with
floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the outer walls
Several inmates walked through the hallway dressed in prison
blues I stood out in my bright red shirt, two cameras and a photo
bag drapped around my neck
Currently, there are 1,450 inmates confined in OSP, though
there are only 1,101 individual cells Two of the four cell blocks, A
and C, have been converted to double cells The most desirable
place in the pen. says Beals, is sub-C in the basement of Cell Block
C The doors are never locked there and the inmates have more
access to a television
Inside the pen there is a furniture factory as well as a vocational
training building where inmates can learn skills including engine
repair, carpentry, auto repair and painting, diesel and auto me
chanics, drafting, welding and building maintenance
After spending three hours inside the Oregon State Peniten
tiary I left wanting never to go back for anything but another brief
visit
Clockwise from the upper left: a
staff member talks on the phone
inside Cell Block D; a guard on
one of eight towers on the wall;
the inside of a cell in Cell Block
A; inmate Larry Cunningham,
No. 36338.
PHOTOGRAPHY
AND STORY RY
NARK PYNES
Where did you shop?
Compare the prices and the selections
Product
1. Hunts Ketchup 32 oz.
I3rive-N-Save
(30th)
1 45
T9~
Food-op
(U of O)
NA
McKays
(Franklin)
1 45
2. Iceburg lettuce head
42
89
3. Henry Welnhard* 12 plu* dep
6 35
NA
6 29
4. feklppy peanut butter 18 oz
1 95
1 95
AA Large Egg* dozen
96
6. hamburger 30% tat per/lb.
7. Chicken breast per /jb.
1 59
1 49
1 10
NA
NA
97
1 48
2,05
8. 2% Milk gaMon
1 89
2 34*
2 52
1 85
9. Tillamook Cheese Med, per/lb.
2 98
2 60
10. Cracklin Bran
1 09
NA
1.09
11. Ftav-R-Pac Orange Juice 12 oz.
"T2T
~TS
thicken of the Sea Tuna 6.S oz.
Kellogg * Raisin Bran 20 oz.
69
1 15
NA
NA
1 03
1 29
sllogg _
14. Naveforanoe* per/lb.
1 99
29
NA
35
1 74
34
NA - either product was not carried by store or store did not carry specified size
All figures from Dec 2, 1981
' Calculated by using half gallon price twice
Brought to you as a service from OSPIRG, Suite 1, EMU