Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1977)
From behind the wall ky U w y OAF. FOB THIS 8FBCIAL INTERVIEW the O.8.P. G uard* Union president. Henry Jobonoa, wbo hold* th * rank of •argeant. referred are to one of the longest end dghly respected union member*. Sargeant John Nolan. John Nolan will aoon celebrate hb 20th year ae a guard at O.S.P., and at the preeent time b the senior security officer of the O.8.P. Education Department. A man SO year* of age, Nolan became employed aa a correctional officer in IM S. He In * aeon many change* nude ia the every day prieon routine. He ha* aeon many administrative. treatment and vocational program*, along with many inmate* and guard* come and go. On June 17, 1977. 1 eat down to interview Sargeant Nolan and these Q-— Sargeant Nolan, what is the purpose of a guards' union at O.8.P.7 N*faa.....Thb wae answered by the U.8. Supreme Court ia 1989 when it declared The National Labor Relation * Act eonsti- have a right to far Lawful hToffirere. 1 o u te f wfth**n he same aa a wee haa a right to select m stated, “we organised of the aituaitona, that a Ipfeee ia dealing i a poor excuse to save a few dollar* on union dues. The iasuee are basic wages, benefits, and with a large net keep ia mind th at ■trong union b our Any employe* that does not take out membership ia a lawful union b Uttlo more than a free-loeder. We a l must help pay the coat of unions or ■ ■ M l people wiB be set back "90 year*." Remember, by youraeif, all you have to soil an *s*plnysr b your work, and that b not muck whan a large of people are unemployed. the O 3 F . Guard Union b with the A FL-C IO . hew much SUJO a I f The following day, th b reporter met with the 0 .8 J». Guards’ Union President, Sgt. «» far additional comment. Johnson stated that of the 888 potential members at O.8.P., 190 had joined since the founding in 1972 of the urnon. if erste on a sort of feel and in the old days« people csn't pronoun or handle authority. Ho should be a person who b willing to go strictly by the book (Rules and Regulations of Prieon Procedure Manual), not a person with double stand srds. He must bo very even temepred. and for my personal opinion, he should bo over the age of thirty. Education plays a part, but not the largest pari Q.....How do w * improv* the quality and staying power of guards? FT it— We get the state legislature to allocate sufficient fund* to hire a higher quality, more dedicated type of man and to provide a more comprehensive train ing program. Q... .Why b the hiring of Black guards for O.8.P. duty so hard? Nofen.....The reason Black* don't want to work at O.8.P. b because to do so they must live in Salem. Let's face it, there b very little social life for Black people in Salem. Q...,.Do you believe Oregon has Blacks qualified to work as correctional officers? Naina.....YES. Q....JHow should we go about recruiting thee* qualified Blacks? Nelen ...Ju st like anyone elee. They apply and go through the same pro cedure*. But we don't go out and recruit Blacks and sneak them through the back door. Q..... Over the years, how has the relation ship betwen guard end inmate changed? Netea.....It's improved tremendously. Years ago, aa inmate who even carried on a friendly conversation with a guard was ostentiatiously named aa a “snitch.'' <J..—How about between guard and adminaitration? N*lan.....Also tremendously improved through the efforts of the union and improved working conditions. Q-.—Do you believe a guard should be in a decision process Cor an inmates rehabilitation? Nefea__ Yes, definately. When even the Parole Board b having problems reaching a deebton on aa individual, they should ask the advice of a guard. We feel we are closer to them and know their problems beet, better than just words on a piece of paper or a five minute pre-parole appear ance interview. Q ~_There b talk of ex-cone becoming guards and counselors ia many prisons across the country, because they have lived the experiences of being in prison .m t relate to tbs inmates, also. H al— ’r v ~ day that happens in this institution, that's tbs day H l quit. ne. But today, we have I of on the job cannot be denk joba in tb b prieon, if they are < The union protects a Q.....What b your picture of the i guard working in the average The union was organised by the employee* at O.8.P. and was tbs largest group ever to join the American Federation, State. County and Municipal Employee Branch (A F8C M E ). For personal comment, Sgt. Johnson states that, “Blacks, as well as other minorities, have never truly tried to get into the prison work bore in the State of Oregon.“ Johnson also states that he does not believe the IBS million the r ir ie legislature appropriated for Corrections th b year was wbo, because he leans more to restoring prisons back to punishment. He believes that the real work in rehabili tation should be directed toward the youth and it would take many years before any meaningful resu lts could be soon. J n ha arm b a strong believer in restoring tbs Oregon death penalty, along with a much larger mental health program at O.S.P. The O A P . Guards’ Union b working toward a more efficient training program ■mt cortificntfoo of all Correctional .T h b b o o t the type of work that IT TAKES GUTS TO 8TAY OUT OF PRISON Anyone playing with a fulldeck and ten fingers of smarts who experience« the correctional system from the inside as a prisoner can see where it has failed and why. Being innocent in the bargain simply enhances the objective/subjective parallax effect. The recidivism rate is rampant. Too many people come back too many times. Why? Perhaps the nwet fruitful line of thought to arrive at an answer to thb, as yet obviously unanswered question, b to ask what these people lack that others have. W hat social tools are they missing? I t certainly isn't guts or strength of will, because many of them repeatedly com mitted crimes that subjected them to grave danger. I t b n ’t lack of skills or education alone or the present system of “rehabilitation” would have appreciably lowered recidivsim. I t hasn't. The most prominent feature lacking from most correctional incarcerees is a healthy superego. In psychoanalytic theory, the superego is the moralistic component of personality. Malformation or lack of an intersocial moral structure in a criminal opelis “misanthrope“ and “psychopath" (either negative or missing feelings about one's interrelationship with society). 8o far, in th b area, the correctional bureaucracy has been playing sero-sum game. They give the person an education and teach him/her a skill, assuming that so equipped, success in the “real world" will be assured. T h b , to me, b like teaching a person a l about carts, and never even mentioning the horse. W hat to do? You can’t force feed society’s impres sion of morality into these people; they'll just spit it up. But you can strike a spark of self-awareness ia them and help them to nurture it. Modern Psychology, Transactional Analyab. A the “I ’m O.K. You're OJC.” position can be taught. The individual can be helped, not pushed, to develop or repair his/her own superego structure. The goal not being to fit into society, but rather to be happy and well- adjusted to oneself. A person so equip ped will fit into society as a positive aide effect. Responsibility tor thoughts trans lates as responsibility for actions. It takes guts to undergo the necessary self-analysation, but as I said, these people don’t seem to be lacking in that Unless you are a sex-offender, or have a drug or alcohol problem, there are presently no psychiatric or psychological programs available at 0L8.P. ^ “-No funding" we are told; which brings me to my final point. Bureaucracies and legislatures, in spite of much hot air to the contrary, tend to exhibit th b same lack of a viable super ego structure. Anyone who doubts th b should read “The Peter Principle“, “Park inson's Law”, and M artin’s “Malice in Blunderland". For myself, I will just point out the obvious ineffectuality of government today. When presented with a problem, they tend to beat it* effect over the head instead of going after its cause. Our case ia point b an example: failure to recognise the cause of recidiv ism or do anything effective about A ll I can say b . your government won't be responsible unless you fares it to be. I t must have it* own excrement rubbed in it* foes before it will realise what a mess it b making. “Government by the people” means that yea take part. So if you want to be more secure in your home tan do something abut th b “comedy of ir o n . One word of warning though: It's Bereoa Child Care Ceatar ironic that it was Niccolo Mschbvelli wbo pointed out that “...It must he remem bered that there b nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than the creation of a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old in stitu tion s and m erely lukew arm defenders in thorn who should gain by the new ones...” I have accepted the import of thb maxim and opted to proceed. You must decide for yourself. 4822 N. Vancouver Avenue A Practical Child Development Program Ages 2'/» - 7 years Openings -- CSD -- 4C -- Private Call 2 8 b 0 5 3 0 by Abdel Whabaad Madyun GUARANTEED A.K. A. WOfom C. Greedy 38099 REPAIRS A L E T T E R OF CONERN It is hoped that thb letter will generate a mutual interest, commitment, and an active involvement between concerned citizens of the community and squally concerned inmates here at the prison in Salem. You might ask, “How can a person wbo has been convicted of a crime against hb community be concerned about tbs health and welfare of that community? When a man finds himself locked in a cage he begins to reflect on how he has gotten into th b situation. In reflecting on the cause of hb predicament he b seeking some degree of truth within himself. In seeking truth, he will find (in most eases) that it was hb own actions that led to hb imprisonment and it b hb own actions that will free him and keep him free. A t th b point he can do one of two things: He can choose to remain in hb former frame of mind sad continue to set up negative causes (criminal behavior) which, undoubtedly, will result in neg ative effect*. Or. he can reorder k b life, transform it, and develop within himself, natural, healthy human traits by taking on healthier habits, thus, enabling him to set up positive causes (positive thoughts, attitudes, and behavior) that w ill bring him positive effects Ls. peace of mind, freedom from criminal behavior, etc. When a man takes on healthy human habits, attitudes and characteristics, he b HowMMmt.rat.ing some concern for hb moral, mental and spiritual self, which naturally grew * into a concern for the moral, mental and spiritual health of the community as a whole once the self a* aa individual recognises its relationship and responsibility to the many selves that make up the whole (society). Now, I know that not everyone here b concerned with the health and welfare of the community but there are those wbo are striving to improve themselves by taking on positive habit*, attitudes and qualities so as to be aa asset ia the communities to which they w ill eventu ally return. That b why I said, "Con- ALL MAKES ba ° s HOSES FREE NEW A USED ESTIMATES FOR SALE MOST MAKES R IM K A ELECTRIC CO. 1804 N .L UNION 287-9420 C m m Naw and Save! W e are concerned because we have come to know the causes, by reflecting on our own, and ws see clearly the destruct ive effects of s pimp-prostitute, stay high and party, give me your money or your life type mentality. We are concerned because we see our future loaders being crippled and destroyed by th b destruct ive mentality which in many cases becomes even more destructive after being expoeed to the negative influence* of a prison environment. I t b with th b concern that we are calling on all concerned d tb e n *. political and religious organisations, dvie groups, youth programs, etc. to meet with us to explore any and all areas where we might share our ideas, knowledge, time, energy, labor and experience in a concerted effort to rid our communtt.be of the moral, mental and spiritual pollution that b clearly choking the life out of us and our future. MAYTAG M AYTAG Heavy Duty 7 Washers Save N ow on Maytag Dependability YMCA begins summer camp season For youngsters 8 through 10, there are three day camps, conveniently located for parents ia Vancouver, Portland Westside County. Day campers i new arts and crafts, swim and have the time of their lives. Kids 8 through 18 are eligible to attend Camp Collins, located on the Sandy River just outside Gresham and adjacent to Oxbow B u te Park. For teenagers Camp Moehan on Spirit Lake in Washington offers aa opportunity for wilderness backpacking instruction and increased awareness of nature and all it offers. For experienced backpackers, special arrangements may be made to attend PORTIAKO CIEANING WORKS Camp Halton in the Wallowa Whitman Natton»! Forest. All Y M C A camps are co-ed. Scholar ship aid b available to those in financial need. The Y M C A b a member of United Way. For additional information contact your local Y M C A center. Y centers include the Northeast Y M C A . 281-1189; John r. Leach Center, 775-4898; Metro Center, 228-9822; and the Vancouver Center at 89V8414. . ____ ■ - ..............- .............................. FOR BRANDS you ' V A R IE T IE S 282-8341 KNIT BLOCKING OUR SPECIALTY 3060 N. WWarm Ava. I. Alexander, Proprietor J S IZ E S you It n o * * you wont I.U , Buffet dining on 3rd floor ________ Fairview Terrace Post time 7 30 p m Monday thru Saturday For information and reservations __________ call 885-2191 Sorry, no Sunday racing and no children ______________ under 12 At Fairview Park NE 223rd and Halsey St east out Freeway Bantield (ISON) l|,fk _ Í Pow er îl) is h « a s h e K '^ ^ r Air conditioned 4th door Club Skyview IE N O W S NORTH S NX. PORTLAND O N I BAY SOIVIC8 7 3 0 PM SHOP ............. Í Ask about Special installation offer w e give you m o r e . . . r a r a hom e fu rn is h in g s 30th and S.E. Division Shop W eekdays 0 to 9 Saturday N 6 234-9351 Closed Sunday lERRSilMMmiNSBWnwssSMnsWMSS
