Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 31, 1978)
J P « 0*4 Portland Observer Thuredey, August 31, 1978 . . . UNION OR COMPANY Behind, the wall Larry Baker ItJSOJI O.S.P. Correspondent The Prisoner’s Legal Services of Oregon recently adm itted, in re sponse to a letter written on August 13, 1978 by an inmate at O.S.P., that the agency was being funded by the Division of Corrections. Ma.iy o f the prisoners within these walls were astonished when they heard 'through the grapevine’ that this change o f funding had been done. They now question whether they w ill have the opportunity to have their cases handled w ithin a professional manner Some prisoners even regard such a move as placing the PLS attorneys in a position to 'sell out’ to Corrections i f their cases become hot issues. You don’ t bite the hand that feeds you. The Prisoner’ s Legal Services was established through a grant from the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance A d m in is tra tio n and has been in existence since November 1976. The purpose for LE A A submitting the grant was to assure those in dividuals incarcerated w ith in in stitutions and prisons greater access to the court and full protection o f their civil rights — even if their com plaints were to be filed against the Division o f Corrections PLS claims it has handled nearly 2,000 requests for representation and claims over forty percent o f those requests have surrounded in the area o f laws dealing with child support, govern ment benefits, inheritance, domestic relations, property and personal in jury. T h irty percent o f the requests came from prisoners protesting in stitutional treatment in the area o f commissary, inm ate p roperty, medical care, discipline, sanctions, religious expression, v is ita tio n . custody, general living conditions and employment misconduct. Over ten percent were requests fo r legal assistance involving parole and sen tencing questions, and the remaining requests have been, for the most part, criminal matters. Gene B. Mechanic, director o f the Prisoner's Legal Services, states that during the first year his office had two lawyers in addition to himself and they over-extended themselves to the p o in t where they were not providing effective representation. Now with the addition this year of another attorney they still are not able to handle the Oregon prisoner requests on legal matters. Mechanic’ s letter states that, in order for the Prisoner’s Legal Ser vice to obtain the first year grant from LEAA, they had to obtain ten percent matching from a local agency, and for the second year twenty-five percent. This was provided by the American Bar Association. This year calls fo r thirty-three percent. The A .B.A. w ill no longer contribute this portion and the only alternative for PLS appeared to be a state ap propriation o f funds. However the legislature will not be in session until next January and appropriated funds w ill not be used until July 1, 1979. By that time fifty percent o f the local funds w ill be needed, and after the fourth year LE A A funding w ill be terminated. Mechanic’ s letter further states that the legislative emergency board was most unreceptive to requests for funding, especially when it applies toward prisoner services. Before going any further with the excuses the Prisoner’s Legal Service has given to the inmates at O.S.P. on why funding is supplied to them through the Division o f Corrections, “ Behind the W all’ ’ , questions why DENTAL INSURANCE is a valuable asset . . . Julius D. Snowden H38OI3 Poetry Editor was this move done so secretly. Why were the inmates not part o f such a decision-making process? They are not completely damn fools. Other agencies have used them in an ex- ploratational manner to obtain the federal ’ give-away pot* bank ro ll located in Washington, D.C. that the nations taxpaying public restocks each year round about the 13th o f A pril. It seems like every time an agency proposes to do something humane to meet the needs o f the elderly, the sick, or the indigent individual, regardless o f whether they are welfare clients or prisoners, those in d ivid u a ls are always excluded entirely during the decision-making process. This is one o f the main reasons many good programs were washed down the drain during the poverty era — all in the name of justice. And the only real salvation was allotted to the ‘ Poverty Pimps.’ “ Behind the Wall* challenges the Prisoner’s Legal Service to publically produce positive p ro o f to the prisoners and to the Oregon tax- paying public that there is not the slightest ’ c o n flic t o f in te re st’ established by their decision to be funded through the D ivision o f Corrections. Because you don’ t bite the hand that feeds you. Since many o f their alleged com plaints deal d ire ctly w ith the C o rre ctio n a l D ivisions and prison decision making policies, the inmates have every rig h t to become disturbed when u n ro llin g such enlightm ent from the grapevine. It affects their legal civil rights actions. “ Behind the W all” w ill greatly d iffe r w ith Mechanic’ s statement that legislators s ittin g on the emergency board are most unrecep tive when it comes to providing something as essential as the protec tion o f an individual’ s civil rights ar.d his access to the courts I f this was the case why hasn’t the PLS filed suit on them for depriving prisoners o f such. T hrougho ut the last eighteen months legislators have flooded the Oregon State Peniten tia ry and have become very in terested in the individual prisoners' struggles. Last year “ Behind the W a ll’ ’ published an article on PLS’s action on the treatment o f prisoners in the segregation and isolation unit (the hole). Well whatever legal action was prom oted by PLS, services must have never been rendered, because those prisoners are still hollering for legal assistance. Or was that a move to just stir up a hornet’s nest in order to ju s tify paperwork fo r the o f fices next budget request. It has been proposed by “ Behind the W all” that the inmates studying to become para-legals through the volunteer instructors from the State P ublic D efender’ s O ffice and Willamette University students, in vestigate the possibility o f a proposal being written to L E A A for funds that can be banked at a parent agency so that the inmates themselves can contract for their own attornies to handle any grievances or civil mat ters that arise affecting their incar ceration, instead o f having to be, at the mercy o f an agency that would be placed in a position to an swer to the very people they are to battle with in a courtroom each day. You don’ t bite the hand that feeds you. In conclusion, “ Behind the W all” could be overlooking PLS’s good in tentions toward the prisoners. . . but we doubt it. your health and appearance COMI’ L L T L COOPERATION OS Al l. IIE S 'I AI. ISS! K A M 'E CLAIMS H E IIA S III.E ALI. H IE DETAILS OE COMPLETISI. YOI H < LAIM FORMS N O APPOINTMENT NEEDED Come in at your convenience PARK FREE-Any Parle n Shop Lot HOURS " ft:30a.m to 5 p.m Saturday N;3V«. b i . to I p.m. Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, Dentist S.W 3RD A Y A M H IL L ST., PO R TLA SII. OREUOS T A K E E L E \ ATOM TO 2SI» EI.OOR 3RD ST. ESTRANGE HUGE ’ *""*<* TIRE WAREHOUSE FULL OF SAVINGS WE BUY FROM THE F ACTORY & YOU CAN BUY DIRECTLY FROM US! DIPLOMAT STEEL RADIALS BLACKWALL SET OF 4 F ET ER 78x14 FR 78x14 HR 78x14 GR 78x15 HR 78x15 LR 78x15 *121.08 >129.98 *129.98 *129.98 *129.98 *199.98 *240 *2.88 *2.99 >2.99 *9.09 »941 Prices good while quantities last ' Whitewalls also available Foreign Car & Custom Wheel Specialists Mounting B a la n c in g A v a i l a b le Educational Opportunities Program provides varied services CALL US FOR YOUR SPECIAL PRICE In 1977, Portland State University created the Educational Opportunity Program . The new program , operating under a new philosophy, took the place o f Operation PLUS. The supportive program known as E.O.P. is now in fu ll swing, and Remel Valentine, the assistant direc tor, expresses excitement about the program’s ability to help students. “ We offer a wide range o f ser vices,” she says, “ and we are genuinely interested in students. I f a student has the desire and capability, we can help him or her realize goals in higher education. Plus, we are about the nicest people in the univer sity — at least we make the effort to be.” Operating under a federal grant, as well as general funds from the PSU budget, the Educational Oppor tunity Program provides comprehen sive services. Counseling, tutoring, teaching — a student must be eligible to participate in all o f these functions in order to belong to the program. That may seem stringent, but it ’ s not. Most university students need special assistance in order to maximize the chance to learn, accord ing to Ms. Valentine. Nevertheless, she emphasizes the student’ s role and m o tiv a tio n : “ While we o ffe r exceptional ser vices, which inspire and assist students in many ways, the program is still only valuable if students take full advantage o f the services, using them to enhance the direction they would like to take in education.” The E.O.P. organizes counseling activities. Such activities include academic advising, personal coun seling, financial aid assistance, career planning, as well as group discussions and an extensive orien tation process. O f the counseling Ms. Valentine tells us. “ Our counselors understand and empathize with the situation a person faces. Most o f our staff have been through what our students are now facing. They under stand. When they listen, it is not par- ternalistic. It is, instead, from a position o f readiness to help. Our counselors do not act like doctors — as thought something is wrong with a student, as though the student needs to be fixed. The system needs to be fixed, and our function is to help students learn how to negotiate the system to produce the results they need.” The E ducational O p p o rtu n ity Program also executes a smoothly organized tu to ria l program, “ the tu to ria l process personalizes education,” Ms. Valentine points out. “ There is one - to - one discussion," she says, “ and it is always less threatening than seeking extended time w ith professors.” Students in EOP can get tutors for any course in the university, and in EOP courses too. Ms. Valentine un derscores the value o f tutorial work: “ Again, there is empathy: A student works with another student, there is understanding. A very personal and lasting relationship is created.” The EOP provides skill develop ment courses. Focusing on such areas as reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities, the EOP staff attem pts to teach students vital communicative skills as soon as they enter the university. “ We have ex cellent teachers,” indicates Ms. Valentine. “ They have each taught SHOP IENOWS B R A N D S you kn o w V A R IC T IK S y o u IM te SIZCS y o u w o w * TK< f r —n a i t i i |S»ar«t In T»n S«nc« IVOR • • • • • • M i l S .l M l l w a w f c l * J J 0 . « l a x * a r a > .4 a H I M « H I O lia s a H U m b . n l a t O r a a la y « a la ijn M ill, » la ia I O la a a t M C H -iU a w • O a k O ta v a • • . • . • l« > h * > . l * . . n « x * H . l M an<a<b j a , h * » .|. O t.lU a n J l r d * W a n O a ra X O a O l » — a »O • A w . K »«a C ity required university courses, so they are aware of the expectations and demands o f scholarship in higher education. Our classes are small; credits are fully recognized. They are interesting, fun, and thought provoking — but they are demand ing also.” With a coordinated set o f services — counseling, tutoring, and skill in struction — the Educational Oppor tunity Program is prepared to give students that extra boost toward achievement in college. The assistant d irector, Remel Valentine, comes on strong with an appeal to each person who might in any way be th in kin g about em barking on a college career. “ I f you are serious about going to college, if you are ready to put forth the time and e ffo rt necessary, i f you are willing to work with people who are interested in working with you, then the Educational O p p o rtu n ity Program w ill not let you down.” Near the end of our interview with Ms. Valentine, she added what is to her one o f the most significant ad vantages o f the EOP. It is the “ sense o f co m m u n ity” which develops among students. “ The strength o f this sense o f involvem ent helps students overcome personal ob stacles and difficulties, “ says the long-tim e college counselor. "Feeling the strength of the group, each student feels stronger. They seem not alone; they develop friend ships, and these friendships enhance learning. The feeling that “ we are hanging in here together” gives each student the power to move fo r ward.” The Educational O p p o rtu n ity Program may be just what you need to begin now to shape an education that meets your needs for the future. It is a program concerned w ith The House o f Exodus will host its first meeting of it* "Com m unity Ad visory Council for Exodus.” The Council w ill consist o f 27 persons nominated and elected to represent inform ation regarding community needs and concerns related to alcohol education and treatment. The meeting will be held at 11:00 a m. Saturday, September 9, 1978 at 1318 N.E. Killingsworth. creating an atmosphere in which students can maximize the chance for achievement at P ortland State University. 284-1707 CENTURY TIRE DIST. Monday-Friday Saturday *4 EXODUS a-ru/ SÿteaJm on/ teeet&e. 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND. OREGON 97211 284 7997 FACTS OF IMPORTANCE V O LU M E IV SEPTEMBER 1978 SERIES I During the entire month of September you may register for evening, Saturday and Sunday classes. This is EXODUS' first series of community ser vice classes. TOPICS ARE: 1. Is Alcoholism the PROBLEM or the RESULT? — 2 hours 2. What is the difference between the alcoholic personality and others? — 2 hours 3. How to relate to spouse and children under conditions of alcoholism. — 2 hours REGISTER AT: EXODUS 1518 N.E. Killingsworth Portland, Oregon 97211 r" I ' <
