Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 1978)
P«0e4 Portland Observer Thursday, September 7,1978 American State Bank Larry Baker 935021 O.S.P. Correspondent Julius D. Snowden 938013 Poetry Editor 2737 N.E. Union 1. ministered by Corrections Division. Imparative in this would be the direct participation o f an inmate committee which w ith the im put o f a s ta ff committee would select competent attorneys to litigate cases selected bv an inmate advisory committee which reflects the needs o f the inm ate population. ” 1 A in ’ t Much, Baby — But I’m All I Got*'... Jess Lair, Ph.D PART II Rapidly over the last week a small group o f inmates have been gathering support through the entire prison p o p u la tio n to m ount a massive assault legally. The Oregon Prisoners Legal Ser vices in Salem is under attack by the inmates at the Oregon State Peniten tiary in retaliation o f the announce ment that the Prisoners Legal Ser vices has requested and received fund ing from the Division o f Corrections, in order to continue serving their clients. A large portion o f those funds is to supposedly go toward fighting the very agency (Division o f Correction) who provided it. Inmates who file civil suits against prison procedures, parole vio la tio n s and unusual punishment have been at the mercy o f P.L.S. for legal advice and court actions. Prisoners may be judged by the public as ‘ dum b' fo r getting themselves in a position in life to be confined in prison, but they are not stupid enough to actually believe that any ‘ legal minded’ organization is foolish enough to ‘ bit the hand that feeds them.' In a recent meeting w ith State Senator Edward Fadeley, (member, Ways and Means Committee) in mates expressed their dissatisfaction in the legal services provided by the P.L.S., and a move is in the making to inform the general public that it is their taxpaying money which is at stake. "Show me one solid thing the Prisoners Legal Services has accom plished since they’ve used us for an excuse to ob ta in the enormous federal grant, tw o years ago, to protect prisoners civil rights," stated H. Goodspeed, (O .S.P. inmate). “ They have done nothing, but sup ply us with words and promises, but no actions.” Goodspeed continued, "W hen the Oregon Bar Association refused to supply local matching funds to them, well the sugar started melting into the mustard.” Another inmate, (who wished not to be identified) remarked, “ This time we can’t place the blame on H.C. Cupp (Superintendent) or any of his staff for abuse o f prisoners legal rights. Not when we’ ve got the Prisoners Legal Services secretly selling us out to Corrections for a few lousy d o lla rs . Even i f the prisoners had someone as dedicated to handling th e ir cases as Scott M cA lister (A ssistant A tto rn e y General) or Gary Balcock, (State Public Defenders) there would be no suspicions in “ conflict o f interest.” The point o f real disappointment o f relying on people within the legal professional field comes in the Final analysis and when the commitments they make are not kept, especially to those who are too weak to defend themselves. Richard H. Shoblad (Correspondent notes: Shoblad. is the a u th o r o f "D o in g M y Own T im e" published by Doubleday in ¡972.) T o ‘ Behind the W all’ : When Prisoners Legal Service o f Oregon was originally conceived, it was thought by the prisoners o f the Oregon State Penitentiary that their main job or responsibility was to be one o f representing the bulk o f the institution on either class action or cases that would effect a large por tion of the inmate population. This never came to be, in fact they sidestepped the cases that w ould provide relief for large numbers o f prisoners and took the little cases that the law library could have easily handled. Even though they were federally funded, their refusal to tackle the real problems that exist at the Penitentiary and take on the large class action type suits that would benefit a L> ge amount o f prisoners. This type o f an attitude led to the bulk o f the prisoners o f the peniten tiary losing a great deal o f respect and credibility in Prisoners Legal Service project. Now that Prisoners Legal Services project is funded through the Corrections D ivision, there is no doubt in my mind that they w ill only be puppets fo r the C orrections Division, litigating only those cases that Corrections w ill allow. What little credibility Prisoners Legal Service had before being fund ed by the Corrections D ivision is gone. Most inmates would rather have another inmate or some other organization handle any legal work they seek to have done than request Orgeon Prisoners Legal Service project to do it. In short, throwing good money af ter bad is not the answer, what is needed is an organization that w ill respond to the needs o f the bulk of the prisoners in this penitentiary, if Oregon Prisoners Legal Service project, cannot or w ill not meet our requirements than some alternative source o f legal counsel should be sought. As a paralegal, these are my ob servations after speaking with hun dreds of inmates each week. Most support these feelings and are more than w illing to speak out and be heard. David J. Sterling by Tom Capps and W ilbur Hixson T o ‘ Behind the W all’ : To meet the legal needs of the in mate population it w ould, in my opinion, be productive to apply for an L .E .A .A . grant to be ad The Prisoners Legal Services o f Oregon was created for the purpose of hearing inmate complaints against the Oregon C orrectional System. . . . U N IO N OR C O M P A N Y DENTAL INSURANCE is a valuable asset . . . Originally, this office operated under a U.S. Government Grant o f the Federal Law Enforcement Act. The concept o f this o ffice was designed to assist inmates at O.S.P., who with a limited knowledge, and without funds, could utilize this o f fice to file and properly present those complaints arising from C ivil mat ters. It was committed to those mat ters o f individual, as well as class- action suits. Recently, this office met with fund ing problems. To alleviate its finan cial dilemna, it considered outside sources for new funding. Ultimately, the Oregon C o rre ctio n a l System agreed to fund this o ffice fo r a period o f time, to assure its con tinuation. It is generally felt that by accepting the generosity o f the Oregon Correc tional System, Prisoners Legal Ser vices o f Oregon permitted itself to be placed in an untenable position, creating a conflict o f interest by this financial expedient. It immediately raises the question: How can this of- E The New York Life agent in your community Is a good person to know. The PRODUCE CENTER o f PORTLAND” BARTLETT LA HOOD RIVER PEARS 23 BOX $A39 ■HI IM PB9VI9 KLBIRTA SHB m M H » 0 8 BT MfcS C M FRESH LOCAL 39 HONEYDEW MELONS . . |4 ( THE ARISTOCRAT OF MELONS • CASHBA MELONS MACK MASO« rate af 12 qts. CANNING JARS $269 £ $2 149 U.S.D.A. INSPECTED FLANK STEAK $189 BAKE WITH DRESSING CANNING CAPS 1 piece cap 39c par pk. 2 placa cap 49c par pk. MEDIUM CHEDDAR or MONTEREY JACK CHEESE 1 $145 PRICES GOOD THRU SAT., SEPT. 9.1979 SHERIDAN FRUIT Co. S.E. U N IO N & OAK X O D U 2 3 5 -9 3 5 3 S exruf ^ t e a / m e n / C o f f e e PORTLAND. OREGON 97211 284-7997 growth In support o f M ayor Tom Bradley’ s suggestion to industries in Southern California to expand in the Los Angeles area, Safeway Stores have started construction on a SI.4 m illion enlargement on one of its stores in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles. A .J . F u lto n , Safeway’ s vice president and Los Angeles division manager, said that this project is a part o f a SlO m illio n store remodeling program in Safeway’ s Los Angeles division. Mayor Bradley, Safeway officials, civic and government leaders were on hand fo r the ground breaking ceremonies. FACTS OF IMPORTANCE VOLUME IV SEPTEMBER 1978 SERIES! During the entire month of September you may register fo r evening, S aturday and Sunday classes. This is EXODUS' first series of com m unity ser vice classes. TOPICS ARE: 1. Is Alcoholism the PROBLEM or the RESULT? — 2 hours ( O M I’ I.F I t < OOI’ I K \ l l o \ t»> M .l. I ll \ I \ l l\» .l It \ \ < F 1 I.M M s She’s pregnant. She’s deserted. She needs help. She should call Ml II W IM I M I UH I» I \ | | s ill ( OMI’I I lis t, y III K I I MM I HUMS 221-0598 B irthrigh t NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED C o m e in a t y o u r r o n v e m e n c e tree confidential counseling lot pregnant girls Mayer Building at 1130S W Morrison PARK FREE-Any Park n Shop Lot * M llt ll A 1 k M illi.I S I 287-0216 or 288-6692 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH Safeway aids a p p e a ra n c e M«-<*i«d»»» » III a.m In.jp.m Saiurilav S It) a m Ki I p.m D entist I'ltlt I I W l l H |tt ( , n \ I M\) I IF A \ loit IH 2 M ) 11 IHlK tltli s| l \ | | f \ \ < | PEGGY JOSEPH PICKLING CUBES FRESH DAILY nearby grade schools include an Fall term at Portland Community tiques, art appreciatio n, asser College begins the week o f Septem tiveness training, clowning, first aid, ber 25th, and PCC's com m unity guitar, holistic health, Oregon for education division is o ffe rin g its the curious, photography, transac usual wide variety of courses in North tio n a l analysis, dance, picture and Northeast Portland. fra m in g , soap m aking, cooking Registration for fall term classes courses, auto tune-up, languages, can be completed by mail through writing and others. September 20th or in person at any Madison High School area courses PCC center until noon on Friday, include bridge, first aid, geneaology, September 22nd. Also, registration is handwriting analysis, weight loss, open the first day o f class if space is darkroom photography, macrame, still available. weaving, wood carving, sewing, Courses are offered in North Port languages, English as a second land at Jefferson and Roosevelt language, and others. High Schools, and at PCC’s Cascade Also, several courses on Christmas Center, 705 N. K illingsw orth. In baking and Christmas ideas w ill be Northeast Portland, classes are of offered this fa ll, some beginning fered at Adams, Grant, and Madison later in the term. High Schools and at several grade T u itio n fo r PCC com m unity schools. education classes is variable, and Numerous dance courses are being community education classes do not offered at Jefferson High School, in cluding beginning, intermediate, and ., cany college credit. T o obtain a list o f all PCC o f advanced dance, ballet, tap. and jazz ferings this fall, contact Portland dance. Other courses at North Port Community College at 244-6111. land centers include disco and belly dancing, scuba d ivin g , q u iltin g , drawing, a workshop on starting a sm all business, and a d u lt basic education, among many others. A t Adams High School, courses w ill be taught in massage, darkroom photography, gymnastics, painting, pottery, Chinese cookery, sewing, welding, woodworking and short hand. Courses at Grant High School and and Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, Ufa. Health, Qroup Insurance. Annuities. Pension Plans PCC begins community classes y o u r h e a lth HOURS fice effectively represent a com plainant when it is in effect being funded by the very institution that is being litigated? I f this office is to maintain a sembiencc o f credibility, this c o n flic t o f interest must be elim inated. A n yth in g short o f elimination by seeking other funding resources is unacceptable. Perhaps, the office should be abolished. Most inmates are familiar with a similar office o f Ombudsman. This office too, was created to hear com plaints o f Oregon’s prison inmates and for the presentation o f these to the G overnor's O ffice. Over the years, this office has deteriorated to nothing more than a sounding board for the Oregon Correctional System. To conclude that these offices are ef fective representatives o f Oregon’ s Prison inmate body is questionable. Results issuing from these sources are not noticeably favorable. Perhaps, it is time for inmates o f the Oregon State Penitentiary to re evaluate the functions o f these o f fices and consider Legislative alter natives in the forthcoming years. 282-2216 J 2. W hat 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
