Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1979)
Behind the Wall Julius D. Snowden »38013 Poetry Editor Larry tiaker »33021. O.S.P. Correspondent I ‘ •Why must there be violence before a problem can be recog nized?” These were the words uttered in a meeting at O.S.P. between eight prisoners, eight Oregon legislative assistants and aides earlier this month. The discussion was based on the topic: ” How do we, the Prisoners, get rid o f the Prisoner’s Legal Ser vices o f Oregon?" For the past six months, a series o f meetings have been staged by the in mates before guest members o f the Oregon House and Senate to alleviate this problem. The rumor circulating in this 1,500 man institu tion is that employees and attorneys who work for Prisoner’s Legal Ser vices (P.L.S.) are instilling in certain inmate clients heated issues that might brew up a disturbance among the prison population — that might bring about violence against inmates who oppose P.L.S’ s next biennium funding from the State. This is only a rumor. A similar tac tic was lodged against the P.L.S. employees last summer as a diversion tactic while P.L.S. tried to secretly hide that they had signed a contract with the Department o f Corrections to fund their agency on an emer gency basis. But such inform ation was quickly uncovered by a dynamic investigation, led by Verne Creek and other inmates. Since that time Creek and the in mates have kept a careful watch on P.L.S. and their movements, while other inmates formed a coalition to come up with a better situation than P.L.S. on how to meet the legal needs o f the prison population. During this time the inmates have uncovered other alleged actions against P.L.S.: 1. Referral o f cases to other agen cies that did nothing to assist the in mates. 2. Set-up a defunct para-legal pro gram, in order to rip o ff funding in their next legislative and correctional financial request. P.L.S. also states that 2,000 re quests have come through their o f fice since they have been in business, but when asked just how many o f those com plaints had reached a solution by direct court action, P.L.S. could not identify one. Their constant excuses always come in a manner o f referral action. It is a noted fact that the taxpayers o f Oregon did not approve P .L .S .’s large budget to become a referral agency when it comes to prisoners r 1 Ufe, Health, Group, and 3. Refuse legal services to many inmates which request P.L.S. ser vices. For the past three years P.L.S. has had prisoners in the State institution under the impression that the main purpose for establishing this agency was to assist inmates with their legal problems (i.e. child support, custody, governm ental benefits, inheritance, property and personal injury). A t least this was the original story P.L.S. gave the inmates at O.S.P. to gain their support, because it took the inmates' support to obtain their (P.L.S.) four years federal funding from Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. Other areas o f concern P.L.S. would cover would be institutional complaints regarding access to courts, commissary, medical care, disci plinary, sanctions, religious expres sion, custody, general living con ditions and employees misconduct. In a letter from Gene Mechanic, director o f P.L.S. to Verne Creek, written August 17, 1978. Mechanic informed Creek that 40% o f the in mates who requested help from P.L.S. were related to legal problems concerning child custody and sup port, governmental benefits, and etc. P.L.S. claims 30% o f the prison clients requests are institutional re lated problems, 10% more involve parole and sentence questions, the remaining requests for legal repre sentation are concerning crim inal matters. We guarantee tomorrow todqy legal civil complaints. writing in their next budget for this Business Insurance The establishment o f P .L .S .'s type o f training and class process, local funding during the first two that P.L.S. was requesting $210,000 years came through the American budget from the Division o f Correc Bar Association in order for P.L.S tions for their 1980-81 budget. This J g O N E M t d t n o m a h , L lo yd 700 B ldg. M 0 0 , Portland OR. 97232. 231-9724 to receive a large bucket o f money in fo rm a tio n was supplied to from L .E .A .A ., but A.B .A . discon “ Behind the W all” by the Gover tinues such funding after the first nor’s Ombudsman for Corrections, two years. 1977-78. wht also was very displeased by Ten percent (firs t year), 25% P.L.S.’s actions on cases their office ( (second year), 33% (third year) and referred to P .L.S . M any o f the 50% (fourth year). After the fourth prison counselors also arc dissatis year P.L.S. will have to approach the fied in their referrals to P.L.S. on civil matters. Oregon Legislature for direct fund ing. But during the third year P.L.S., Prisoners at O .S.P. started using W ashington v. Penwell to holding group meetings w ith assure their existence, tried to secret legislators, begging that the funding ly obtain local funding from the D i for P.L.S. be discontinued, and that vision o f C orrections. The word a more positive method o f respect secretly must be loudly stressed, be able institutions such as Willamette cause they were aware such action on University and other legal agencies. funding would bring a dissatisfaction Prisoners were tired o f seeing this from the prisoners as being a "con fly-by-night agency (P.L.S.) with its flict o f interest." Any legal project is Washington D.C. staff receiving all o f the funds. not about to bring legal action o f any kind against the agency that funds On February 7, 1979 the prisoners them. You just don’t bite the hand at O.S.P. demonstrated a mass work that feeds you. strike, which resulted in a prison D uring the summer o f 1978, a lock-down. There is no doubt about it, i f P.L.S. had handled many o f the group o f prisoners who had developed an inmate class on legal complaints and issues that had been matters during 1977 called "Class o f raised many times before through Legal Process,” requested help for court action as requested it would legal assistance to do writing and re have never happened. But to ignore search and para-legal training from such should be a criminal act within itself. students o f Willamette Law Univer sity and the Oregon State Public “ Behind the W all,” the class o f Defenders O ffice, along w ith in Legal Processes, and others directly stitutional approval. Twelve student- blame for creating such actions by inmates wanted to develop self-pride the prisoners straight at P.L.S. and their legal staff. in their own ability to learn the legal profession . . . It was not long before "B u t why must there always be P.L.S. stepped in and created prob violence, before a problem can ever lems fo r them by insisting it was be recognized?” P.L.S. who was supposed to provide An appeal goes out to the Division such training. But such training ac o f Corrections, Law Enforcement tually never got up o ff the ground. Assistance Adm inistration, Oregon Oh, yes, P.L.S. sent a couple o f Legislators and the people o f people a few times for a legal bull Oregon. Please don’t grant future session with the class, but they only funding to the Prisoner’s Legal Ser dism antled all the good th a t vice in Salem. Oregon. We make this Willamette and the Public Defenders plea on behalf o f our safety. Please Office had done voluntariliy. allow such funds to be granted to W illamette Law School for whatever It was not long after that the S J. 20th 4 DIVISION 1 4 4 1 0 1 J . DIVISION Ormm-2324 FACtRC prisoners found out the P.L.S. was proper training and education in the Í . I 72nd 4 tUVK 3 M S SJ. r o w i u ~ n oty-ara molaua NJ. IS tft4 FHMONT N J . 74th 4 0USAN legal profession we might learn. -1031 S.W. 1« W. BURNSIDi at 21« HIUSBOBO-MO SJ OAK »O NT» We also ask that P.L.S. be dealt S A N R A M B -IN O N J. 122nd with in a proper and legal fashion for the problem s th e y’ ve created in cation fa c ility . A ctivitie s include ignoring many prisoners legal needs. swimming (students should bring After a l l . . . it took a thief to catch a their own suits), racquetball and thief. basketball. At the same time, from 1:00 to 4:00 p .m ., the PSU Engineering Open House w ill be underway in Science Buildings I and II. The Open House features tours o f the labs, de monstrations, and student competi tions, including a mechanical mouse contest. Parents, as well as students, are invited to Intro/79. The University 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH has made special arrangements for group meetings o f parents o f in PORTLAND. OREGON 97211 terested minority students. 284 7997 The PSU campus, located along Broadway and the Park Blocks be tween S.W. Market and the Freeway, MARCH 1979 is easily accessible by Tri-M et bus or by automobile. Free parking w ill be provided for Intro/79 guests in the University parking garages between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. For more information about In tro/79, contact the PSU Admission Office, 229-3511. JOHN R. PARIS T LOOK FOR THE BIG "T 'A Sure Sign of Good Taste SQUASH RADISHES CREEN ONIONS CELERY.... BROCCOLI POTATOES ™ TANGERINES. .49* 19* 19t .49* . 59* (I t M .49* PSU offers seniors look at University Portland State University’s “ In tro /7 9 ,” an opportunity fo r high school seniors to learn some o f what a university is all about, w ill include sessions directed at students who, for financial or academic reasons, may be hesitant about going on to higher education. Intro/79 is scheduled for Satur day, March 31st, in the University’s Smith Memorial Center Ballroom. The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with free refreshments and an introduc tion to some programs of special in terest and opportunities for assistance at PSU. There w ill be information on opportunities for housing and finan cial assistance, fo r example. The Educational Opportunities Program, which offers tutorial and counseling help to students who want to upgrade their academic skills, w ill provide information to students and their families, as will the University Scholars Program. PSU’s Black Studies Department also will be on hand for questions and information. At 9:30 a.m., students and their families will be welcomed by PSU’s Vice President for Student Affairs, Orcilia Forbes. The University’ s ad vising, admissions and registration process will be outlined. By 10:00 a.m., the students w ill be visiting with faculty members from the academic areas they choose from among the more than three-dozen undergraduate majors and ce rtifi cate programs available at PSU. A second visitation period is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., allowing students and their families to talk with faculty from at least two academic areas. Lunch w ill be available fo r In tro/79 participants in PSU’ s Nordic Room in Smith Center from noon to 1:00 p.m. In the afternoon, In tro /7 9 w ill provide students with free sports and recreational activities in the U ni versity’s Health and Physical Edu- • QdX3 'T V lN 3 W fO a iA N 3 HXSV3 3T0HM • T¡R¡flÍD¡E|W lE exodus POIC (Continued from Page 1 Column 6) zation was not due to ineffectiveness o f POIC but to ineffectiveness o f the system. He said there are some deficiencies in POIC’s performance but he was unable to determine whether these were the fault o f POIC or o f the system. The Council voted unanimously to adopt the reorganization and to allow the contracts to PO IC for another year. • WHOLE EAPTH ENVIRONMENTAL March 29. 30. 31 & April 1, 1979 Memorial Coliseum Complex Portland, Oregon Entertainment • Speakers • Workshops • Films A lie ma live Lifestyle Appropriate Technology Exhibits Dance A FfwxJ F tA T U R IM » Win.i A Solar I ner<> • Wood Slovex • Greenhousr Gardening • Sew Agr (ooit ■ M • < kan Air A Waler • I im : ! UehydraOtw hq.itpmeni • K vires I mm • PubluslNMn • Halural1 < mm A» • Sin-Iter» • l>r> lorJeti • < lean Fnergy Product» • Wildlife PretrrvatMwi • l aundry A Water Swvntg -quipinent • I f fk writ Home heMgn • • ANDMOHh Coalition (Continued from page 2 col. 6) recruit majority students to replace the Blacks who are to be bussed out? Summary In summary, we see that these resolutions are vague and am biguous, perhaps purposely so. Fur ther, they give no hint at time-frames for even these band-aid measures. They are but ta lk in g about the Board’s intent not to see substantive relief o f the present inequity. I or P e r f o r m * * A Workshop I une» ( a il»SOI) 2S 4O M 2 Idiwrwow S3 0 0 per day Under 12 and over M Free Z/OfAfs Ibursday I 00 pm 10 00 p m • Friday 10 00 a m 10 00 pm Saturday 10 (Jt) a m 10 00 p.m • Sunday 10 (JO a m M 00 p m "L i« le mind» are wounded by th e » m a lle tt t h in g » . " La Rochefoucauld On the Season of Spring: Spring is nature's activity of renewed sub stance. On Self-Control: I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over SELF. Aristotle On Self-Reliance: The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be sufficient unto oneself. Montaigne On Reward: The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. Ralph Waldo Emerson
