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
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N J . 74th 4 0USAN
legal profession we might learn.
-1031 S.W. 1«
W. BURNSIDi at 21«
HIUSBOBO-MO SJ OAK
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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