P * ” e 6 Portland Observar Thursday. July B. 1979
___
. W hat
Behind the Waii
s the fbi
got O N YOU"
by Larry Baker 935021
O.&.P. Correspondent
Personal, organization, or public
info files from any federal agency:
acquisition and analysis.
Bacon b Eggs on Sunday Morning???
The activities on Sunday morning
during the wee hours at O.S.P. are
always just a little more lively
than any other morning o f the week
The sound o f huttoms being pushed,
the flushing o f toilets and filling o f
water basins grows louder by 5:30
a.m. You can't help but he disturbed
from shallow sleep, or at least turn
ing over in search o f a soft spot on
the thin matress and steel slab you
know so well.
Normally you find yourself jum p
ing out o f the bunk and joining the
rhythm o f the 'button pushers' in
order to beat that 6:00 a.m. bell for
the cracking o f the cell doors Auto
m atically you throw your bunk
together; no matter how much you
brush your teeth and wash your face,
neither seems to get clean, enough.
Suddenly you fin d yourself
walking single file behind some one
down an endless tier and becoming
sure-footed as you make it down five
flights o f iron stairs and across a
brightly lit control-room floor; at
least these were my actions last Sun
day morning.
Naturally, this is the morning all
prisoners know the menu reads
"Bacon and Eggs” . So you hurry
your pace through two large
swinging doors, out into the brisk
morning air, which separates the
messhall from the ceilblocks. As
the aroma o f fried bacon fills your
nostrils you suddenly remember that
it has been thirteen long hours since
you have last had any ¡ood in your
stomach.
1 can remember waiting in the long
line to get a stainless srad tray, spoon
and fo rk , how I tried to make
small-talk with the inmates in front
and back o f me in order to forget
about those hunger-pains.
It wasn't until 1 had retrieved my
eating utensils and moved along the
steamtable that 1 noticed the toast
was not toasted, as I reached for a
piece it was cold, so 1 decided to pass
it by.
Next came the so-called hot
cereal—cracked wheat—only some
one forgot to show the cook how to
uncrack the wheat, it was all gummed
together.
Oh, well! The best is yet to come.
The boiled prunes were not too
bad, so 1 had the inmate-server
spoon me up a scoop. After obser
ving how d irty his hands were I
almost told him to put them back.
Then came the potatoes (dehydrated
instant, naturally), only this time
someone forgot to add water.
At last came the two fried eggs.
Oh. they were fried a lrig h t! But
when they were placed on my tray, 1
couldn't help but notice the grease
they were fried in had hardened,
meaning they were cold. Wow! Let’ s
not discuss the bacon, because it was
not fried, more like steamed.
A ll o f a sudden 1 noticed the in
mate standing in front o f me point
ing out to the co rre ctio n a l o f
fice r— who ju st happened to be
new—the same complaint that 1 was
about to make. The poor guy just
stood there looking confused and not
knowing what to do, so 1 thought it
might be best just to beckon the
steward myself.
A fte r doing this, the steward
—who is a state employee— looked
at our trays and merely stated,
" I t came o f f the main break
fast line, didn’t it? " Wow. what a
mindblower, the other inmate and
myself stood there feeling helpless as
did the new officer.
The next motive o f operation was
to find someone who might be a
higher o ffic ia l than the steward.
Quickly I looked about the 400-man
messhall and spotted the 'O fficer of
the Day,’ but honestly I was looking
fo r the Superintendent, who can
usually be found roam ing the
messhall some mornings. I told the
other inmate " L e t’s take our com
plaint to theO .D ..”
After lodging our complaint, the
O.D. (who just happened to be an
old southern gentleman) agreed with
us and staled that he wouldn’ t eat the
breakfast on our trays either and that
he would go have a talk with the
steward about it himself. I wandered
over to a table, got myself a cup o f
hot coffee and waited fo r some
results, but nothing happened.
Doing Justice
by Dave Crawford *39830
the legislature as the Matrix is in
tended to lim it the human element. It
When the Matrix is mentioned in
provides clear guidelines for board
side the prison community, there are
decision, and demands an explana
those who praise it as 'the' answer to
tion from the board should it elect
parole problem s. There are also
to sentence a man to more or less
those who energetically wish all the
time than recommended. The
curses known to man on this very
guidelines are sensitive to the serious
word. But, somewhere between the
ness o f the crime and to the past
pros and cons there are a few who
criminal history o f the inmate. After
accept the good points as well as the
the appropriate sentence length is
bad, and spend many hours thinking
selected, factors o f aggravation
o f the wavs it can be made better.
and/or m itigation are considered.
Such a person is Ira Blalock, former
These tend to make the crime more
chairman and current member of the
or less serious, respectively.
Oregon State Board o f Parole.
Only then, at least in theory, does
"The concept o f rehabilitation has
the human element enter in. Matters
failed to bear fru it,” said Blalock at
not covered under the standards of
a recent meeting with the Class o f
aggravation, mitigation, personal re
Legal Processes at O.S.P. "W e focus
habilitation and personal impressions
now on punishment. And we believe
are all then used to exercise what
that the concept o f "Just Desen” is a
powers remain to the board in ad
fairer, more consistent, and certainly
justing the time to be served.
more human approach to parole.”
After his well prepared defense of
The board members then developed
the Matrix System, Blalock went on
the foundations for what they feel is
to explain the workings o f the Parole
a realistic alternative to the rehabili
Board, and to outline how best to
tation model for determing time to
prepare for a parole hearing, and
be served. That alternative is the
how to present a case in an inmates
basis o f the Matrix System.
best advantage.
"W e ’ ve come a long way from the
" A t the present, you are respon
old system,” he said. “ It was un
sible fo r preparing your parole
defined, unpredictable, and subject
hearing. You must present your own
to the personal feelings o f board
case, and are expected to present it in
members.” As the class progressed.
its most favorable light,” Blalock
Blalock presented the Matrix System
told the inmates. ” 1 believe that the
as workable, reasonably consistent,
board has a responsibility to help
and ra tio n a l. The rules and
you prepare for a parole hearing ”
guidelines are concrete controls on
He explained that most inmates are
personal feelings which may in
nervous and present themselves and
fluence a parole date
their case poorly. Many miss obvious
“ I don’t pretend that the board is
points in their favor, or fa il to
completely objective,” Blalock add
challenge aggravating
factors
ed. “ 1 like to think o f myself as a
charged against them.
sensitive person, capable o f putting
"T hirty-five per cent of aggravat
myself in another persons shoes.
ing factors put forward by the parole
There are times when that is just
analysts are untrue,” stated the form
plain impossible.”
er chairman, Blalock. “ Investigation
The system set up and adopted by
o f these factors should be the boards
Civil Rights Bureau explains law
I f employers understand wage and
hour civil rights laws, fewer viola
tions should occur, according to
Oregon Labor Commissioner Mary
Wendy Roberts. To help employers
understand and comply with state
and federal regulations, the Oregon
Bureau o f L a b o r’ s Technical
Assistance Unit is conducting a semi
nar July 17th-18th at the Cosmopo
litan Airtel, 6221 N.E. 82nd, from
9:00a.m. to4;B0p m.
Seminar speakers are Pat Landers
and Jacqui Koch ot the Bureau o f
Labor’s Technical Assistance Unit,
and Mary Lou Lavbourne o f the
U.S. Department of Labor and an
We Specialize In
Life b Health
expert in federal wage-hour laws and
regulations.
Topics to be covered in the two-
day senmiar include: federal m ini
mum wage and overtim e regula
tions, state laws which regulate the
payment o f wages; employee benefits
policies; employing minors; hiring
and firing practices; discrimination
and civil rights laws; reinstating in
jured workers; and recordkeeping
requirements.
Registration is $17 including lunch
both days and is lim ited to 100
places. For more information call the
Bureau of Labor s Technical Assis
tance Unit at 229-5087
W ESTERN LIFE
IN S U R A N C E CO.
Insurance • Investment
Products • Group,
Medical & Dentical
Under Ten, All Tax
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Wholly Owned
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ATTORNEY JACK L. SCHW ARTZ
233-0838
10am 8pm
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OREGON EPISCOPAL SCHOOL has
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students
297-4836
and
effective
Pre-school through Grade 12
High School Resident Program
Small classes
Experienced Faculty
6300 S.W . Nicol Road
Portland. Oregon 97223
(5C3) 246 7771
a non-discnmtnatory school
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PORTLAND, OREGON 9721 1
284 7997
1978 79
OVERVIEW
ANNUAL TREATMENT REPORT
ON
ALCOHOLISM EDUCATION & TREATMENT SERVICES IN
N.E. P O R TLA N D -A LB IN A CO M M UNITY
Actual Clients Treated :
Alcoholism Formal Treatment - Total number of clients served
406
Alcoholism Counseling & Treatm ent-A dult Males
Alcoholism Counseling & Treatm ent-A dult Females
Group Therapy and Traatmant Meetings
304
104
Total
AA — one meeting per week
52
Exodus Phase A —one meeting per week
52
Exodus Phase B — one meeting per week
Total Therapy and Treatment Meetings
TS b "
Average Attendance
Yaarly
Per Meeting/Weak Attendance
14
728
31
1612
17
Contractad Services.
Exodus contracted with Multnomah County to serve 146 clients
Exodus actually served 406 clients
Exodus total traa tm an t plan, plus therapy is as follow s:
Outpatient Counseling, Planned Day Treatment Programs and Recreation and a fifteen (15) bed 24 hour
supervised Residential Facility which provides three dietary hot meals per day on a seven (7) day per week
schedule.
Employment:
Exodus employs 20 full-time employees, plus contracts with various consultants as needed to provide
round-the-clock coverage and security for the clientele of Exodus.
Staff Training and Education:
Exodus provides on going inhouse training for its entire staff, plus weekly professional application reviews.
Three, six week classes were completed on the Exodus Treatment Modality. Number of staff students
graduating were 22
Outside Seminars and Training:
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Number of staff attending were 7
N ew Programs:
ai EX^<1.U’ c° ntrac,ed !n APril 1879, with the Department of Labor to implement a Youth Program on
Ai'.rj lohsrr Awareness for Multnomah and Washington Counties (as a summer project)
Number of youths in attendance update are 28
Acknowledgements:
The executive body of Exodus wishes to thank the staff for providing such high quality of treatment and
therapyeven through the bitter cold of winter; also, to thank the Albina Community and its citizens tor recoo
mzmg the need for these tong overdue services and providing support in the delivery of treatment
Finally, to thank other cooperating agencies such as; The Multi Service Center under the direction of M r
Ben Talley end Dr Eugene Taylor, the Judicial System and rts Judges, Work Release Tm ten'and^tfw L
Management Physician & Surgeons Hospital Care Unit, Health Help, Outside In Project STOP TASC
Community Mental Health Agency. Holliday Park Hospital Woodlawn Park Hospital Emanuel Hospital
Ka'“ f HuSP'ta' Hoopor Mernon81 Center. Dr WalteHRaynowTand h » S ' l
staff, and Muhnomah County s Mental Health Staff. Special thanks to Bishop Daniels and Father Griffith
The Fiscal Year 1978 79 was challenging and measurably successful.
T PrXIfcXXlB
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I.' n l ’ Mf u '-’t r ' 1} n «
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1750 S.W. Skyline Blvd.. Suit« 220
responsibility. Challenging them is
your responsibility.”
The subject o f Parole Board rule
changes and applications was intro
duced carefully. A fte r answering
several ’ whys’ and ’ hows’ and ‘ how-
can-vous,” Blalock decided to clear
the air. “ You guys are missing an
important opportunity,” he stated.
“ Your suggestions and ideas, your
questions and your proposals need to
be presented in the form o f a
proposed rule or change. The Board
must consider them; and if they are
rejected, explained w h y .” Ex
plaining further, he added, "There
have probably been more changes in
Parole Board rules in response to
inmate comments or suggestions
than trom any other one source.
Your ideas carry weight. Use them!”
Ira Blalock is an unusual man A
man who takes his job seriously. He
told the class that he doesn't much
care for what his job entails, but ls happy
with the improvements he helped to
bring about. He has had the guts to
stand up and say what he thinks.
Even when other very signficant
people disagreed. He’s the kind of man
who may be cursed and respected all
at the same time.
Time ran o u t, leaving many
questions unanswered. For instance. .
where now does rehabilitation fit in?
Is there no reward for an inmates
removing the base causes o f his
crim inal behavior, or cu ltivating
alternative lifestyle? Why does the
Matrix not reinforce character im
provement w ith m arginal incen
tives? These and other penetrating
questions remain fo r the future.
They have answers, and solutions, if
the outcomes are not equitable.
Ira Blalock promised to return to
answer further questions and explain
the policies o f the Oregon State
Board o f Parole more fully. "Y ou
may not agree,” he commented,
“ but the policies o f the board are
based on equity.” The room grew
silent fo r a th o u g h tfu l heartbeat.
“ O f course, it’s very d ifficult to say
what equity really is.”
One o f the ’golden rules’ in any
prison is to never create a scene in the
mess nail. Not unless you’ re willing
to suffer the consequences—which
could result in a few knocks on the
head and then immediately being
slammed in isolation fo r security
purposes. So, like the coward I have
grown to be I just sat there with my
fellow inmates trying to fill up on
any amount o f sympathy I could get.
Bui nothing from nothing still leaves
nothing.
As I walked back to my ceil I was
lost, 1 was angry, and 1 was hungry.
Climbing those same five flights up,
walking down that same long tier to
my cell, 1 sat down helplessly on
my bunk.
This Sunday morning has never
been like any other Sunday morning
1 have ever witnessed in ail the 25
years I have done time at O.S.P.
It was different. Times are changing
and punishment is coming in a more
unknown form than 1 have every
witnessed before. W ell! A t least
that’s the way 1 began to figure it as I
clim bed back under that same
blanket to seek that same soft spot
on the same thin mattress and steel
slab. Maybe I can coach myself back
to sleep and make believe that this
was all a bad dream. But then again,
how long can I keep fooling myself
every time something like this hap
pens to me in prison. Maybe next
Sunday I won’t be as eager to get up
for bacon and eggs, if I remember
this one.
| multnomah |
Rosalie J. Boothe
>othe
E x e c u tiv e D ir e c to r