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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1979)
Paga 4 Portland Observer October 25. 1979 Lucid Walls o f Time Behind the Wall by Larry Baker »35021 O.S.P. Correspondent THE GARY PERLSTEIN STORY Once a year ‘ ‘ Behind the Walls" tries to place a spotlight on an in dividual it feels has been most effec tive over a period o f time by con tributing something o f value through their profession toward advancing humanitarian treatment in jails and prisons in Oregon. Although this display o f action is quite new in many o f our institutions and in jails in many parts o f the state, because the average citizen is not aware what actually exists behind bars and walls that are manned with guns twenty-four hours a day. Televison and newspaper headlines have projected an image that most human beings who are forced to live under these conditions are something inhuman, beastly and com pletly u n fit to ever live in society again. Only a few know and understand this is not true. Most men and women who have been convicted o f a crime, and placed in places o f con finement, are normal people, sorry that they have broken the law and trying to repay that debt to society as the law prescribes. In many cases that debt is never paid because of the stigma one must carry with them for the rest o f their lives after once being convicted. There are fewer yet, who work very hard most o f their lives to main tain decent treatm ent and con ditions, and adequate care which means keeping up w ith modern changes and times. W ith today's technology there is no reason prisons, jails, and hospitals should have to revert back to the darkage methods. ‘ ‘ If we must cage men and women, then let’ s make sure they are treated like human beings and not a n im a ls ," stated Gary Perlstein, Associate D ire ctor ol Ad m inistration o f Justice, Portland Stale University. ‘ ‘ Because 99 per cent o f our incarcerated people in Oregon w ill someday be released back in to society to h op efu lly become productive citizens. And only then w ill we be able to judge if our prisons and jails have created a monster or released a human being.” Behind the Walls has chosen Dr. Gary Perlstein as its Award Winning Penal Humanitarian for 1979 in Oregon. Cops and robbers, crime, police brutality and discrimination are not Julius Snowden 38013 Editor David Crawford »39830 Assistant Correspondent LOVE Love is like a rose so new; Soft the petals, in the morning dew. Upon the vine, which it grows; So beautiful to see, so graceful to hold; The bud o f life, so new so young, To hold one’s life within as one To bloom within the morning sun. new subjects to Gary Perlstein. Being o f Jewish decent and learning such names as Auschwitz, Buchenwald and T re b lin ka (Germ an concen tration camps) became a realist pic ture in Perlstein’ s mind as a youth in evening family discussions. Born in New York C ity (1940), Gary attended grade school at P.S. 28 known for its many fights during those years. But Perlstein managed to graduate form the School o f In dustrial Arts in the city. Moving to Kansas City, Missouri in 1956, Perlstien attended Kansas C ity Junior College and in 1961 recieved his Bachelor's degree at Payette University. BEAUTIFUL Beautiful born is a woman, young; To see, to hold, to live as one; To shine within the morning sun, To stand upright and be as one; To love, to cherish, to hold as one, The beauty o f such a cherished one. With jails and prisons still burning his mind as a youth, Perlstein decided to invest his education in the area of criminology and corrections and in 1965, he recieved his master's at the University o f Missouri. Perlstein realized for him to receive enough recognition and in order to be an expert in those areas, so to be able to make any needed changes in the country’s penal system, he would have to acquire a PhD, which he did in 1971 at the University of Florida. When asked what is the main d if ferences in Florida prison system and Oregon’s, Perlstein quickly replied, "The access to the prison for families o f prisoners. Where Florida prisons are located right on the edge o f the Everglades, where Oregon peniten- tiarys are right in the middle o f its state Capitol, family involvment is one of the most important value in a prison er’ s needs toward straightening out his life.” Perlstien continued, "Prisons which are accessable to the public usually have nothing to hide.” Dr. Gary Perlstein accepted the associate Professorship at Portland State University in 1972 and helped Dr. Lee Brown establish the curriculum for the Department of Adm inistration o f Justice at the University. In Perlstein's departmental guidelines, the advisor-major ratio has been consistently higher than the University average. Perlstein is respon sible for academic advising ol at least 75 students and every summer, he works without salary advising students during Fall pre-registration. Perlstein was appointed associate member of the Governor’ s task force on correc tions with specific duties on the Com munity Correction Sub-Committee; the committee responsible for developing the Oregon Com m unity GARY PERLSTEIN Corrections Act. In 1976, Perlstein was appointed as a member o f the advisory committee for the M ultnom ah County Rocky Butte Replacement Study and in 1978 was appointed to the Citizen's A d visory Board to Multnomah County Department of Justice Services. Perlstein's research activities were followed by the publishing o f his book “ Alternatives to Prison" which sold over 12,000 copies. From 1975-1977, Perlstien served as chairman o f PSU Campus Safety and Security Commit tee. But P e rlste in ’ s brightest achievement has been specialization in the area o f community-based correc tions and employment opportunities o f certain m inority groups (woman, racial and ethnic and ex-offenders). He has became nationally and inter nationally known as an authority in this area. One ol Dr. Gary Perlstein's major complaints is treatment in corrections concerning the ex-offender, " I believe it is totally ridiculous for society to continue to punish them after they have served their sentence,” states Perlstein. He makes reference to all civil rights not being restored. Another ol Perlstein’ s major com plaints deals in the area of correctional treatment programs. "Anyone who is honest with himself and others knows that there is not one method o f treat ment that will be successful with all o f fenders. Unfortunately most correc tional programs utilize only one method o f treatment. W hat this means is for those offenders who are unable to be helped by the particular method being employed are doomed to failure. One solution is to have several methods o f treatment available. So, if one is not working another can be utilized.” Dr. Perlstein followed up this statement by saying, “ This problem is seen clearly in the "Scared Straight” concept fo r juveniles. While this program is not for all juvenile offen ders, there are some who would profit from it. Not having it available means that those who would profit from it. Not having it available means that probably become adult offenders. Dr. Gary Perlstein has lectured to inmates enrolled in the College courses at the Oregon State Penitentiary and was greatly surprised by the number of those wishing to enter the field o f corrections upon release. One personal feat was his advising o f an inmate on how to develop a prisoners and com m unity legal awareness group session, which has been active over the past two and half years and which is considered one o f the successful programs behind the walls. The group has drawn legal ex perts as lecturers at its weekly meetings. This week column “ Behind the W alls" salutes Dr. Gary Perlstein as the "Community person o f the mon th ." He has earned it. Body and Fender trade beckons student For three hours every afternoon Kathy Hoxworth dons a helmet and a pair o f gloves and begins her work as a student in the auto body welding class at P ortland C om m unity College Rock Creek Center. " I lecl out of place,” said Kathy, "b u t it’s not a p ro b le m .” She’ s the only woman in the class. Although students are usually left alone to do their own work, Kathy said she can call on the men in her class for help whenever needed. Just the other day she had to ask one of her male classmates to help unscrew "AND NOW" And now the love o f life I hold A new born beauty, a woman whole; To look upon the new at life; To see the beauty within a wife, To touch one's heart and open mind; And cherish beyond the end o f time. a fittin g on her equipm ent -he couldn't get it o ff either! » personalized & Custom Made Jewelry Jewelry/Watches/Diamonds Diamond Setting t PATON JEWELERS 4616 N.E. Sandy Blvd. t/w r ifis n a / a r u / 281-8801 Y' f /r/et 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH Kathy added that she operates at a disadvantage, since most o f the men in her class have had live or six years o f previous welding experience. But she said Dionne’ s patience has been a big help. He added that the “ women have a tendency to th ink fo r themselves more than the men and they’re very good with their hands.” Dionne said that Kathy might be an exception to the rule, since she K K K K " » » EXODUS seems to be doing well. " I ’ m hanging in there” said Kathy, evaluating her own performance. Paul Dionne, Kathy’ s instructor, said that women generally have a hard time holding their own in his class. " I don’t think a lot o f them are as m echanically inclined as the men,” noted Dionne. by Ralph R. Maring PORTLAND OREGON 9721 1 284 7997 EXODUS Kathy is now in her third term o f auto body, having already completed two terms o f painting. She said she hopes to continue on and finish the two year program. OCTOBER FOLLOW-THROUGH K n o w in g F ollow -T hrough Keys is Im p o rta n t Building Material I BA N K CARDS WELCOME - YOUR CHECK TOO! ~ BLOW IN INSULATION U - P A K “ PETE” A rm s tro n g 401b bg $733 FREE USE of our blower CEILING TILE Grenoble 12x12 Pattern 25C ea FORMICA PREFORMED COUNTERTOPS $150 up Solid», Butcher Block b Marble Stainless sinks $34 95 Ceramic Tile 4 in 5C Washerless faucets 20% off K D. Cabinets - No doors 5 00 Toilets, wh 42 00 DeskTops 25 00 Windows, odd $5 25.00 Light Fixtures 40% off PLYWOOD! 1 /4 " 3 /8 " 1 /2 " 5 /8 " $8.” $10? $12.” $13.” Sanded Shop Grade Some items not available at Milwaukie but they have 20% off on wallpaper b carpet U -P A K B U IL D IN G «NORTHSIDE 5212 NE U N IO N 284 9938 HC DOORS $2.50 UP SC DOORS $29. Energy Savers by G E. 7 95 Formica Cutouts Graden stakes 3 ' Plumbing items 50 c 25c 10% off Knowing how to recognize and use the important Key to unlock what you want, and to lock out what you don’t want is im p o rta n t. For instance, can you recognize the key to the following objectives? PANELING 4x8 $2.99 and up Roof Coating 10% off Fireplace inserts 42 195 00 Medicine cabinets 20% off Bath vanities 20% off Picnic table b benches 49 95 Prehung doors $15 96 18" Marlite Panels 8 ft 2.00 Cafe doors 29.00 Passage locks 2.50 Jam bs Pre! 7.95 M A T E R IA L S , IN C . 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