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We The People - ODOC Families, PO Box 72, Vale, OR (2026)

07/31/2026

Department of Corrections - Emergency Operations Important Notice: The Department of Corrections (DOC) is not an official source for wildfire information. For current wildfire conditions, evacuation orders, and emergency alerts, please refer to official sources provided

07/31/2026

ODOC states that SRCI currently has 97 industrial air scrubbers operating throughout the institution. That raises some questions.

During a recent visit to SRCI, three portable air scrubbers were observed in the visiting room and one additional unit in the visiting lobby. An AIC also reported that each housing unit has a single portable air scrubber.

If there is only one unit in each housing unit, placement matters. According to the report, the air scrubber is positioned near the officers’ station rather than in a central location where it could provide the greatest benefit to the entire unit.

If ODOC is relying on these portable units as part of its wildfire smoke mitigation strategy, greater transparency would help answer important questions:

• How many of the reported 97 air scrubbers are located in housing units versus administrative or staff-only areas?
• How was the placement of each unit determined?
• Are air quality measurements being taken inside the housing units and made available to the public?
• If one portable air scrubber serves an entire housing unit, what evidence demonstrates that it provides adequate protection for everyone living there?

No one is suggesting that ODOC shouldn’t take steps to improve air quality. The question is whether the placement and number of air scrubbers provide the level of protection being represented. Transparency and data would go a long way toward answering those questions.

07/31/2026

The man who gunned down six people outside a nightclub in July 1977 died in an eastern Oregon prison Sunday after nearly five decades behind bars.
https://mrf.lu/2c-Xx

07/31/2026

Another Oregon Department of Corrections employee has made headlines—this time, not for actions inside a prison, but for alleged criminal conduct outside of work.

A federal grand jury has indicted an ODOC correctional officer on a cyberstalking charge. According to federal prosecutors, the officer is accused of creating fake Facebook accounts to harass a former girlfriend, allegedly posting false and degrading statements about her over several months. The officer has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations will be decided in court.

Regardless of how this case is ultimately resolved, it raises an important question:

How can the public have confidence in a correctional system that demands integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct from its employees when incidents like this continue to emerge?

Correctional officers wield significant authority over the lives of incarcerated people. That authority must be matched by accountability, sound judgment, and respect for the law—both on and off the job.

Every person accused of a crime deserves due process, including this officer. At the same time, the public deserves transparency, and the Oregon Department of Corrections should be held to the highest professional standards.

We the People will continue to follow developments involving ODOC because accountability shouldn't stop at the prison gate. Public trust depends on it.

07/23/2026

Oregon’s prisons are “crumbling,” with a nearly $1 billion maintenance backlog that puts prisoners’ health and safety at risk, a new Secretary of State audit found.

Photo by Mark Graves / The Oregonian

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/07/oregons-oldest-prison-poses-risk-to-human-life-while-others-desperately-need-repairs-audit-finds.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dhfacebook&utm_content=app.dashsocial.com%2Ftheoregonian%2Flibrary%2Fmedia%2F700217122

07/23/2026

🚨 NEW OREGON AUDIT CONFIRMS SERIOUS PROBLEMS INSIDE OUR PRISONS 🚨

Today, the Oregon Secretary of State released a major audit of the Oregon Department of Corrections (Report 2026-19), and its findings should concern every Oregonian.

The audit found:

🏚️ An $861 MILLION maintenance backlog in Oregon prisons.

🌡️ Dangerous living conditions, including temperatures exceeding 90° inside facilities, poor ventilation, deteriorating infrastructure, unsafe water concerns, overcrowded medical spaces, and accessibility failures.

👮 Severe staffing shortages leading to mandatory overtime, employee burnout, and reduced rehabilitation efforts.

💻 Obsolete computer systems that rely on outdated technology, paper-based processes, and legacy programming that auditors say places DOC at "extreme risk" if critical systems fail.

📊 Inadequate data collection, making it difficult to measure whether the Oregon Way reform initiative is actually achieving its goals.

Perhaps most importantly, the audit recognizes that adults in custody are completely dependent on the state for their safety and well-being, noting they have "fewer avenues to seek accountability when those rights are violated."

The Oregon Department of Corrections agreed with every recommendation made by the auditors.

Among those recommendations:

✔️ Develop plans to move adults in custody from facilities that pose significant health and safety risks.

✔️ Improve rehabilitation and programming space.

✔️ Address staff wellness and retention.

✔️ Modernize critical information systems before a catastrophic failure occurs.

✔️ Report risks to human life and safety to the Oregon Legislature.

This audit does not specifically address mailroom practices, grievances, or individual complaints. However, it provides an independent, statewide assessment that Oregon's correctional system faces serious infrastructure, staffing, and technology challenges that affect both adults in custody and correctional staff.

Every person in DOC custody remains in the care of the State of Oregon. Safe facilities, functional systems, and accountability are not privileges—they are essential to public safety, constitutional obligations, and successful rehabilitation.

📄 Read the full audit: Oregon Secretary of State Audit Report 2026-19 – Department of Corrections: Crumbling Facilities, Staffing Shortages, and Obsolete IT Systems Undermine Prison Safety and Reform Efforts.

What are your thoughts on these findings? Should the Legislature make prison infrastructure and technology modernization a higher priority?

07/14/2026

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained

Part 11 – OAR 291-131-0035: Prohibited Mail

Perhaps no rule in Division 131 generates more questions than this one.

"What made my letter prohibited?"
"Why were my photos rejected?"
"Why wasn't the book delivered?"
"Can they reject greeting cards?"

The answers begin with OAR 291-131-0035 – Prohibited Mail.

This rule explains the types of correspondence and materials that may be prohibited from entering or leaving Oregon correctional facilities.

What does "prohibited mail" mean?

The phrase can sound alarming, but it doesn't mean all rejected mail is dangerous or illegal.

In this context, prohibited mail simply means correspondence or materials that do not meet the requirements established by Oregon's administrative rules or other applicable policies.
In other words, the question isn't whether someone intended to break a rule.

The question is whether the item complies with the standards established by the Department.

Why have prohibited mail rules?

Correctional facilities have a responsibility to provide opportunities for communication while also maintaining a safe and secure environment.

The prohibited mail rule is intended to help prevent correspondence that could:

🛡️ Threaten institutional security.
🚫 Introduce contraband.
⚠️ Encourage criminal activity.
👥 Harass, intimidate, or endanger others.

Or otherwise conflict with the standards established by Oregon's administrative rules.

The purpose of the rule is not to eliminate communication.
It's to establish boundaries for the types of correspondence that may enter or leave a correctional facility.

Does "prohibited" mean everything is banned?

No.

Most mail sent between adults in custody and their families is intended to be delivered without issue.

The prohibited mail rule identifies exceptions—not the norm.

The majority of letters, approved photographs, legal correspondence, publications, and other authorized mail continue through the mail system every day.

Why can this rule seem confusing?

Because not every situation is the same.

Whether something is permitted can depend on factors such as:

📬 The type of correspondence.
📦 What is being sent.
⚖️ Other rules within Division 131.
📖 Additional Department requirements that apply to a particular type of mail.

That's one reason it's helpful to read Division 131 as a whole rather than relying on a single rule.

What happens if mail is determined to be prohibited?

That's an important question—but it's actually answered in the next rule.

OAR 291-131-0035 explains what may be considered prohibited.
The following rule—OAR 291-131-0037—explains what the Department says should happen after mail has been determined to be prohibited.

We'll cover that in our next lesson.

Why should families understand this rule?

Because understanding the rule helps explain why some mail may be subject to additional review or restrictions.

It also helps families understand that "prohibited mail" is a specific term used within Oregon's administrative rules—not simply another way of saying "mail the institution didn't like."

Knowing the terminology makes it easier to understand the procedures that follow.

Did You Know?

The word "may" is important.

Many administrative rules describe circumstances in which an item may be prohibited rather than stating that every item meeting a certain description must automatically be rejected.

Reading the exact wording of a rule can make a significant difference in understanding how it is intended to be applied.

📖 Coming Next
Part 12 – OAR 291-131-0037: Disposition of Prohibited Mail
If mail is determined to be prohibited, what happens next?

Is it returned to the sender?

Can it be held?

Is the adult in custody notified?

Can the decision be reviewed?

Our next lesson will explore the procedures Oregon's administrative rules establish for handling prohibited mail after a decision has been made.

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained is an educational series by We The People–ODOC Families. Our goal is to explain Oregon's correctional rules in plain language so families, advocates, adults in custody, and the public can better understand the policies that govern Oregon's correctional facilities. This series is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

Editor's Note: This series explains what Oregon's administrative rules say. Future posts may also discuss court decisions, policy changes, and publicly documented reports that help provide additional context for how these rules have been interpreted and applied over time.

07/13/2026

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained
Part 10 – OAR 291-131-0032: Corrections Ombudsman Mail
Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to ask someone outside the system to take a look.
That's one of the reasons Oregon created the Corrections Ombudsman.
Recognizing the importance of that role, OAR 291-131-0032 establishes special procedures for mail exchanged between adults in custody and the Corrections Ombudsman.

What is the Corrections Ombudsman?
The Oregon Corrections Ombudsman is an independent office that receives and reviews complaints related to Oregon correctional facilities.
The Ombudsman may:
🔹 Receive concerns from adults in custody, family members, and others.
🔹 Review complaints about conditions of confinement.
🔹 Investigate certain issues within its authority.
🔹 Make recommendations for improvements when appropriate.
While the Ombudsman can investigate and recommend changes, it does not act as a court, overturn disciplinary decisions, or represent adults in custody as an attorney would.

Why is Ombudsman mail treated differently?
Communication with oversight agencies is an important part of government accountability.
If adults in custody or their families believe there is a concern that should be reviewed by an independent office, they need a way to communicate with that office.
This rule helps establish procedures for that correspondence.
Just as Oregon has special procedures for legal mail, it also recognizes the importance of protecting communication with the Corrections Ombudsman.

What kinds of issues might someone report?
Every situation is different, but people may contact the Corrections Ombudsman about concerns involving:
📬 Mail
🏥 Medical care
🏠 Living conditions
⚖️ Institutional procedures
♿ Accessibility
👥 Other matters affecting adults in custody
Whether a concern falls within the Ombudsman's authority depends on the specific circumstances and the laws governing the office.

Should families know about the Ombudsman?
Absolutely.
Many family members don't realize this office exists.
While not every issue falls within the Ombudsman's authority, understanding its role gives families another resource for learning about Oregon's correctional system and its oversight process.
Knowing who to contact can be just as important as knowing what the rules say.

The Bigger Picture
Oregon's correctional system includes more than correctional facilities.
It also includes oversight, accountability, and opportunities for concerns to be reviewed.
Rules like OAR 291-131-0032 recognize that communication with oversight agencies serves an important purpose and should be handled according to established procedures.

Did You Know?
The Corrections Ombudsman is independent of the Oregon Department of Corrections.
That independence is intended to help ensure complaints are reviewed by an office whose role is oversight rather than day-to-day operation of correctional facilities.

📖 Coming Next
Part 11 – OAR 291-131-0035: Prohibited Mail
What exactly is considered "prohibited mail"?
Can certain items be rejected?
How do the rules distinguish between mail that is permitted and mail that is prohibited?
In our next lesson, we'll explore one of the most frequently discussed sections of Oregon's mail rules.

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained is an educational series by We The People–ODOC Families. Our goal is to explain Oregon's correctional rules in plain language so families, advocates, adults in custody, and the public can better understand the policies that govern Oregon's correctional facilities. This series is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

07/12/2026

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained
Part 9 – OAR 291-131-0030: Examination and Inspection of Legal Mail and Official Mail
Few topics generate more questions than legal mail.
Can correctional staff open it?
Can they read it?
What makes legal mail different from regular mail?
The answers begin with OAR 291-131-0030 – Examination and Inspection of Legal Mail and Official Mail.
This rule recognizes that not all correspondence is the same. While correctional facilities have a responsibility to maintain safety and security, certain types of mail receive additional protections because of their importance.

What is Legal Mail?
Legal mail generally refers to correspondence between an adult in custody and their attorney or certain legal entities recognized under Oregon's rules.
These communications often involve:
⚖️ Criminal cases
📄 Civil lawsuits
🏛️ Court filings
📋 Legal advice
🤝 Attorney-client communications
Access to legal counsel is an important part of our justice system, which is why legal correspondence is handled differently than ordinary personal mail.

What is Official Mail?
Official mail generally includes correspondence with certain government officials and agencies identified in Oregon's administrative rules.
Depending on who is sending or receiving the correspondence, official mail may also receive special handling under Division 131.

Why is this mail treated differently?
Think about it this way.
If you were discussing your legal case with your attorney, you'd probably expect that conversation to remain private.
The same principle applies to legal correspondence.
The purpose of this rule is to protect the confidentiality of communications that are essential to an individual's access to the courts and legal representation, while still allowing correctional staff to maintain institutional security.

Can legal mail be opened?
This is one of the most common questions families ask.
Under Oregon's administrative rules, legal mail may be examined or inspected for contraband, but special procedures apply.
The purpose of the inspection is to help ensure that prohibited items are not introduced into the facility—not to interfere with legitimate legal correspondence.
Those procedures are different from the way ordinary personal mail may be processed.

Why does this matter?
Confidential communication with an attorney is an important part of the legal system.
It allows adults in custody to:
⚖️ Seek legal advice.
📄 Review legal documents.
🏛️ Prepare court filings.
🤝 Communicate openly with legal counsel.
These communications help ensure meaningful access to the courts and the legal process.

Security and Confidentiality
Like many rules in Division 131, this one balances two important responsibilities.
Correctional facilities have a duty to maintain safety and security.
At the same time, the rules recognize the importance of protecting confidential legal communications.
Rather than choosing one over the other, OAR 291-131-0030 establishes procedures intended to address both interests.

Why should families know this?
Understanding the difference between personal mail, legal mail, and official mail helps explain why they may be processed differently.
It also helps families understand why it's important to properly identify legal correspondence and follow the procedures established by the Department.
Knowing which category your correspondence falls into can help avoid confusion later.

Did You Know?
Legal mail and legal documents are not always the same thing.
A legal document sent through ordinary personal mail does not automatically receive the protections that apply to properly identified legal mail.
Understanding the difference can be important when corresponding with attorneys or the courts.

📖 Coming Next
Part 10 – OAR 291-131-0032: Corrections Ombudsman Mail
Did you know Oregon has a Corrections Ombudsman?
In our next lesson, we'll explain the role of the Corrections Ombudsman, why correspondence with that office receives special treatment under Oregon's mail rules, and how it helps support accountability within Oregon's correctional facilities.

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained is an educational series by We The People–ODOC Families. Our goal is to explain Oregon's correctional rules in plain language so families, advocates, adults in custody, and the public can better understand the policies that govern Oregon's correctional facilities. This series is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

07/11/2026

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained
📬 Family Questions
Electronic Messaging: Questions Families Ask Most
Electronic messaging has changed the way many families stay connected with their loved ones in Oregon correctional facilities. It's faster than traditional mail, but it also comes with its own rules and procedures.
Here are some of the questions we hear most often.

❓Is electronic messaging the same as email?
Not exactly.
Electronic messaging uses the Department's approved communication system. While it may look and feel similar to email, messages are exchanged through a secure correctional communication platform rather than through personal email accounts.

❓Is electronic messaging the same as regular mail?
No.
Traditional mail and electronic messaging are governed by different procedures, even though both are forms of communication covered under Division 131.
A handwritten letter and an electronic message may follow different processing procedures.

❓Can electronic messages be reviewed?
Yes.
Like traditional correspondence, electronic messages may be reviewed under the Department's rules and procedures. The specific review process may differ from physical mail because the messages are transmitted electronically rather than through the Postal Service.

❓Why wasn't my message delivered?
There isn't one single answer.
Messages may be delayed or not delivered for a variety of reasons, including technical issues, system maintenance, rule violations, or other circumstances described in Department rules or procedures.
If a message isn't delivered, it's reasonable to ask questions and seek clarification through the appropriate channels.

❓Can I send photographs through electronic messaging?
That depends on the communication system being used and the Department's current procedures.
Some systems allow approved image attachments, while others may have restrictions or limitations.

❓Can I send legal documents electronically?
Legal correspondence is often subject to different rules than ordinary electronic messaging.
If you're sending legal documents or communicating with an attorney, it's important to understand the procedures that apply to legal mail and legal communications.
We'll cover legal mail in the next lesson.

❓Does electronic messaging replace letters?
No.
Traditional mail is still an important part of communication.
Many families use both.
Sometimes a quick electronic message is enough to say, "I'm thinking about you."
Other times, nothing replaces a handwritten letter.
Both continue to play an important role.

❓Where can I learn more?
Understanding the rules is the first step.
Understanding how those rules work together is the next.
That's exactly why we're creating this series.

💬 We'd Like to Hear From You
What questions do you have about electronic messaging in Oregon correctional facilities?
Leave a comment below, or send us a private message. Your question may be featured in a future 📬 Family Questions post to help other families learn more about the system.

📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained is an educational series by We The People–ODOC Families. Our goal is to explain Oregon's correctional rules in plain language so families, advocates, adults in custody, and the public can better understand the policies that govern Oregon's correctional facilities. This series is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

Have a question about Oregon's correctional rules?
There's a good chance someone else has the same question.
Send us a message or leave a comment, and we may answer it in a future installment of 📚 Know Your Rights: Oregon Prison Rules Explained.

We The People - ODOC Families

07/31/2026

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