Several Oregon County Jails go to postcards only!

[Fluer]

I just read an article in the Statesman Journal where the Marion County jail is going to do away with income and outgoing letters for inmates. They will only be able to receive or send postcards. This does not apply to legal mail. I would put a link to the article, but I am sort of computer challenged.

[chaospositive]

... thank the goddess my dude is in prison!

pffft!

[JDsButterfly]

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps...=2009911170322
it is not a situation i have to deal with, but this is screwed up!!

[Zelda50]

That's horrible! And scary that they get away with it and others might follow them. What about being able to send in articles - or write more than one thought? Someone should challenge that in court. ACLU should get on it. Z.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Zelda50

That's horrible! And scary that they get away with it and others might follow them. What about being able to send in articles - or write more than one thought? Someone should challenge that in court. ACLU should get on it. Z.

I was pretty amazed that this wasn't just a rumor, but sure enough, there it was in the Statesman Journal. That's really interesting and most likely will be challenged in the courts. There are numerous Supreme Court rulings concerning inmate's right to mail. Any, many in the County Jail aren't even convicted yet!

Here's the quote from the paper as to the reasoning:

"The benefits of the new policy include decreased traffic of contraband items through the jail, as well as saving time and costs, Marion County jail Cmdr. Jeff Holland said. Deputies then open the mail and remove the envelope flap and stamp, checking for contraband items and making sure the piece doesn't violate the mail policy, sheriff's officials said."

I'm guessing that public opinion might have some effect on this. The number for the jail is (503) 581-1183 [subtle hint - feel free to call!] and the Sheriff's name is Jason Meyers. There isn't anything on the Marion County Corrections Website about this at all.

[liljessa]

Yes, I can assure all that it is beyond true...my fiance is in the Marion County Jail as I sadly type away...and come Jan. 1st they will all have to purchase stamped postcards and can only receive postcards. I also have to vent for a second how this saddens me and their excuse at the MCJ is pathetic--I just spent 72 days in there myself (and yup, I wasn't convicted and still am not--majority of folks weren't, my celly had already been there 5 1/2 months with no conviction and finally got an O.R. until her trial to end up with probation-- and my fiance is going on month 4 and court keeps getting re-scheduled) and let me say the duty of mail appears to be a large portion of the work the night-shift deputy does, some are very efficient at it and get it done swiftly with ease, others are just plain annoyed with the task (they are being paid for!), so good for them for freeing up more time to read their novels, clip coupons, surf the web, look at youtube and facebook, and visit with their co-workers--all at the taxpayers expense. Yup, I sound bitter I know, but I stared out my little cell window many a night waiting and praying for that letter or picture from my loved one, and the arrival of letters/cards under your door make all the difference in the world. I am flooding my fiance with all the cards and photos I can before it is too late. I pray for that facility (and others) every night, and for a bit of compassion to exist in those deputies/sheriff's hearts. God Bless!

[*Precious*]

GOLD BEACH – Soon, Curry County jail inmates will only be allowed to send social mail by postcard.
Effective March 31, incoming social mail for inmates will also be restricted to post cards.
Curry County Sheriff John Bishop said he is joining efforts of several Oregon sheriffs to reduce operating costs, cut contraband, and discourage anti-social behavior by jail inmates.
“These changes not only make good economic sense, but they also improve the safety and security of jail facilities,” Bishop said.
Bishop said that Oregon sheriffs and jail managers have been collaborating on the most effective method of converting to the exclusive use of postcards for social mail sent to and by inmates for several months.
“For outgoing mail, the jails will share a standard postcard format – 5 1/2 inches tall by 8 1/2 inches wide – that can be mass produced for approximately 2 cents per postcard,” Bishop said. “This means that even small jails can take advantage of the bulk pricing available to larger counties.”

To read more:
Valliant Corley, "Mail for jail inmates will be restricted to postcards," Curry Coastal Pilot (December 23, 2009), http://www.currypilot.com/2009122311...d-to-postcards.

[*Precious*]

GRANTS PASS, Ore. - In an attempt to save money several Oregon counties are limiting mail in and out of jails to postcards only.

Apart from legal documents, a postcard is or will soon be the only form of mail accepted in jails in 14 Oregon counties, including Josephine County.

"We're spending about two hours a day going through the mail," said Gil Gilbertson with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

Employees at the Josephine County Jail must sort through all incoming mail to ensure contraband, specifically drugs, are not smuggled to the inmates.

"That equates to about $25,000 a year that we could save if we went to a postcard instead of opening the envelope, looking at what's in it doing a cursory read of what's in the information," Gilbertson said.

Any outgoing mail is also reviewed for security purposes.

To read more or watch video clip:
Andrea Calcagno, "Josephine Co. Jail limits mail to save money," KDVR.com (December 22, 2009), http://kdrv.com/page/156688.

[Zelda50]

An inmate in any of these jails should write to their local ACLU and ask them to challenge this. In addition, folks who live in any of these counties should call their local County Commissioners - they are the ones who ultimately operate the county jails - and complain. Those are elected officials - tell them you won't vote for them if they support continuing this practice. Also, someone may wish to contact Oregon CURE or the Partnership for Safety and Justice - or both - and ask them to work on it as well, so it's not just individuals complaining. Zelda

[grannyG]

Zelda, it looks like you may be getting your wish. It seems people are looking into the "post card only" policy. Story is listed below.
__________
Postcard-only restrictions loom for inmates

12/30/2009, 12:10 a.m. PST
The Associated Press
(AP) — PORTLAND, Ore. - Civil rights advocates are concerned about a policy that 12 Oregon counties plan to implement next month that will restrict jail inmates' outgoing social mail to postcards. By spring, incoming mail also will be limited to postcards.
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/...rylist=orlocal
Posted in the "Oregon Live.Com"

[SisterandFriend]

Does anyone know if this is going to be for the main prisions? Or is it only local jails?

[Zelda50]

So far, only county jail. There is always the danger that the policy will spread to prisons, though - that's why it should be "nipped in the bud." It says the ACLU is "concerned" - hopefully they're concerned enough to ACT!! Any inmate in those jails should file grievances when the policy begins - and contact the ACLU. Citizens in those counties who disagree with the policy should contact their County Commissioner immediately! Z.

[*Precious*]

The Oregonian reports these counties are restricting inmate mail to postcards after the first of the year:
Benton
Clackamas
Columbia
Curry
Deschutes
Harney
Jackson
Josephine
Malheur
Tillamook
Umatilla
Washington

We already know about Marion county... but I would also add Coos County to this list.

I fully agree with Z. on this... once it becomes established as "good economic/fiscal policy", it could easily be established within DOC... there are excellent reasons to refuse to implement such measures and legislators and counties need to be aware of the significance of not limiting written communications in this manner!

[Scott]

Originally Posted by *Precious*

I fully agree with Z. on this... once it becomes established as "good economic/fiscal policy", it could easily be established within DOC... there are excellent reasons to refuse to implement such measures and legislators and counties need to be aware of the significance of not limiting written communications in this manner!

But remember, this has yet to be challenged in the courts, and I guarantee that it will be! Also, there are complex mail Federal statutes about mail in relationship to prison inmates. You might want to read some of this, if you're interested in the topic.

http://www.aele.org/law/2007JBJUN/2007-06MLJ301.pdf

So, it seems that this will be challenged, the County attorneys will have to defend the suits, costing beaucoup bucks [taxpayer bucks, BTW] and the policy will end up getting reversed.

But, in the meantime it does get the word out that money is tight, these people [in jail] are bad people who need to be closely supervised and of course, we need more (or at least continued at the same level) tax dollars to properly supervise them. In Oregon I wonder how much of this is a coincidence with the upcoming special election about raising taxes to pay for such things as the CJ system? Or, perhaps, not so much of a coincidence after all....

The plot thickens...

[Scott]

Nice big editorial in Today's (Saturday, January 9th) Oregonian in opposition to the postcards only rule, which, as reported in the Oregonian, effects 12 counties.

The link at Oregonlive.com has not been posted yet, but the editorial makes several good points about why writing letters is beneficial to both inmates and their families.

Apparently Multhomah County (by population, Oregon's largest) agreed that the idea of post cards only was dumb and decided they didn't want to implement it.

If the article doesn't appear in the next day so I can post a link, I'll scan it and post it. Otherwise, if you get the paper and care about the topic, be sure to check it out.

[it will pass]

Did you hear about that??
No more letters, just postcards?? Does that means no more books and magazines???

http://www.oregonlive.com/washington...e_mail_to.html

[Scott]

Originally Posted by it will pass

Did you hear about that??
No more letters, just postcards?? Does that means no more books and magazines???

No - it means just letters that come from regular people. Letters from the Courts, Attorneys, businesses, etc., are still allowed. Books and magazines, which come directly from the publisher (in most instance) are allowed to the extent that they were before.

None of the books & magazines are very "search intensive" so they have not posed much of a problem. It's the drugs and gang messages (which people still try and smuggle via the mail) which has resulted in this "draconian" new set of rules.

Do feel free to call the offices of the County Commissioners of any of the effected counties and vent your frustration. If people don't hear from the "community" that the "community" isn't in favor of this, it will just become the norm. Speak up! Be Heard!

[*Precious*]

When you go to jail, your right to privacy is greatly diminished, but you should still have the right to write

A postcard is the perfect venue to dash off a platitude. If you're roaming the Taj Mahal, and wishing everyone was there (sort of), it's easier to rave, gush and gloat in a confined space.

But if you're doing time, instead of "having a wonderful time," a postcard is pitifully inadequate. It's a small, cramped, mean space, not unlike a cell. For prisoners, a postcard doesn't substitute for a letter. It offers no room for what they're habitually engaged in: mental rambling and roaming.

And yet, as The Oregonian's Bill Oram reported last week, 12 Oregon counties (including Washington and Clackamas) recently decided to restrict jail inmates' outgoing social mail to postcards. Eventually, the counties also plan to restrict incoming social mail to postcards as well.

Both are terrible ideas.

To read more:
Letters to the Editor, "No Personal Letters From Jail? Bad Idea," the Oregonian (January 12, 2010), http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/in...from_jail.html.

[it will pass]

I certainly will!!!
Any specific website where I can find emails from county commissioners?
)

[ben's girl]

This seems to be the trend in the county jails these days. More and more of them are beginning this practice.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by it will pass

I certainly will!!!
Any specific website where I can find emails from county commissioners?
)

Just do a search for [example], "Washington County, OR", or "Marion County, OR" and that should turn up the "official" county website.

If there is a specific county you want and can't find it, let me know and I'll be glad to track the information down for you.

[it will pass]

Thanks!
Now that my post was moved up here I could find lots more infomration. Thank you, guys!

[*Precious*]

Recently The Oregonian had an article about upcoming county jail restrictions on inmates’ right to receive mail by restricting mail to postcards. Note that the sidebar on this article mentions that Deschutes County is soon to enact this same restriction.
Yesterday’s Oregonian editorial says this is a bad idea, quoting Max Williams of the Oregon Department of Corrections among others.
I agree. For seven years I wrote letters with other people from my church to a young man incarcerated for seven years for a stupid and tragic crime he committed during his senior year in high school. It was a commitment of love from his church community to remind him that we also remembered his goodness. When he was released, we had a “welcome back” party and he mentioned how much those many letters and cards meant to him.
I think few people in the county will be aware that the jail administrator’s have the authority to restrict this right without public input. Note that Deschutes County lists current inmates by name online — these are real people with real needs serving time for real crimes. I believe the ability to send and receive “real” mail is important.
I am a member of Portland’s Human Rights Commission. We have recently sent a letter to the Multnomah County Sheriff commending his decision to NOT restrict inmate mail in this way. I am working with two other counties in the hope that their human rights commissions will look into this issue.
Inmates do not have email at this time. Sometimes family cannot always visit. Correspondence matters. The public —and our press — should weigh in on this issue. “Efficiency” does not always equal “humanity.”

Source:
Tricia Knoll, "Don't Deny Inmates Correspondence," The Source Weekly (January 13, 2010), http://www.tsweekly.com/opinion/the-...spondence.html.

[KristianFV]

I'm trying to talk to some people about the ban on letters.
Would you be interested in talking to me?
If so, can you give me a call.
Yours hopefully.

private contact info removed per PTO policy (please pm member) gG

Originally Posted by Zelda50

That's horrible! And scary that they get away with it and others might follow them. What about being able to send in articles - or write more than one thought? Someone should challenge that in court. ACLU should get on it. Z.

[grannyG]

I am posting this here as a reminder to all. If someone is wanting to do research about this "post card only" subject, that is welcomed, but there are certain rules that must be followed. Thanks for cooperation with this.

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