Run down facilities

[Lunchlady]

Hi...just talked with my son yesterday and he was telling me of the conditions they have to live in at SRCI. He says the air conditioning is not working and it is over 80 degrees inside. Everyone is hot and sticky and moody. He also told me of a anti-freeze issue they are havng...it is leaking and it is being caught in big garbage cans and then poured down the showers. Doe sanyone know who I can write to about these issues and if I do, does it do any good?????
Thanx....CK

[iloveyoumore]

Good luck with that! No really, I'm sure they are aware of the problems and they will get them fixed as soon as they can. SRCI is actually one of the nicer, newer institutions. It is a far cry from the antique EOCI where my husband is at now.

[Zelda50]

The local department that maintains the sewers and the cleanliness of the water might be interested in the fact anti-freeze is being poured into the sewers. Just make an anonymous call to: Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor -- Art Allen (541-889-8011 )

I'm told that the bird poop is an inch thick all over the OSP yard - that doesn't sound very healthy either. Z.

[ilikbenme]

does the health department have jurisdiction in cases like this?

[allmb]

Originally Posted by ilikbenme

does the health department have jurisdiction in cases like this?

No. It is noteworthy too that in every place in which food is served in the United States, the food safety and inspection personel are authorized and required to check conditions, except prisons.

[AngelPrincess84]

Unfortunately, SRCI has had problems with the HVAC system for a very long time. My man was there last year...AC didn't work in the Summer...Heating didn't work in the Winter! It's a constant issue at that facility! Good Luck and I hope they fix the problem once and for all!

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Lunchlady

Hi...just talked with my son yesterday and he was telling me of the conditions they have to live in at SRCI. He says the air conditioning is not working and it is over 80 degrees inside. Everyone is hot and sticky and moody. He also told me of a anti-freeze issue they are havng...it is leaking and it is being caught in big garbage cans and then poured down the showers. Doe sanyone know who I can write to about these issues and if I do, does it do any good?????

Spent four years at SRCI - and Iloveyoumore is right, it's by FAR one of the cleaner institutions. There isn't any "anti-freeze" leaking, what your son is seeing are actually leaks in the sprinkler system that runs throughout the complex ceilings. In places where the building has settled, some of the pipes are cracked. Some places it's actually not unlike a water-feature. But, it's really only icky water. It's worse when it rains - and there are buckets and garbage cans everywhere.

OK - so here's the deal - maintenance is a fixed budget item, along with food costs. They could probably up the maintenance budget, but with the current state of the State Finances, especially with the imbalance that the DOC costs (in comparison to other agencies) money would come have to be reallocated from somewhere. It wouldn't come from any of the other fixed expenses; staff salaries, utilities, PERS contributions, etc., so the only place with any flexibility is the food budget. That's already at an all time low (and worse since the untimely departure of Fred Monan). Other expenses are paid for by the inmate welfare fund, which is funded by inmate purchases in the commissary and assorted other fees, but food and health care are the only places left to trim, and health care is under Federal mandate - so that leaves food.

So, just not sure how helpful complaint calls would be in the long run, not that it would trigger anyone to listen anyway.

Mill Creek & Santiam are FAR worse than SRCI - the fire escapes are so bad that they can't be used during fire drills (which don't happen very often - once in my nine months there, and it was a disaster) because of rust, they won't support the weight of anyone coming down them. Mildew and mould are so prevalent in the bathrooms and showers that it's sometimes counted as an extra inmate () and shows up for mail call.

SRCI is a virtual paradise compared to OSP, EOCI and even OSCI. I spent a few months in the medical dorm at OSCI, in the winter, and many panes are actually missing from the windows - and the bathrooms - virtually indescribable.

The whole physical infrastructure of the state prison system is a mess - but is that really any different than the average large school physical plant? Probably not. Are repairs going to be prioritized in the near future? Not a snowball's chance in you know what....

And, the more anyone complains, and those complaints are deemed valid, the most it costs the inmates any perks food wise they may have. Or, recreation time when the state claims it can't afford the lights on in the gym very much - or any of a few similar things. It's a sad, sad catch 22.