Prison Pipeline

Prison Pipeline serves the Portland community as an outreach to friends, families and loved ones of folks in prison. We also are heard by many prisoners in Oregon as well as elsewhere.
 
As advocates for prison reform, we try to keep our listeners informed about current legislature that is concerned with the criminal judicial system. One of our goals is to see a reduction in recidivism.
 
Also, we present folks from various transitional programs, such as updates from C.U.R.E., Phoenix Rising Transitions, Seventh Step, support groups such as Books for Prisoners, Partnerships for Safety and Justice, and Film Producers and Authors to talk about their recent publications that focus on the prison system here in Oregon and elsewhere.
 

Hoping to strengthen the connection and community understanding, we frequently invite recently released prisoners to talk about the challenges of re-entering society, the importance of support from friends, families, loved ones and helping agencies. We also invite family members to share their experiences as they “do the time” with their loved one. Not all our guests have stories with happy endings. By sharing some of the challenges, we hope to encourage other felons to be prepared for a struggle, and to know that there is help out here.

 

Hosted by

Noah Mendel
Ruth Kovacs

Audio

Gretchen Vala Interview

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Thu, 06/24/2010 - 2:13pm
Categories:
program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 06/21/2010
Gretchen Vala, whose son has been incarcerated for five and a half years, now volunteers her time as president of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE). We discussed her work and focused on the Parole process.
  • Length: 26:40 minutes (24.41 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

What's up with the Oregon Legislature?

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 06/14/2010 - 7:24pm
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program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 06/14/2010

Caylor Rolings from Partnerships for Safety and Justice called Prison Pipeline to let our listeners know that proposed prison budget cuts should be avoided or at least scrutinized carefully. Caylor encouraged folks to write to legislators or a Letter to the Editor at the Oregonian on this issue. Next was a recent recorded interview between Ruth Kovacs and Representative Peter Buckley, who stated his position on several prison issues. Hopefully voters will know as much as possible about the candidates on the September ballot, especially their position on prison issues. 
  • Length: 28:16 minutes (25.88 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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2010 Poetry Slam

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Thu, 06/24/2010 - 2:27pm
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program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 05/24/2010
The three winners of the 2010 Poetry Slam presented by Uhuru Sa-Sa at OSP will read their poems.
  • Length: 26:35 minutes (4.56 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 22kHz 24Kbps (CBR)
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Chip Shields Interview

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 05/17/2010 - 7:30pm
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program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 05/17/2010
Senator Chip Shields was tonight’s guest. Don’t miss his comments. His concern for prison issues is evident. Chip answered a few questions submitted by prisoners, and spoke quite a bit about Measure 11.
  • Length: 28:17 minutes (25.89 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

Rep. Mitch Greenlick Interview

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 05/03/2010 - 7:25pm
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program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 05/03/2010
Rep. Mitch Greenlick shared his position on several prison issues. He spoke about mandatory sentencing, the importance of rehab programs and his opinion of the death penalty. Thank you, sir. Folks can find him on his website: www.greenlick.com, or send an email to his office: mitchgreenlick@msn.com. NEXT WEEK:(May 10) Carliner Boston from Better People, and May 17, Sen. Chip Shields will be our Prison Pipeline guests. Be sure to support KBOO during their current Membership Drive.
  • Length: 28:18 minutes (25.91 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

Karen James Interview

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 04/26/2010 - 7:31pm
Categories:
program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 04/26/2010
The two items in the Oregonian concerning Greg Smith’s visit to Two Rivers were reviewed. Karen James, who wrote the follow up letter to the Oregonian read her letter, then presented information about services to the mentally ill who are incarcerated. If you want one of the fliers she described, contact Partnerships for Safety and Justice. Tele: 503/335-8449, or the web site: http://www.safetyandjustice.org.
  • Length: 28:25 minutes (26.02 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

Meet Laura Taylor

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 04/19/2010 - 7:43pm
Categories:
program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 04/19/2010

Prison Pipeline introduced KBOO volunteer, Laura Taylor to our listeners. Laura has joined KBOO recently. She previously worked with prisoners in Washington DC and shared information about programs there. Now, she has volunteered to help with Prison Pipeline and other projects that Ruth Kovacs pursues with prisoners. We also had a call from Erika Spaet from Partnerships for Safety and Justice. This Saturday, April 24, in Salem, PS&J will bring together folks from across the state to discuss their movement and plans for the coming year. I encourage listeners to attend this event. For more information and to register, there is no charge—just call Erika. Come share speakers, workshops, entertainment and lunch. Laura and I will be there. Will you?
 
Check out the photo of Laura and Ruth.
 
COMING EVENTS:   April 24 - PS&J Gathering in Salem
Call 503/835-4401 – Erika Spaet at PS&J –
email: erika@safetyandjustice.org
May 22 – Uhuru Sa Sa     Presents 2010 Poetry Slam
                                    Call 503/378-2289 or email: Jaime.A.Rodriguez@doc.state.or.us
                                    June 19 – 2010 OSP Car & Bike Show 33rd Annual Event
                                    Call 503/378-2289-Ray Austin, email:ray.t.Austin@doc.state.or.us
  • Length: 26:32 minutes (12.15 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 64Kbps (CBR)
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Jeremiah Stromberg interview

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 7:21pm
Categories:
program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 04/12/2010
Jeremiah Stromberg, Exec. Director of OR Parole Board answered questions about the Parole procedures. You can learn more at http://www.oregon.gov/bopps. If we have more questions, he will return!
  • Length: 28:00 minutes (25.64 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Your rating: None Average: 4.3 (4 votes)

Noelle Hanrahan interview

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 7:48pm
Categories:
program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 04/05/2010
A very special guest! Noelle Hanrahan, who presents the commentaries by Mumia Abu-Jamal from death row, shared and update on Mumia. She writes and speaks to him often and assured us that although he has periods of being discouraged by the treatment of the courts, he is again in good spirits and always appreciates hearing from folks. His address is: Mumia Abu-Jamal AM-8335 S.C.I. Greene 175 Progress Drive Waynesburg, PA 15370
  • Length: 25:14 minutes (23.1 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
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Emily Posner interview

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 04/05/2010 - 7:34pm
Categories:
program: 
Prison Pipeline
program date: 
Mon, 03/29/2010
Emily Posner called from Maine to tell us about the movement to end or limit periods of solitary confinement for prisoners. Her comments focus on Maine, but certainly apply to most prisons in the U.S. Sorry to say, we had some technical problems, so we just uploaded “the best we could”. To learn more, try to Google: Emily Posner – Maine Prisons and see how the vote went for 1611.
  • Length: 19:48 minutes (18.12 MB)
  • Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

Comments

Any Advice?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/17/2009 - 12:50pm.

Hi, I am starting to reach the end of my rope of resources, and I thought I'd try you guys and see if you have some advice or helpful programs for this sort of matter.

I have a close friend who has been on the run for a while (over 2 years). He was arrested and charged with 2 felonies, Burglary and something else similar, for going onto his own property that was supposed to be abandoned. The people who were living there didn't pay rent for over 1 year, were impossible to reach by telephone, notified the landlord twice in person that they were moving. The landlord was getting letters from the city for code violations, and abondonment, he's fairly certain one of both of their main utilities (water or electric) were shut off, mail piled up, mostly empty house, etc. He was on the property one day, removed a couple items, mostly just assessing the amount of work to be done, came back the next day, had been there for a while when the cops showed up. They asked if he had been inside the premises, he said yes, that he felt he was within his rights as landlord, cops said you thought wrong. Everyone, including public defense acted as though this was an open and shut case of guilt, so no research was done to find out if anyone was even living there to be burgled in the first place!!

We don't know what to do now. I thought I would be able to hire a lawyer eventually who could prove this whole thing to be ridiculous, but now I am finding out any lawyer would be minimum $5000, most likely much, much more! I don't understand a system that can charge someone with a bogus crime, and leave them to the wolves. It seems wrong to tell someone that if they don't have $10,000 for their own defense, then they may as well take the charge, do the time, and try to move on with their life. Is there any such thing as a lawyer who cares, and will take a case based more on values than money?

Do you guys have any programs that offer discounted criminal defense lawyers, or know how I can maybe represent him myself if I can get all the facts right, or get copies of police reports, etc.? Any advice at all would be helpful...

Thanks
Susy

Recent Topics Discussed on Prison Pipleline

Submitted by Rebecca Nay on Mon, 10/27/2008 - 6:20pm.

Do you want to know more about the topics we’ve been discussing on Prison Pipeline?

CR10 was presented with more than 3,000 folks participating in 200 workshops. Each organization is working hard to focus on their mission.
Listed below are some organizations and contact information that we have mentioned on Prison Pipeline and a few more that are additional sources of information.

National STOPMAX Campaign Taking the Next Steps. Concerning the use of isolation and devices of torture in U.S. prisons. Search Google for:
American Friends Service Committee’s (AFSC) National STOPMAX Campaign. - Human Rights Coalition - Lugman Abdullah with Youth Service, Inc. - Back to Society, Inc, HRC.

Ban the Box in your Community -All of Us or None (A great 23 minute DVD -Locked Up..Locked Out - that is available for a small donation. Telephone 1-415-255-7036 - X337 to order. Linda Evans from San Francisco and Susan Burton from Los Angeles and Portland’s own Patty Katz from Partnership for Safety and Justice (start with Google) are all working on this issue. You can email: info@prisonerswithchildren.org for a lot of excellent information. Legal Services for Prisoners with Children show a page on the web “10 Things You Can Do - To Support the Struggle for Prisoners’ Rights”

Criminal Justice and Immigration Perspectives on “Alternatives” Models. - Search - Detention Watch Network, (Andrea Black spoke at this workshop) also Search - Families for Freedom, (Ravi Ragbir was the third speaker) and Judith Greene (Policy Analyst for Justice Strategies -Search - www.justicestrategies.net.

FILMS TO SEE:
The CRITICAL RESISTANCE 10th Anniversary Film Festival
Showed the following films. I’m not sure about the availability of these films, but perhaps if you Google the name of the films that interest you, there will be enough information to help you see these films.

*In Prison My Whole Life (2007) 90 min. Marc Evans
*The Angola 3: Black Panthers and the Last Slave Plantation (2007) - Directed by Jimmy O’Halligan, Produced by Ann Harkens and Scott Crow.
*Three Thousand Years and Life (1973) - 49 min. by Randall Conrad.
*Prison Town, USA (2006) - 75 min. Katie Galloway & Po Kutchins.
*Writ Writer (2007) - 54 min. Susanne Mason.
*Vision is Our Power (2008) 35 min - Visions to Peace Project
*Tales from the Treatment Rooms: The Luis Ramirez Story (2007) - 63 min. by Carrie von Reichardt
*Making the River (2008) - 80 min. by Two River Circle
*Women and Girls in the Sex Trade (2005) - 23 min
*Tribute to Stan Tookie Williams 1953-2005 (2008) - 66 min -Becnel and Neal
*Locked Up, Locked Out - 23 min, All of Us or None
*Up the Ridge (2008) 60 min - Nick Szuberia and Amelia Kirby
*Against Our Better Nature (2008) - 20 min by Kenya Briggs
*Sean Bell (2007) - 5 min Redhook Productions
*Redhook Raids (2008) - 15 min Redhooks Production *Finding Our Folk (2006) - 60 min. by Omo Moses

* * *

The Secret Life of a Paroled Murderer

Submitted by Patrick Allen Jones on Wed, 08/29/2007 - 1:10am.

What I had:
25 to life sentence for first degree murder. Yes, I was guilty and wasn't one whose crime partners did it: I did.
What I served:
Almost 25 years. From 1979 to 2004. Prison I.D. C21260.
Where?
California Department of Corrections in 6 different prisons including San Quentin and Corcoran.
Hardest thing to get used to upon release?
That people thought spinning hubcaps look cool.
Personal ironic feature?
I drive an ex-police interceptor.
About how I got a parole date and released...
Did I have political connections?
None.
Did I have a rich family?
No. No family help either.
Just how did I get out?
Well, that's a long story. But I can say that when just about everyone told me to my face that I was nuts for even entertaining the idea of hope, I made myself believe it.
I figured that since lifers had given up the chase of being released maybe they would crack that door one day and look to see who was ready. Well they did crack that door and there I was, standing first in line.

My message is don't lose your place in line stupid.

Curious

Submitted by rivas54 on Wed, 10/10/2007 - 8:47pm.

My fiancé is serving a 29 to life sentence. He has served 10 years already and I keep the faith alive for both of us that he will get out one day. I am very interested in you journey and your struggles that got you to where you are now. Please help me so I can better prepare myself, prepare us for this time ahead of us. Your story really inspires me and I hope one to also be able to share the same great news.

R.D.

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