[Comm-Council] FW: NEWS RELEASE: "Safety, Justice and Hope, " Values Guide Governor's New Re-Entry Council

[HOKLIN Lonn * DAS DO]

Lonn Hoklin

Public Affairs Manager

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

503.378.2627

503.428.2169 (cell)

________________________________

From: GOVERNORS Press * Governor's Office
[mailto:Governors.Press at state.or.us] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 10:06 AM
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: "Safety, Justice and Hope," Values Guide
Governor's New Re-Entry Council

 

 

 

Theodore R. Kulongoski

          Governor

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

November 21, 2007

 

Contact: 
Patty Wentz, 503-378-6169

Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496

 

 

"Safety, Justice and Hope," Values Guide Governor's New Re-Entry Council

Council will further work on inmates' reintegration into Oregon
communities 

 

Salem - Governor Kulongoski delivered remarks today at the first meeting
of the Governor's Re-entry Council. The Council - recently created by
the Governor via Executive Order - is charged with focusing attention on
inmates as they are released from custody in order to reduce Oregon's
recidivism rate and prevent new crimes.  In Oregon, one in three
released inmates re-offend and are sent back to prison within three
years of release, which a rate that is lower than many other states, but
Governor Kulongoski wants to do better. 

 

"I want Oregon to be on the cutting edge of identifying solutions that
reduce recidivism and at the same time make our communities safer by
turning past offenders into future productive - and law abiding -
citizens," said Kulongoski. 

 

Kulongoski said his motivation for creating the council was based on
three principles that guide public safety policy: safety, justice and
hope.

 

"We must provide for the safety of citizens while ensuring that justice
is delivered through a fair and efficient system," said Kulongoski. "And
we must also make sure that we provide hope to those who are trying to
turn their lives around and become law-abiding and productive member of
our communities." 

 

The purpose of the Council is to remove barriers that keep inmates from
safely and successfully transitioning back into society after they have
completed their term of incarceration. Released inmates often struggle
with obtaining valid identification; job training and employment; help
reacquiring health care; drug and alcohol treatment; and, affordable
housing.

 

"By making sure that re-entering offenders have the tools and
opportunities they need to succeed, we will be reduce the number of new
victims in our state and strengthen our communities," said Kulongoski. 

 

The Council includes the directors of state agencies that play a part in
preparing offenders for life outside the institution - including the
Department of Corrections, the Oregon Youth Authority, the Board of
Parole and Post-Prison Supervision, the Department of Human Services,
the Employment Department, Oregon Housing and Community Services, the
Veteran's Department, the Department of Transportation and the
Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development.

 

Other partners that contribute to the success of offenders after their
prison sentences are completed are represented on the Council as well,
such as community corrections, non-profit service providers, judges,
district attorneys, public defenders, and law enforcement. 

 

Of the 13,500 offenders currently in the Department of Corrections'
custody, 97 percent of those inmates will eventually be released back
into Oregon communities. Approximately 450 prisoners who have completed
their prison sentences are released from Department of Corrections'
custody every month. Of those, one out of every three is convicted of a
new felony crime within three years of release. This recidivism rate is
worsened by obstacles that newly released offenders encounter obtaining
housing, employment and other basic services in their communities.
Eliminating these obstacles will reduce the number of individuals who
re-offend, diminishing further victimization, and providing offenders a
better opportunity to lead productive lives. 

 

 

Governor's Re-entry Council Members:

 

 

Max Williams

Director of the Department of Corrections 

Mark Royal

Community Corrections Umatilla/Morrow County

Todd Anderson

Tillamook County Sheriff 

Laurie Warner

Director of the Employment Department 

Tom McClellan

Department of Motor Vehicles

Jim Willis

Director of Veterans' Affairs

Steve Atchison 

Columbia County District Attorney

Michael McShane 

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge

Ross Shepard

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

 

Senator Vicki Walker - D-Eugene

Representative Kevin Cameron - R-Salem

Ron Chase

Executive Director of Sponsors

Steven Powers

Chair of the Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision

Bob Jester

Director of the Oregon Youth Authority 

Victor Merced

Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services

Camille Preus

Dept. of Community Colleges, Workforce Development

Jerry Moore

Salem Chief of Police

Bruce Goldberg

Director of the Department of Human Services




 

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