Thread by @OJRCenter

Next up, the Board of Parole of Post-Prison Supervision who make decisions about granting parole and release dates for people in prison in Oregon. There are 5 board members who are appointed by @OregonGovBrown for 4 years. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown The Board also establishes supervision conditions for all adults released from prison, deals with people who violate parole/post-prison supervision and assess and classifies people who have to register as sex offenders. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Board has been focusing on justice-involved women in #Oregon in recent years in partnership w/ the federal Office of Justice Programs and looking at how well Oregon's practices meet national best practice. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown 2 examples of change: safety planning offered to all women leaving prison (due to start within 6 months) & ending routine assignment of a post-prison supervision condition to women restricting sexual relationships for women convicted of #domesticviolence-related offense. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown What does the Board shift to gender-responsiveness mean? Understanding women are significantly different from men; likely have history of victimization; build on women's strengths & values; recognize importance of relationships and they are often primary caregivers. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Katie Roller from #Multnomah County's Community Justice Dept serves women who have returned to the community and are under supervision. She says her goal is to help make women's lives better and move them out of the justice system. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Her focus on women includes acknowledging and addressing unique needs of women and the risks they face plus impact on children tending to be more severe and direct when mothers are incarcerated or under supervision. #WIPConf

As of October 2019, 533 women are under supervision at #Multnomah County's WFSU Unit. 72% white, 18% black, 10% all other races/ethnicities. #WIPConf

The WRNA (Women's Risk Needs Assessment) is in use in #Oregon to encourage a more gender-responsive approach to working with women who are intersecting with the justice system. #WIPConf

Finding housing for women, especially those with kids, who've been identified as having that need can be a struggle. #WIPConf

Audience suggestion: Board should consider an advisory panel of people who have been through the criminal justice system to guide their work. #WIPConf

Our afternoon begins with a panel from the office of @OregonGovBrown to discuss opportunities for clemency and reforms that may be possible. Through her executive power, Governor Brown has the opportunity to commute #Oregon sentences to lesser ones and to pardon crimes. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown From the office we have Dustin Buehler, Governor's Deputy General Counsel, and Emily Matasar, Government Accountability Attorney #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Their role is to process clemency applications and make recommendations to @OregonGovBrown about clemency. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown There are 4 options available to Governor Brown under clemency: pardon, commutation, reprieve, and remission of fines or fees. These powers only apply after someone has been convicted. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Victims, DAs and others have rights under the law to know about clemency applications. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Through a process of review, Governor Brown receives applications to consider for clemency and she may choose to interview applicants in person. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Governor Brown has granted 5 commutations so far in office. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown There are many factors considered when deciding whether to recommend clemency. These can include: exhausting appeal options, public safety concerns, nature of crime, victims and DAs' views, how long since the crime, record while in prison and more. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown It is nice when a lawyer or other advocate has helped assemble an application but it is not essential. Many of the clemency cases granted by Governor Brown have been from people without an attorney or advocate. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Governor Brown has viewed clemency as "an extraordinary form of relief." She has granted 15 pardons, 4 commutations of sentence. Between March '18 and June '19 there have been 310 denials. #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown One example of an "extraordinary case" was Dondrae Fair. oregonlive.com/pacific-northw…

@OregonGovBrown Another example is Brandon Dixon #WIPConf opb.org/news/article/k…

@OregonGovBrown Our thought: It's clear far more people are denied than approved, and many do not apply at all. What does this mean for survivor-defendants, who have entered prison for complicated reasons and are being held to an accountability standard that may not be reasonable? #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Audience question: Why is Governor Brown granting so few clemency applications, as compared to other governors (in other states and past #Oregon governors?) #WIPConf

@OregonGovBrown Once a year, the Governor's Office reports to the legislature about clemency applications/grants/denials. The 2019 report can be found here: oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engage…

@OregonGovBrown From the report: Governor Kate Brown has granted six pardons and three conditional commutations. No reprieves or remissions of penalty or forfeiture have been granted. Between March 3, 2018 and today, 151
applications for commutation of sentence have been denied. #WIPConf

There are 60 commutation applications pending. 77 pardon applications denied, 52 pardon
applications are pending, and 1 pardon application was withdrawn. 2 reprieve applications are
pending. No remission applications are pending. #WIPConf

As we wrap up our conference, we thank once again our hosts @PDXArtMuseum and our sponsors @BridgewayRS and @pathfinderntwrk. We are also grateful to everyone who came, especially those who have been through the justice system and share of themselves so freely. #WIPConf