Thread by @ORprisonreport

Oregon Prison Report: Voices from the Inside

Call for help and public support from someone imprisoned at Columbia River Correctional Institution (CRCI). 

Phone Zap below.

COVID-19 Dangers at Columbia River Correctional Institution:

Columbia River is one of the last prisons in Oregon to see a rapid surge of COVID-19. In the last three weeks, over 200 people have tested positive for the virus, almost 40% of the prison's population.

Because there are not enough beds in the medical and COVID-19 isolation units in Coffee Creek, two dorms in Columbia River have become COVID-19 units. Yet there is no real separation between units and Columbia River is not equipped with a competent 24-hour medical infrastructure.

There have been further reports from inside that much-needed medical attention is being denied to those that need it, and COVID-19 tests are being denied to those who ask.

Additionally, there have been reports that COVID-19 positive people are being housed with COVID-19 negative people and that COVID-19 positive people are being forced to work throughout the facility, including the kitchen, or risk disciplinary punishment.

Further, social distancing remains impossible in a group-living, dorm environment. Guards also are still refusing to wear masks, despite over 20 officers having tested positive and a crisis of understaffing...

... leaving the prison to bring in parole officers from across the state to fill in for those who are sick.

PHONE ZAP & CALL FOR HELP AND PUBLIC SUPPORT:

People imprisoned in Columbia River have solicited a call for help and public support.

The lives of everyone imprisoned in Columbia River are in danger because of the negligence and incompetence of the Oregon Department of Corrections...

... along with Governor Kate Brown's refusal to release the thousands of people which would marginally lessen the risks of this catastrophe.

They ask for the public to solicit complaints to the Inspector General Hotline.

CALL THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HOTLINE:

(877) 831-0389

(This number goes straight to voicemail.)

SCRIPT:

Hello,

The lives of everyone imprisoned in Columbia River Correctional Institution are in danger because of Oregon Department of Correction's negligence and incompetence.

There are three main issues of abuse and misconduct that I wish to highlight.

(1) People imprisoned in CRCI who are sick are being denied medical attention, including COVID-19 tests, and for those who are COVID positive, access to Tylenol...

... and other much-needed attention to COVID symptoms and complications is not being granted. Medical at CRCI is radically ill-equipped to handle this surge and neither CRCI or Coffee Creek seem to have enough room for all of the COVID positive cases.

(2) People imprisoned in CRCI who are COVID-19 positive are still being housed with people who are COVID negative, which is putting everyone in danger, and, additionally, people who are COVID positive are being forced to work throughout the facility, including the kitchen...

... putting everyone at risk.

(3) Guards still are not wearing masks, despite orders from the State and the superintendent. 25+ CO's having tested positive, and CRCI is so under-staffed due to this that parole officers from all over the state...

... are being transported to CRCI to fill in. The spread is out of control. This signals yet again that Coffee Creek, which has been the quarantine facility for Oregon prisons, may be out of beds, space, and at capacity.

There have been many calls for help from inside Columbia River. Many face disciplinary retaliation for even requesting help.

People's lives are in danger and yet the negligence and abuse of corrections officials continues unabated. Please act now to address these injustices and release people from prison.