Got a phone call today that my son was just transferred to Shutter Creek. We think that he is going into the Summit program. That is great news for his family, as it means that if he successfully completes the program, he will be out in 6 months! We are very excited, but a little apprehensive since from what I have read on PTO, it seems that many of the guys don't make it. There is very little information on here about Shutter Creek, the Summit program, and A.I.P. in general. If anybody has any experience with Shutter Creek, and specifically the Summit program, I would love to hear from you. Hope you all had a great new year!

I have never been there to visit anyone, so have no first hand knowledge. That is wonderful that it looks like your son's time in will be a fairly short one by most standards. I know it seems like forever to his family. What I do know, is this: he will be watched on every turn --- this is a good thing. The whole family comes under scrutiny, and he will do better if everyone is supportive and works with him. The more contact he has, and support, the better his chances are of making it through successfully. Ask his counselors what you can do to help him be a success? Ask what you can help him with, talk to them. These programs are not like regular prison, these people will appreciate anything you are willing to do to help your son. So, let me just say, wow, I am excited for you guys. Good luck and lots of hard work ahead.

Thanks for your reply, just sent you a PM, so check it when you get a chance.

This is good news and I agree with granny. My understanding is it does take alot of hard work. I heard its not an easy program for some people. But I believe if they want to get out and are serious about lifes changes, they will make it. And yes lets give lots of support to our loved ones as granny says. Good luck to you and your son.

You should contact Dawn. She has a lot of good info about Shutter Creek and AIP.

Thank you! I will do that.

I look forward to a really long "article" after this experience is over, with lots of useful info for everyone else who follows in your foot steps. Once in a program like this, is not the time to post what happens, and risk jeopardizing things. So, we will wait patiently for you to be through this, then give us the useful insights and helpful hints. Please keep notes, so you can let us know the important stuff that we will all need to know. Thanks, G.

Wow! The SUMMIT program is wonderful! How fortunate for anyone that gets into this program! I wish so badly that every inmate in Oregon could attend this program. Here are some of the classes that they take during their 16 hour days of busy class time:

*Cognative Thinking (How to think differently)
*Parenting Classes
*Anger Management
*Role playing all day
*Drug and Alcohol courses

In addition to these types of things they also will have a chance to get their GED too. The men work three days a week and when they are not out working then they are in classes and meetings. These men get up and start their day about 5:30 ish and shut down (lights out) at 9:30. They are dog tired!

When they first get into the program they go through a black out period of about two weeks where they will not be able to make any calls or receive any visits. During this time they need to get to know the program itself and make a decision as to weather they can proceed with the course. If they choose to make a life change and go forward then they will need $50.00 to pay toward the program. They can write during this black out period, however, the only time they have to write is between 9:00 and 9:30 in the evening and this is also the time that they have to get caught up on any homework that is due the next day so don't be offended if they are not writting very often!

Toward the middle of the first 60 days they are in the program things will become easier for them and the program will allow them a little more free time to write or make calls, but then it will tighten up again once they enter the next phase. There are three phases: Green, Red and Gold.

A person can be recycled from one group to the next. So if a person doesn't seem to be catching on to the program very well and they were in say the Red group they will fall back and join the green group and go through that phase with that community and work his way back up to red again. Some don't get recycled but just kicked out of the program and back into the system to finish out their sentence.

It is amazing to see the changes that these men go through! Truly major changes! Life changing changes! I wish all inmates had the opportunity to go through this type of a program, however, the budget just isn't there which is too bad.

This program used to have a large presence of military "boot camp" to it but that has since changed and although they are still strict the regiment is different. Now they can order off of canteen where before they could not. They still have exercise outside everyday but now it is not every day all day. They do not wear ties any more, however, they do still wear the khaki denim shirts.

Hope this helps. They just received a new group of men in there on Monday so good luck to them and you family members....remember they really need your support more than ever. They are about to be confronted with their past and they have to write an autobiography about all of the things they have done in their life. I mean, can you imagine for all of those who have not been in trouble with the law how hard that would be let alone if you have a sorted past that has put you in a place like this what they are going to have to confront themselves with!!! Wow!

Oh, visiting is on assigned times and days. So if you are in a certain community then that community will always visit on say Saturday mornings every week. There are no double visits or special visits and no visiting on holidays you just get that one visiting time and yes they have the same cruddy vending machines as all the other facilites so bring your quarters!

Lastly, the CO's are much different at this facility. They are truly there to help. They give inspiration and hope to the men in there. This is unlike any other facility, as you all know, and how the CO's operate. I wish desperately that all the CO's throughout the system could also take this special training!!!!!

Dawn

Its easy to see why this program would not benefit everyone.

Do they still make them cut and shave off their hair?

Yep...

Does anyone Know how it compares to Powder river API program?

Hi Dawn,

I did an advanced search on "Shutter Creek Summit Program" and saw your post. My son just got transferred there and I haven't gotten to talk with him yet. It looks as if you knew quite a bit about the program. Is your husband there? If so...can you tell me anything else (that I might want to pass along to my son) when I see him on Sunday. Some helfpful hints...that maybe your husband has experienced) Also...if your husband is there, do you visit him every weekend? If so...what is the visiting like? I'm coming from Portland and thinking it's going to be about a 4 hour drive. Just thought I would post to see if there was any other information (besides the great information) you already posted about this program.

Thx.

Visiting there is very comfortable. There is a plya room for the kids and you check in at a gate at the bottom of the complex where you drive into the prison facility park in the visitor parking and walk into a room where there are vending machines (bring quarters or dollar bills) and they will seat you. Very small amount of people there in visiting. Officers are nice and respectful. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid back but all the rules are there to follow still. Bring a small see thru bag to put your coin into and take your keys in with you. Just lock your purse in your trunk or car. Make sure that you lock your car and roll up your windows.

Hope all of that helps and enjoy. Remember they need a lot of support during this time....especially during their "red hat" period. That is a tough period of time for them as they are admitting to many things that they have taught their brains to "forget".

Anyway, congrats and watch the transformation in your loved one....it is absolutely amazing!

Dawn

My other half is there and likes the program alot. The days are well structured and they are learning new things daily. The changes we see in him already are incredible. I love how much he is growing during this time. He is looking forward to the next challenge they have. Good luck to your loved ones in this program.

We had a member asking a question about what it means to be "recycled" from this program. I am posting this as a question here for them. Also, I am going to attempt to answer the question. If I get it wrong and someone else knows more about this than me, please feel free to correct me, as I am "attempting to answer".
Recycled from this program means that he is being put back into another community to start it again. If he were to be graduating in July, that won't be happening. He'll have a later graduation date now, and is being given a second chance at the program. Please, if anyone knows more about this, give me a hand with this description. Thanks.

My understanding is that if there are areas of the program that the offender has not shown progress in, or if there has been an infraction of the philosophy of the program, then the guys can be recycled. Sometimes they are sent back to general population to complete their original sentence, but if they are lucky, then they are given the opportunity to get recycled back into an earlier part of the program. This gives them an opportunity to learn some of the things they missed out on the first time. Hope this is helpful!

Hello All. You are right; "recycled" means they are put back into a previous community which in turns, prolongs the time they would come home. I acually learnd this the hard way by my fiancee being in a photo where the "Manager of the Program" deemed they were not "pro-social." I am absolutely devastated as I am trying to figure out a way to tell our son his dad will not be coming home until another four months. The thing that ticks me off the most is that he, my fiance, was being held accountable for other's actions....Long story short, when he seen the other men acting inappropriately, he did not partake in the photo. That's all I had, thanks for letting me vent.

I hear that the majority of this community at Summit, were put back. I am sorry that your guy was one of them. That must really be tough, so close to time for them to be coming home, to learn they have so much time to "re-do". Keep your chin up, they were only recycled, not returned to general population. I know that is hard, we just got to take one day at a time and be thankful for the blessings, how ever small they are.

I certainly understand your frustration. To be recycled with less than two weeks left in the program is a heartbreaker, for the guys and their friends and family. I would just like to encourage you and your guy to look forward and to continue to work his program. It really is a wonderful program and I am sure you have seen some amazing positive changes thanks to all of the hard work he has done. At least he is still in the program. I am sorry for you and your son, and I know how hard it is... Like Granny says, we just need to get by a day at a time.

I hear that the majority of this community at Summit, were put back. I am sorry that your guy was one of them. That must really be tough, so close to time for them to be coming home, to learn they have so much time to "re-do". Keep your chin up, they were only recycled, not returned to general population. I know that is hard, we just got to take one day at a time and be thankful for the blessings, how ever small they are.

You are right Granny...I am so thankful for the Blessings bestowed on us because he could have got kicked out. Thanks for the reminder as I do sometimes forget that things happen for a reason.

I certainly understand your frustration. To be recycled with less than two weeks left in the program is a heartbreaker, for the guys and their friends and family. I would just like to encourage you and your guy to look forward and to continue to work his program. It really is a wonderful program and I am sure you have seen some amazing positive changes thanks to all of the hard work he has done. At least he is still in the program. I am sorry for you and your son, and I know how hard it is... Like Granny says, we just need to get by a day at a time.

Djleroux.....thank you to you also. It is hard but I do know that my guy is a changed man because of the program. Yes, I am glad that he was not kicked out into general public. On the good side of things, is that he is coming home and will not be there forever. When he gets here, I know all this would be so worth it. Again, thank you.