On The Road Again

[D&S]

I got a call at 9:00 this morning when I first got into work after not having received my nightly phone call. You guessed it, we're now at Deer Ridge rather than Columbia River. Yup, he got called in from work yesterday morning and told to roll it up.

I will say though I have been truly fortunate in that the last 18 months he has only been 10 minutes away from me and I got to see him every week. Maybe got a little too spoiled. So this little reality slap sure brings everything into perspective once again. I'm sure with a little practice I'll once again remember how to live happy while being lonely.

Guess I'll go check things out over Madras way this weekend. If anyone has been there and wants to share their experience or information I'd love to hear it.

[grannyG]

I lived in Madras for twenty years, but moved before the prison was built. I have never been to that prison. If you would like info about Madras, I might be able to answer your questions. Burger Works is a nice little burger joint with the best burgers around. I know, you would like info about visiting. I can't provide that. Sorry.

[Dawn.here2help]

D&S,

Oh shoot! No indication that they were moving him? Well sorry to hear. Good news is that the Bend/Madras area is lovely both winter and summer. Bad news is that I hope you have a set of snow tires! I do understand that those that I have spoken to that visit there said their loved ones like the facility. Reclining chairs, very modern and the beds are soft (probably because all the matresses are new!). I can't tell you anything about visiting and by the looks of it you may be telling us before anyone tells you about it. I hope the visiting area is nice. If you don't mind, where were you guys before? Did he just get moved to a minimum facility now? Has he been in a dorm setting already? Sorry, maybe you have shared this before and I should remember but I don't (I'm going to blame that on the fact that I am getting older this Saturday and loosing more of my memory!).

Anyway, you have been at this long enough that nothing should be a suprise any more! And you seem to be doing well at rolling with the punches (Good Job!) so I am sure you will find the positive in this experience.

I look forward to hearing of your new experiences! Good luck and I hope he likes it there.

Dawn

[dmmke08]

Hey Dawn,
A Big Happy Birthday to you.... I hope it will truly be a wonderful one.
I want to give you a great big Thanks for all that you do. And Im sure everyone agrees with me.

[one_luv]

Columbia River is minimum. Sorry for this, D&S. Was he in the AA program there?

[JustBeachy]

My guy just got moved to Columbia River from SRCI...I'd like to know what it's like at Columbia River. I'm just so thankful he's not out in the boonies anymore...once I save up some money, I can actually go see him now and hang out with our friends/family in Portland!!! And now maybe they can all go see him too!!! (Tomorrow is his birthday...he was just moved today, I am wondering if he'll be able to call me?!...and will he get his birthday card that I sent last week?...will they forward it to him?)

[D&S]

Had my first visit last weekend. Deer Ridge is like going back to a medium prison. It is stricter than EOCI was. Yes, we have been at minimum for almost 18 months, and no, there was no warning of his going anywhere like always. He's not in any programs, and most likely will not be; probably just as well. Looks like we'll be hitting the gates from Deer Ridge. His federal time is over and detainer lifted about 18 months ago; his Measure 11 time is up or almost up and now all that is left is his time on a consecutive state charge that he can earn good time on. If all goes well he'll be out of there in March 2010 or sometime a little later if all doesn't go so well.

I do have a new Toyota RAV4 - 4-wheel drive, but my guy doesn't want me driving over in the winter. In his younger days he used to drive long-haul and has seen some terrible things on the highways and he's a worrier by nature when it comes to people he loves and cares about. So I think I'll need to be respectful of his concerns and not worry him too much.

One of the visitors that was there last weekend sumed the visiting experience up rather nicely when she said that Deer Ridge is the most maximum - minimum prison she has ever been at. Examples I have so far is that you cannot wear watches into visiting; doors are locked and unlocked to enter and leave (CRCI you just entered and left at will); one lady was denied visitation because the clasp on the back of her bra set the metal detector off (don't know if she went into Madras to buy a different one or not); I had put Blistix on my lips 45 minutes before I signed in and the CO told me that chapstick is not allowed so had to wipe it off. There are no restrooms that I could see for visitor use before you got into the visiting area, just a room designated for "Inmate Visitor Searches". I would suggest anyone visiting stop in Madras to freshen up prior to visits.

Thanks GrannyG for the suggestion of Burger Works, it sounds good and much better than McDonalds which was the first thing I saw when I got into town.

The visiting room is in the cafateria and looks out onto the inmates' yard. Nice and clean tables and actual chairs not those round stools to sit on. A great play area outside for children.

One thing my guy does like is that in the morning when yard opens up the guys are free to come and go to the yard at will and right now are able to be outside until 9:30 p.m. Phone calls are 30 minutes long, calls at CRCI were 20 minutes. There are skylights in the dorms and actual wood trim but the windows can only be seen out of if you are in a top bunk. Jobs are scarce. My guy has always worked and he is now on a waiting list of 60 to get on the waiting list for any job.

It is very disappointing to have him moved away again after all the hard work he did to finally get closer to home. Anyhow, thanks everyone for your responses and caring. I've always apprecaited hanging around here whether I have time to sign in or not.

[Zelda50]

D & S: Once he's done with his M11 sentence, is he eligible for alternative programs? He might think about applying for that and, if he was accepted into one soon, he'd get more time cut off. Just something to think about. I thought I'd heard they were starting another AIP program at Deer Ridge (in addition to Powder River A & D and the Boot Camp) - but it might just be a rumor. Z.

[D&S]

Z, I believe he is signed up for alternative programs; I believe he signed up at the time of intake but it hard to remember everything sometimes. I think he just gets discouraged with hoping. I know he's willing to try anything. It would be difficult for him to be in classes all day because he is medically restricted though still does physical work and workouts. Its just that sitting is the very worst for him and we usually cut our visits short because of it. I get the feeling Deer Ridge is still getting things together but maybe that was the reason he was sent there for the soon to be implemented? AIP program. We'll just wait and see. Thanks.

[Zelda50]

He should check with his counselor there about his AIP status. Z.

[Dawn.here2help]

I would like to agree with checking with his counselor but the truth is you have to do the foot work yourself or they will just push you off....at least that is my experience. Call Debbie Wade who does the prescreen for their eligability at 36 months the inmates name comes up on her sheet to prescreen. If he is at 36 months then give her a call and ask if the prescreen is done...if it is that is all she will tell you and then you know that depending which one he is eligabile for is depending how long of a wait he has....I can tell you about the wait times if you want to know. If he has more than 36 months then she will not prescreen them unless she has been asked specially by someone. Her name again is Debbie Wade and her number is 503-570-2212 or her partner (I think boss) is Morgan Declerque 503-570-2211.

Dawn

[D&S]

Dawn, as of right now he is down to 17 months 1 week. I don't know if there is even enought time left, considering wait time to make it worthwhile at this point. Its up to him though and the powers that be. I always like to have him do his own foot work unless he asks for help, its good for him. Anyhow, still hanging in there ...

[grannyG]

Just a heads up, the roads can be brutal around here in the winter, he is right. But most winters they aren't that bad. Check in with me when you're planning on coming, and I'll let you know how they are. Sometimes, it is better to go down the gorge to Biggs Jct. and come across from there. It keeps you off Hood and all the snow. Just check in cause then you got the steep grade on Cow Canyon just out of Madras. Trip check is another good place to check out the road conditions on, but you are probably familiar with it already. Just, pm me if you got any questions about our road conditions, I'll let you know if there is snow or ice, or not. Also, you rarely want to be on Hood on the weekends in the winter once it has snowed. The skiers make driving up there unsafe d/t their numbers. That is another suggestion for going down the gorge and over.

[D&S]

Thanks GrannyG for the road tips and willingness to give me first hand information on road conditions. Yeah, those skiers can be brutal. I know, I used to be one of them before all the surgeries and age started catching up. Anyhow, I going over again this weekend and am looking forward to trying out Burger Works. I also know a little bit about the area as back in 2003 my dad had prostate cancer surgery in Bend and then I spent the summer with him and my Mom at the condo in Sun River while he recuperated. My dad did pass away a couple years later, but it was nice to have tht time with him. So, the Mt. Hood roads I'm still somewhat familiar with and Biggs Junction a little bit but not much. Again, thank you very much for all the suggestions and ideas.

[lushlifepdx]

question: what is AIP?

Thanks