DRCI Accomplishments by Inmates

[D&S]

Here is an article I found in the Madras Newspaper that shows inmates in a positive light.

DRCI inmate graduates Electrical apprenticeship programPhoto By Holly M. GillDRCI inmate John Mackinnon, left, was congratulated last week by his father Taylor Mackinnon, of Cornelius, and dozens of his peers as he became the institution’s first inmate to graduate from a new electrical apprenticeship program. Mackinnon helped set up the program. By Holly M. Gill

It was a proud moment for John Mackinnon. Some 60 of his peers, as well as his father and supervisors were all on hand to congratulate him as he finally achieved a longtime goal.
Last Thursday, Jan. 8, Mackinnon, 37, graduated from an electrical apprenticeship program, after passing his exam with an outstanding score of 94 percent.
What makes his achievement remarkable is that Mackinnon is an inmate at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution, in the 11th year of a 12-year sentence for kidnapping and assault. His peers are other inmates in the physical plant, and his supervisors are prison officials.
"This is a monumental event," said Kevin Hormann, assistant superintendent of transitional services, as he congratulated Mackinnon. "I couldn't have imagined when we opened in 2007 that we would get this far."
The Department of Corrections program which has allowed Mackinnon and two other inmates to become journeyman electricians is a dream come true for Mackinnon, who began laying the groundwork for the program in 2004.
At that time, he was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, working in an industry laundry job, earning $150 a month -- high pay for an inmate, whose pay typically ranges from $30 to $80 per month. Laundry wages were higher since the prison took in outside jobs.
"Five years ago, I was just looking for something positive," he said. "I was either going to let this kill me or make something of my life."
For several months, Mackinnon followed around Two Rivers' chief electrician, Jim O'Bannon, a supervisor, pleading with O'Bannon to allow him to work on an electrical licensing program.
"(O'Bannon) finally said, 'You're willing to give up $150 a month?'" Mackinnon explained. "I wanted to get a trade. I didn't have any skills to use when I get out."
His persistence paid off. "When I got into it, it wasn't an actual program; it was just a hope of getting it started," Mackinnon said. "Me and another inmate read through the OARs (Oregon Administrative Rules) and put together a curriculum that matched the outside programs.
The program was eventually approved by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, and Mackinnon took a cut in pay down to $50 a month as he began his electrical apprenticeship working within the prison system.
Over the next few years, jobs included wiring for a new laundry system, sewing center, mattress factory and woodshop at Two Rivers.
At DRCI, he helped wire the metal and wood shops for the medium-security prison, as well the inmate television project in the minimum-security portion of the prison.
Eric Herrera, who supervises maintenance operations, said the project to run cable and power lines to each inmate bunk was expected to cost about $140,000. Inmates are allowed to pay to have a small television.
With inmates working on the project, he said, "I think it ran us $65,000 to $70,000, and they did it in record time, and every inspection we've had has just been outstanding."
In order to become a journeyman, Mackinnon had to complete 8,000 hours of hands-on work, and 6,000 classroom hours, and learn everything in a 100-page book. "It took about 4 1/2 years," he said, of studying two to three hours a day.
The hands-on work included: 2,000 hours each of work with power distribution, installation of electrical circuits, and manual and automatic controls, and 1,000 hours each of work with motors and troubleshooting electrical problems.
"He's a model inmate," said Herrera, noting that Mackinnon has a clear record for the past nine years. "That's almost unheard of in prison. He's a role model for his peers."
Mackinnon hasn't always been so dedicated. His path took him through some difficult times first. When he was given a mandatory sentence in 1997 for his part in driving around an old girlfriend as she assaulted another female, even his father thought he belonged in prison.
For his first three and one-half years at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Mackinnnon said he continued to get in trouble and use methamphetamine -- and other drugs that were smuggled in.
But the dangerous lifestyle got to him. "That's a rough place," he said. "I just woke up one day and I couldn't let it go on any longer."
Mackinnon, who married and divorced early, also had two young sons -- now 18 and 16 -- to think about. "They're really good kids," he said. "At least they've learned that from my mistakes."
He is confident that he has also learned from his mistakes. "I'm done with that whole lifestyle," Mackinnon said. "It's like night and day."
His father, Taylor Mackinnon, who drove to Madras for his son's graduation ceremony, is very proud of his son. "He's so capable. He has a future now. He has something he can rely on for a source of income, and he can take care of himself."
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[grannyG]

This is a really great story. I wish we could have the news papers write more of these success stories. This is wonderful. Also, it gives other inmates something to strive for -- success. Wow, I am really happy for John Mackinnon.

[dmmke08]

This is really great.. I am happy for the success that has been achieved. Congrats to John..

[grannyG]

I think we should all sign this, and have someone copy it off and send to him. He deserves to hear our praise.