Oregon Department of Corrections

08/21/2026

Seed to Supper Class Graduation

Several adults in custody recently completed the Growing Gardens 101 gardening course, a six‑week program taught by Instructor Kate Bildsten. This foundational class serves as a prerequisite for the Sustainable Gardening course, which provides AICs the opportunity to pursue the OSU Home Horticulture Certificate.

We are proud of the participants for taking this meaningful step toward developing practical skills that support both personal growth and future opportunities.

08/20/2026

Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution successfully hosted its 3rd Annual Career Fair. This year’s event saw strong engagement across all sessions, with morning groups of 44 and 78 participants, followed by an afternoon session attended by 156 AICs.

A total of 16 organizations participated, offering guidance, resources, and career opportunities designed to support successful reentry and growth. Their involvement reflects a continued commitment to expanding meaningful pathways for the AIC community.

EOCI leadership extends sincere appreciation to all adults in custody who took part in the career fair, as well as to each organization that contributed to making the event impactful. We are encouraged by the expanding network of new and evolving resources available, and we look forward to building on this momentum in future events.

08/19/2026

GED and Pre-Apprenticeship Program Graduation!

Incarceration affects far more than where someone lives – it impacts families, communities, and the future they are striving to build. Education changes that story. When people gain academic credentials and construction skills, their opportunities expand. Employment becomes more attainable, stability becomes more likely, and hope becomes more visible for adults in custody, their families, and their communities.

Santiam Correctional Institution recently celebrated the achievements of several individuals who earned their GED and completed Chemeketa’s Pre‑Apprenticeship Program. Many of these AICs faced moments when they wanted to give up. Instead, they proved to themselves and to everyone watching that they can push through challenges and accomplish anything they set their minds to.

We are proud of their hard work and hope this milestone is just the beginning of many more accomplishments to come. 🎓💫

08/18/2026

Snake River recently hosted its quarterly visiting luncheon, bringing adults in custody and their families together for good food, conversation, and plenty of smiles.

Adults in custody had the opportunity to purchase Panda Express and share a meal with visiting family and friends. Families traveled from as far away as Atlanta, Georgia, the Oregon Coast, and San Diego, California, proof that when family matters, people are willing to put some serious miles on the odometer!

The afternoon provided an opportunity for families to reconnect and enjoy meaningful time together. A big thank-you goes to the SRCI Visiting Room staff and everyone who helped make the luncheon a welcoming and successful event.

08/13/2026

NBC ran a great story on the CCCF Fire Crews!

OREGON – 30 female adults in custody from the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville are pitching in to help with Oregon’s wildfire effort. Three teams from the facility are working as trained fire suppression crews through a partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry. The wom...

08/13/2026

There’s been some confusion about how much AICs on DOC Fire Crews “make,” so here’s a quick breakdown to help clear things up.

Because AICs are not employees of the Oregon Department of Corrections, or the State of Oregon, they can’t receive a traditional paycheck. Instead, DOC uses two systems to recognize their work:

1. Meritorious Awards
AICs assigned to Fire Crews earn $25 per day in the form of a Meritorious Award.
• $12.50 goes into their general spending account (available right away).
• $12.50 goes into their Transitional Savings Trust Account (available upon release).

2. PRAS (Performance Recognition and Award System)
PRAS is the point system used to recognize satisfactory daily performance in work and program assignments. Under PRAS, the minimum point value for any work assignment is 4 points per day, depending on the responsibility and performance expectations of the job. Fire Crew assignments earn 17 points per day, which is the top of the point scale for work assignments.

So, if an AIC serves six days on a Fire Crew in one month:
• 6 days × 17 points = 102 points
• 102 points falls into the 86–106 award bracket, which provides $37.50 gross for the month.

And that’s only the Fire Crew portion. The AIC continues earning PRAS points on all the other days of the month (usually 20–25 days), based on their normal work assignment. Since different jobs earn different daily point values, starting at the minimum of 4 points per day and going up depending on the assignment, most AICs will earn additional PRAS awards on top of their Fire Crew points. For reference, the PRAS chart maxes out at $112.50 gross for very high monthly point totals. Legally, that is the most we can award them through PRAS, which is where those daily Meritorious Awards come into play for the Fire Crews.

All of this means fire deployment provides meaningful recognition, but it works within a broader award system designed to encourage steady performance, responsible behavior, and successful reentry preparation, while staying within the legal limits of how AIC compensation can legally function.

08/13/2026

Snake River Powwow has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026.
Regular visiting is still planned for both Minimum and Medium.

08/11/2026

Since July, CCCF’s Fire Crew has been deployed nine times across three counties, supporting five wildfires.

These adults in custody work as trained fire suppression crews through our partnership with the Oregon Department of Forestry -- gaining skills, giving back to communities, and putting in real effort on the fire line.

We’re proud of their hard work and commitment. Here are some photos from the crews in action.

08/10/2026

Deer Ridge Powwow has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2026.

08/06/2026

Water Heater Rebuild!
Snake River has been rebuilding aging water heater systems. To save in costly replacement they ordered the new tubes to replace the old. Corrosion within the old system is due to the hard water in this area and years of service. Pictured here is one of our Electrically licensed AIC’s Steven Prince and one of our Electrical apprentices Thomas Rivera that works in Central Plant.