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Oregon’s corrections ombuds lags behind other states despite problems facing its prison system
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Source: Street Roots
On paper, Oregon’s Office of Corrections Ombudsman looks like the most powerful position in state government you’ve never heard of. State law gives the ombuds broad authority to investigate the prison system for corruption or prisoner abuse, including subpoenaing records and compelling staff to give sworn testimony. The ombuds can make prison officials explain their decisions. If the ombuds thinks state law is hurting prisoners, they’re required to bring those concerns to lawmakers. In short, the corrections ombuds office is designed to be an early warning system for dysfunction and malfeasance. But most of the ombuds’ strongest tools are going unused even as Oregon has seen alarming news about prison conditions and as other states have strengthened oversight of their corrections systems. Oregon’s corrections ombuds office is among the least developed of any independent state prison monitoring agency.
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Read the original at Street Roots
