Comments for Oregonians Against Measure 11

Comment on Another View by Anita Mendez

Anita Mendez — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:30:53 +0000

Measure 11 is just a tool for the district attorney’s to win a case or make a name for themselves. It has nothing to do with justice or what’s fair. They are abusing measure 11 to benefit themselves, not the public’s safety. My sons case had 6 different people that were being accused of a crime and the district attorney turned them all against each other and was gambling with their lives like they were no longer human beings. People sometimes get into situations that can’t be helped until it’s too late, but the crime doesn’t mean that that person is an evil person. My son had never been in prison before and was sentence to 20 years in prison and one of the other people that were accused of the same crime received 10 years, but because the DA found him more helpful is why he received less time.

Comment on About by Ronda schaefer

Ronda schaefer — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:38:04 +0000

you know what gets me a man can go to jail for 37 years over a little girls “dream” and someone can go out and commit murder and only get 10 years. he was sentence last week

Comment on Your Story by screwed by a system i once trusted

screwed by a system i once trusted — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:47:07 +0000

Washington County DA Jeff Lesowski. Piece of work. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS for Oregonians. Seriously lacking in judgment. Has no business being in such an authoritative position. Vindictive - probably has issues from his own childhood and could himself use a psychological evaluation and serious therapy although he may be clinical. Should he ever try running for a judges’ seat, Oregonians CANNOT EVER let that happen.

Comment on Your Story by kiah

kiah — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:40:44 +0000

Vickie, My heart goes out to you and your son. It is the tax payers that are not only paying for your sons and many others prison time. And it is the tax payers who will need to be reached in order for this to stop. My son serves two prison sentences for a very minimal crime here in oregon. He still fights to get out of the system. He has been lodged on a PV twice for rediculous things. 10:00 curew violation is just one of the things. He too has learning disablities that are brought on by his terminal illness that is crippling him. I fear that unless these are an everyday eyeopener in the news paper each day, folks wont give it a thaught. You can not do this alone, I can not due this alone, no one can. How ever if there were an article ran each week in a large Oregon newspaper, the public will not realize where their tax dollars are really going. Also parole after prison is set up in such a way that they can not get out of the system if they are disabled in any way, and many who are no and are healthy can not get out either. The Parolee’s pay $$$$ each month to the probabtion office on top of it all. If they dont pay it, they go to jail and the state pays the county jail for the bed that they sleep in and the gross meals that they eat. WAKE UP ! PEOPLE! the money is being taken from our under funded schools to pay for this. JUST LOOK ON THIS FORUM. THERE ARE VERY FEW OF US WHO ARE SPEAKING OUT. This tells the story well, that this mess will not be changed in out lifetime if ever. I for one would be willing to pay part of a daily or weekly article to go into the paper to open peoples eyes. Also the media loves these kinds of stories. Why are we not out there making noise every day? It is scarey by ourselves, ( and retaliation is real for prisoners in oregon) but if we join as a loud and pointed team, then maybe folks will listen. I was told that the many lawsuits that were lost on prisoners cases are all public knowlege and 18 lines of each story are public domain and can be reprinted. So, there… weve got many eyeopeners to print in the paper right there. Come on people, we put more effort into animals rights then we do human rights.
“Many hands make light work”

Comment on Your Story by Vicky

Vicky — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:34:03 +0000

Well, Thanksgiving Day without my son.He did call me from prison to wish me a Happy Thanksgiving. I put his picture on the table for Thanksgiving dinner and me, his sister,and his 2 &1/2 year old nephew said prayers for him. He doesn’t understand why he can’t be with his family for the holidays but I have to keep encouraging him to help keep his spirits up. This is what Measure 11 does to familes- it tears them up. The child in prison suffers and the family without the child suffers too. Are they ever going to change this law so the suffering stops?

Comment on Your Story by Vicky

Vicky — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:51:37 +0000

Last weekend when visiting my son, I found him in a place called CIU. It’s like solitary-for kids. They said he had some derogatory behaviors. This is due to his disabilities and mental health. Keeping him in prison is just aggravating the situation. He is NOT receiving any help whatsoever. Just this tx he won’t learn anything from except to be an angry person.

Comment on Your Story by Vicky

Vicky — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:22:14 +0000

My son had no choice except to plea bargain because otherwise he’d be spending over 13 yrs in prison–starting at the age of 15 yrs old. He would have received a 7yr & 6month sentence and then the 5 yrs & 10 months. 5yrs & 10 months is not what i’d call a bargain. I am going to find a way to get his story out into public awareness because this has got to stop somewhere.

Comment on Another View by kiah

kiah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:59:01 +0000

Just another point I would like to add. If measure 61 passes, that money that goes to school will be taken for the public saftey and prisond instead. This will leave the most needy students with out haveing their needs met even worse than it already is. Then these kids who dont get their educational needs met, ( the learning diabled, emotionaly disabled, and the physically disabled), will grow up with out , ( and the No child left behind law) not being met either. These same kids make up a huge maojority of the jail and prison population when they are adults. They have fallen through the cracks. So, measure 11 and the new measures if passed dont only hurt the children in our schools now , but it hurts their future and the tax payers future as well. I would hate to think that this is planned out by our government. But it is something I dont see printed or spoke about . Cant we all see the picture as a whole? Why is it so crystal clear to me? This is child abuse that follows the childs his / her whole life though. And to top it off it is abuse by our own system that should protect them.

Comment on Your Story by kiah

kiah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:52:43 +0000

Anyone here who would be willing to share thier stories, concerns or what ever with me please email me. I am getting ready to publish a book soon and would love to add other stories to my families in reguards to measure 11 in it. My publishers can send you permission forms and a query on the book to show you what the book is about. I to am willing to share anything you might want to know about my book efforts. Feel free to email me with any questions or if you might be so inclined to let me use your stories. thanks ahead!

Comment on Another View by kiah

kiah — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:47:53 +0000

Debbi, Thank you for your efforts to educate the public of the harsh realities of measure 11 and the prison conditions. I would really like to use your piece in a book I am about to publish. If you would be so inclined, please reply and get in contact via my email address. My publisher can send you forms and a query letter and info about the book. Look forward to hearing from you.