Your Story
Many lives and families have been torn apart by mandatory minimum sentences (Oregon measure 11). This section is created for anyone and everyone to tell their story of how this measure has directly affected themselves or their loved ones.
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My brother was wrongly accused of brushing dirt off a girl’s pants and now faces 75 months in prison. This is completely insane!
juvenile, not there when my son was talking to his lawyer every time, and sentence as an adult not as a juvenile, crazing this is. and serving 25 years for not knowing if he had kill a man or not until he was talk to buy police. did not intend to murder someone at all. cause he was on heavly on drugs with 2 other men. and he’s been in for 12 years now. he needs to get out and come home. I feel he will never take some ones life at all again. he’s is not that kind of person.
us mothers do know are children, and we need them back.
take measure 11 off. instead have classes and work for them and school.from a lonely mother that tried to get help from the juvenile system and did not get that help.
My 15 year old developmentally disabled son was coerced by one of his peers into going out and robbing people for money. The peer had told my son,”I did it before at the Rose Quarter and it’s very easy; I’ll show you how to do it.” Before I knew it the police called that they had my son, this peer, and a 12 year old boy in custody. Upon reading the police reports, the victim said he thought it was a joke and did not want to make a statement, however, the police talked him into making a statement and now my son is facing a Measure 11 charge of 7 years in prison. The sad thing is that he doesn’t fully understand the implications of his actions. He has been in juvenile for almost 6 months. All he says to me is ,”Mom, I want to go home.” What am I supposed to tell him? His attorney is not stopping this from happening. In fact, the peer who coerced my son plans to testify against him. What is that? He started all this to begin with. This law definiytely needs to change -especially for children who do not understand because they have mental health issues. They are treating him as if he fully understands what he did. I am looking for help from other parents who have developmentally disabled or children with mental health issues affected by this law. It’s wrong because it does not fit all kids and I am sure the judges know it and the juvenile authorities know this too, because they see it doesn’t fit kids like my son.I am asking for help from other parents. VickyG63@comcast.net
Glad to find this web sight here. For us measure 11 has destroyed the whole families life. Ane the tax payers are paying for this court measure 11 manditory crime. My friend who is now in his 20′s. He is disables with Muscular Dystrophy and his life span is to about 30 years in a wheelchair full tims and then after that death at any time depending on what the desease brings him, was attacted in an intersection while he was driving by a drug dealer. He drove off and never looked back, but the drug dealer had jumped at his car from the front hood and fell off when the car drove off. On lookers called the police. Later that day he was sighted and put in jail for assalt and failure to report someone coming in contact with his vehicle. He was tried under measure 11 law, which forced him to plea bargain on failure to preform driver duties. This was a mandatory 13 month prison sentence. He served it like a man. They had him in a medium security prison for a minimum crime, and told his family it was due to the fact that the minimun security prisons in Oregon dont have medical units. Isnt that discrimination? He could have fallen at any time in prison and broken his back or died. ( for failure to preforn duties of a driver). Guess the state is giving death sentences for these crimes now. Then he gets out and is home for 6 months. He was offered a program in the courts where if he went to the court each week and followed all the meetings and court ordered things they gave him to do, then his record would be whiped clean. Problem is, they had his going to 8 different court ordered meetings per week, which no drivers liscense to get there, and unable to walk to bus stops because of the MD. However, the bigger problem was , he was caught driving on the revoked liscence at this time. He was again sentenced to a measure 11 manditory 18 months in prison. This would never happen in another state with no measure 11 law. Yes, he once again served in a midium securuty prison. Shame on Oregon . Shame . This young man has pain every day and endures other making fun and loosing ability each day more and more. Can nobody see the picture here? Shame… I see others who have drug problems and even steal each day to buy them. They are in and out of our county jail all year long for year after year. And here is a young man who yes, has had his problems as well, and are you going to tell me that no DA , no any body can see that this is a sin and a crime in its self to give these unjust punishments? Measure 11 is not only hurting the offenders but whole comunity? taxpayers are paying out the nose for this. shame on a state that can retionalize this teatment and let it happen. sick… sick…. sick
When you say that it is a crime in itself to give these unjust punishments, I definitely agree with you!
Measure 11 was originally passed by voter in 1998. It took effect the next year. Among the list were the obvious crimes: murder, rape, aggravated assault, and
If there is someone who you’re trying to communicate with and due to all the others, you’re having a difficult time hearing, would you pull the person aside to say what you were trying before? Hopefully not. Under this law, which the state can’t fully fund as is, you could be charged and found guilty of second degree kidknapping. I ask is this serious. Unfortunately. What’s worse is the fact that thse offenders are not given the opportunity to do some corrections work or treatment during their sentences. And why not? Is the state secretely using it’s third strike law against them, knowing that it chose not to offer any form of treatment?
Even worse: there is a ballot initiative on the Nov. 4th, 2008 ballot creating mandatory minimums for first time drug and property offenders. That’ll just be another the police can hassle potheads with less than an ounce. Hassle with tweakers, if you must. And heroin. Is that because it requires less (if any) investigation? I think so. SO IN NOVEMBER, PLEASE VOTE NO ON MEASURE 61. It would be a lot less detrimental to vote yes or to be unsure of Measure 57.
My best friend is serving 70 months in prison because of measure 11. He was at the scene of a guy being beat up. He did not beat him up, someone else did. The person who did the beating did not arrive with my friend and my friend did not know the person who beat the other guy up. My friend never tried to hurt anyone and has always been very nonconfrontational. He is not a violent person at all. He did jump out of his truck and pulled the guy who was doing the beating off the guy who was being beaten. For this the guy who actually beat up the other guy got 36months, while my friend got 70 months. It makes no sense to me at all. The reason why the other guy got 36 months, he took the plea bargain and then testified against my friend. My friend would not take the plea bargain(48months)because he knew that he had done nothing wrong and was sure that in court he would find justice. What he found was a public defender that did not defend him at all. She did not even introduce several pieces of evidence into court. She did nothing. He is innocent and yet he sits in prison waiting. It is so wrong what has happened to him. I could go on and on with the different ways he got rolled by the system. He is a very gentle and kind person. I hope this whole thing does not change that. I am scared for him every day. I am scared for his four children that have lost the best father a kid could ever hope to have. He didn’t try to hurt anyone, he tried to keep someone from being beat up. This is what he gets for it.
My son is serving 70 months on a Measure 11. He is mentally challenged as I stated in a previous post. A few weeks ago I went to visit him and he had 2 black eyes and scratches all over his throat. He is mentally & emotionally at the age of a 9 to 10 yr old. And what do the courts do? They put him in with kids his chronological age (16) and he gets beat up! I warned the judge & DA this would happen but they don’t care at all! They are committing child abuse–knowingly & willfully — and they put the name MEASURE 11 on it. So for the next 5 yrs and 10 months my developmentally disabled child will be subject to bullying and abuse. They send him away for 70 months and guess what he will be when he comes out? Since he is so easily influenced by everyone around him society will have a kid who learns how to rob, steal, kill, etc. This is messed up. You people of OREGON –SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. Our vulnerable childen and citizens are being abused by the same system we are supposed to trust.The judges and DA don’t care because its not their kid. If they ever had to go through anything like this, they would change the law. But why won’t they change it for us?
There is too much money and too many jobs that measure 11 brings to Oregon for them to even care. Have you written our congressmen? I have. I hope all of you will.
I know that the public school recieve more than double the amount of state funding for each student they have who is disabled or on an IEP. I wonder if the jails and prisons also recieve more funding for these folks? does anybody here know?
Kiah- This could be true, since they are now trying to commercialize and privatize prison systems. If you look further into it, you may find it to be true.
My son who joined the Air Force once out of High School. Who scrabled for this country on 911 and deployed for this country 90 days before the war. Severed 9 months, then returned to Bagdad for anoterh 9 months. Now is doing 36 months for the state of Oregon. Because his roomate used Measure 11 against him, because he was unable to purchase a house under his VA loan. The DA office of Multnomah County and the women pressing the Charges felt it was better to send him to prison without treatment and cut him off from his federal rights to get help. This is unfair to him having to deal with PTSD in priosn and all on his own. This law will place more and more of our heros in prison all on one person word.
I really feel for you Traci. This is what I am talking about–Measure 11 does not taske into account the circumstances -such as mental health issues and disabilities. It is torture-human torture. The person going to prison suffers way more than anyone- ESPECIALLY KEVIN MANNIX will ever know. His laws have screwed Oregonians over really bad. aPEOPLE OF OREGON- please, I beg of you, to learn from the past and VOTE NO on Measure 61. Kevin Mannix’s laws are comparable to torture and child abuse. The WHOLE FAMILY suffers but the vulnerable population that serves these sentences suffer so much more. I can’t imagine anyone feeling any more pain than what Measure 11 has caused, but if Measure 61 is voted in, it’s going to get worse. This guy is off his rocker. As I previously stated, anyone who would write a law that puts a developmentally disabled & emotionally challenged child in prison for so many years is a child abuser-and if he is a child abuser then where will this guy stop? He won’t unless the citizens stop him.
I was talking to a friend and he told me of this person he knew, a black male, who had borrowed the jacket of another person, also a black male. It sems the real owner of the jacket had previously been involved in a robbery. The person who was robbed was able to identify the suspect by his jacket and his skin color. The man who had borrowed the jacket went to prison on Measure 11 charges for Robbery. The system did not take into account the man’s circumstances -the man who was wrongly accused and charged with Measure 11 Robbery–because he had borrowed someone’s jacket because it was a cold, rainy night. This is where Measure 11 is screwed up- they don’t look into the circumstances and situation or conditions surrounding the incidence of what really occurred. The judge at my son’s hearing made sure that I cannot try to get a second look at my son’s case (posted in a previous post- post # 3). My son is now doing time at Maclaren for 5 yrs & 10 months. This law is messed up and I am going to look at every angle I can to prove that they messed up when they put my son in prison. My son also needs treatment. He has a history of mental health treatment going back to since he was 6 yrs old.Now he won’t get what he needs and the victim-who thought the crime was a joke in the first place, has turned his story into an exaggerrated drama. He did not want to have my son arrested at first but at the sntencing he changed his tune because he was there in the court room and he did not stand up and say anything- he just watched as my son was sentenced to over 5 yrs in prison. I wonder what happened for him to go from thinking it was a joke to making statements and exaggerating the story of what happened that day. I often wonder if the police coerced him because it says in the police reports that the police went to his house to get a statement from him and he did not want to give one. He is quoted as saying (in the police reports) : ” I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.” What happened? Why did he change like that? It’s messed up. He did not get hurt or injured in what happened that day – my son is a victim because he is the one that will suffer for the next 5 years. He may be 16 yrs old chronologically, but not mentally. It hurts when he asks me, “Mom when can I come home?” What do I tell him? He already has PTSD and other developmental issues. Now he has to sit in prison and suffer, while a grown man who didn’t get hurt or harmed or even touched by my son couldn’t stand up and say in court what he told the police about thinking it was a joke and how he didn’t even want to make a statement to begin with. I was disgusted with this man when I saw him show up at the snetencing because to me , it’s like he’s laughing in my child’s face, and making something into something it wasn’t. Measure 11 really sucks and hopefully (but doubtfully) someday, Kevin Mannix will have a taste of his own medicine.This abuse of power has to stop somewhere.
I Have seen it happen all of my life, ” what goes around comes around” God will see to it that these people in charge of these poor choices for our diabled young men find out and feel the recoarse of what they have done. They will experience it first hand in some form, have no fear. Or if your not religious than carma will come to them. But the sad thing is, it wont help our loves ones a bit. They will have already served a life sentece because of their situations, and they will already be damaged for life. They will maybe never see their way out of the system because of the petty pressures put onto them by some probation officers. It is a sad , sad. situation. It is wrong. and yes, it is abuse. Please keep writing our congresmen and polititions. Write to the advocacy center for disabled and human rights as well. That about all that we can do. Oprha may be interested in a story from a batch of folks who are affected by measure 11 as well. Does anyone here have a way to contact her? Barbara Roberts is another good one to contact. She may have a phone number if you google her.
Thank you for the info. I have written congressmen, politicians, everyone I can think of and will continue to do so.I hope others do the same. We need all the help we can get to stop the abuse.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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”
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.
I’m locked up in a youth correctional facility for self defense in which the state of Oregon committed as an assault 2. I’m only serving 24 months and 5 years mandatory post prison, but for only being 17 at the time, and living on the streets of Medford Oregon sleeping under bridges, I feel that I got screwed out of a life with my 1 year old baby and time to fix my life on my own. Now Being in county jail at 17, and now (18) going to Chemeketa Community College online, I’m writing a proposal to abolish measures like 11.
Our state is closing down correctional facilities in the O.Y.A because they don’t have the money to keep up with the ever increasing population in the prison system. I feel that if the measures like 11 where abolished that our state would have the money to help the youth of the next generation who make a mistake and can get the treatment to help them change there lives. We can’t do that with an overfull youth and prison population, and the state having to release people because they don’t have the space and money to support all of the in Oregon. For example the state of Oregon is closing down Burns, a 50 bed unit in both Hillcrest (intake for O.Y.A), and McLerian, and removing treatment groups in the O.Y.A. The groups there lacking for reasons like; no money to hire treatment providers % Offender treatment), no money to pay staff overtime for holding group (Anger Replacement Training, Pathways Ext.). No money to hire staff to cover the units so staffs that do group can get it done.
22. i just experienced DA Lesowski who inflamed the jury beyond the evidence during trial and closing and got a responsible, well intended, non-violent, intelligent college student who is no menace to society whatsoever 8+ years in jail under Measure 11 for a crime he did not commit. thoughts?
Welcome to a nightmare. It is a nightmare that many Oregon families live everyday. This nightmare tears apart families, destroys almost any hope of recovery, and is entirely unforgiving. The nightmare that I refer to is one of self inflection. It is self inflection first by mistake, but impounded by ignorance.
I don’t believe that there is one reader that would not acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes. We have all made mistakes. We have all sat at the intersection, looked both ways, and proceeded to pull into an intersection only to realize that we were pulling into traffic that we did not see. We have all made poor financial decisions, we have all blamed someone for something that they did not do, we have all hurt someone accidentally by something that we said, and we have all hoped for forgiveness for our one mistake. I also believe that every reader understands the concept of forgiveness. Mistakes happen, and often times these mistakes can be forgiven and corrected.
Imagine now, a world where first time mistakes were not forgiven. Imagine that every mistake made in life carried an opposite and unequal reaction. If an infant were to place something into his or her mouth should we cut out his or her tongue? We all have cringed after hearing about laws in other countries. We hear stories from other countries that wives are killed for adultery or that thieves have their hand removed. In the history of our own country, we cannot believe that we ever tortured people until they admitted that they were witches or enslaved groups of people because we felt that they were inferior.
Is it possible that we are still ignorant enough to pass laws where the punishment does not fit the crime? Could we have not learned anything from history and still create injustice from justice. The nightmare that the families live in Oregon is just that. In the name of Justice, the voters of Oregon were convinced to vote for a law that they were told would make them safer. They were told that they could vote for a law that would take habitual criminals off of the street before they could hurt them, and the voters of Oregon believe them. In the name of justice, the voters of Oregon trusted law makers and voted for Measure 11 November, 1994.
The voters of Oregon were told that this law would stop repeat offenders from committing violent crimes. Oregon voters responded to fear tactics and decided that they would not get mugged, raped, murdered, or assaulted if they voted for this law. Measure 11 assured that violent offenders would be sentenced to minimum sentences with no possibility of early release. They were persuaded using fear tactics. Who would not want to send a violent criminal to prison for a minimum of 5 years 10 months? Of course, people think of getting held up at an ATM machine by a gang of thugs who are carrying guns, bats, and crowbars and being beaten and left for dead along the road. Maybe voters thought about their 10 year old daughter being raped by some pedophile. What ever the case, we think that these criminals should be locked up and throw away the keys, right?
Maybe this was all put in place by well minded people. Maybe they really did think they were making the world a better place. I am sure that the Oregon voters that voted for the law felt that way, but what if they had been shown the other side of the coin? What if they realized that they were voting for a law that could sentence their child or grandchild to more than 5 years in prison without the possibility of early release because of a sports fight? What if their own innocent child made one mistake and was placed into the system with all the rapists, murderers, and pedophiles? Is it possible that this law could be that unforgiving? The answer to that question is a resounding yes!
What Oregon voters were not aware of was that they were voting for a law that left judges no room for common sense. A judge could not look at the crime and determine that it was a first time mistake and the offender could most likely be reprimanded in a way that would teach him/her the lesson that needed to be taught. The judge has no room to say that a fight on the football field was a first offence committed by someone that had not matured enough to understand control over his actions in extremely volatile situations. If this situation happened and the offender was found guilty the judge would have no recourse but to sentence the individual to the full sentence.
Although I do not live in Oregon, I do hold in a stake in this holding. Even though I do not live in Oregon, my wife is a native of Oregon. About five years ago, my wife and my stepson were telling me about this law. As they explained it, they referred to it by name and explained that if two young men got into a fight and one were injured during the event then the other could be charged and sent to prison from 5 years 10 months to 7 years 6 months without the possibility of early release. I remember thinking that there is no place in the world that could violate someone’s civil liberties like that. I know that I told my wife and stepson that just could not be possible in this country. I was sure that they misunderstood and figured that it was just like the local junkyard dog that the stories kept growing until the poodle became Bigfoot.
Many months after this conversation took place my wife and I were debating about allowing my stepson to go visit his father. I know that seems like a selfish or ignorant statement, but we did not have much trust in his father. There was a history with my stepson’s father and drugs that scared my wife and I. The problem was that my stepson was soon going to turn 18. As an adult, he would have the right to visit anyone he wanted. To compound this issue was the fact that we all believed that my stepson’s father had been diagnosed with colon cancer and the outlook was not good. We talked with his father and honestly believed that the cancer had straightened him out. At the age that my stepson was at and the way that we wanted to raise him, we felt it best to show trust in his young adult judgment and allow him to go visit. I guess that I can say that is when I quit trusting my own judgment and our nightmare began.
My stepson packed very little. We had all the contact numbers that we believed that we would need, and we made contact with everyone that we could to assure that everything was okay. I can honestly say that nothing alarming happened for the month that led up to his trip. We took my stepson to the airport with his luggage and round trip plane ticket and had our goodbyes. I remember that he reminded me of things to take care of for him while he was gone. My stepson seemed cheerful as he departed into the terminal, but I glimpsed a small look of worry upon my wife’s beautiful face. The one thing that hurts me most today is remembering how I placed my arm around her and said that “everything would be okay”.
Everything was not okay. Everything did not go wrong right away, but I know now that I made the worst mistake in my life. When my stepson first arrived in Oregon, he called like the responsible young man that he is. For the next two weeks he kept in constant contact. During the conversations, he assured us that his dad was not doing drugs, but he was not in good health. We called often and were able to get a hold of him almost every time we tried. He called us on October 15, 2005, his birthday, and said that he was doing fine and was happy that he turned 18 that day. We had a great conversation with him and wished him a happy birthday. We explained that we were excited to see him and celebrate his birth day on November 1, the day he was to return.
After October 15, my stepson fell off of the face of the earth. We did not hear from him the next day, and when we tried to call him at the house where he had been staying, we began to hear stories. Immediately we became concerned, but we were also shocked. We had been convinced that everything was going great and we would be seeing him soon. The stories we were hearing were that my stepson’s father was not off of the drugs as had been reported. Instead, while my stepson was trying to get his father to clean up and straighten up, his father had influenced him. My wife and I did not want to believe that. We had heard about the drugs that my stepson’s father had been using and we were told that they were very addictive. It was not that we did not believe that a son could not be influenced by his father to do something stupid, but we did not want to believe that it happened to our boy.
For days on end, we would call to try to find where he was staying. We followed one lead after another, and my wife contacted her friends in the area to look for him. We called the police on numerous occasions. We explained what our situation was to the police several times and asked if we could file a missing persons report, or if they could help us get him off the street and away from his father before things got out of hand. The police responded to us by saying that an 18 year old could go missing if he chose to, and he could even be involved in drugs unless he got caught. When we asked the police if there was any way that we could get their help to stop this situation before our son got into more serious trouble or got hurt, the police said that they were too busy to help prevent a crime, but would respond if he broke the law.
My stepson did call. Just now and again, we would get a call from him and he would ask for money and help. Although we were worried, we knew that we should not send him money if there was any possibility that he was tied up in addictive drugs. We offered to buy him a new plane ticket, to have someone come pick him up, or even to reserve and pay for a hotel room for him to go check in to, but he was not the same and he would explain to us that he was in need of help, but he would hang up soon after. This would happen now and again, and my wife and I were stuck. We did not know where to even start to look for him, everyone that we had looking for him would not locate him, and we could get no assistance from the police. At the time, our worry was not that he would be picked up by the police, but weather or not he was even alive. We actually hoped that he would get caught with drugs and placed in jail where we would know that he was alive.
Our wish was granted when we called the Multnomah County Jail to see if there was any possibility that he may have been picked up and taken into custody. Somehow, we were actually shocked when my wife asked if they had him in custody and the response was yes. He had been picked up for possession of drugs. My wife quickly explained what we had been going through and said that we would fly up and receive him from their custody so that we could place him in a rehabilitation center in Oklahoma. The jail informed my wife that he was scheduled to be in jail until his court hearing, but they could not guarantee that he would not be cycled out of the system in order to make room for more serious offenders. There was nothing that we could do that evening because it was late so we woke up the next morning to make plans. My wife called the jail again only to learn that he had been released at 3:00 A.M. to make room in the jail. My wife asked the jail clerk if they had any information about where he might have gone. The jail clerk gave us an address. We checked the address only to learn that he was not there and they had never heard of him.
Once again, we went into search mode, but we knew that we could only depend on the police if our son broke the law again. This went on for a couple of months. We would get the occasional call from our son, but he would only say that he was in trouble and needed help, and we would refuse money because we knew that it would probably be used on drugs. We knew that we only had a short time in the prevention mode, but we also knew that we needed to find him. Our son was in hiding from us and the police because he was involved in addictive drugs, and we could not help him because he needed to want to help himself and we had to find him in order to have any influence on him whatsoever.
We never got the chance to help him in any positive way. Our son was picked up for robbery and placed in jail to await trial. He and another young man entered a public bus and tried to sell drugs to two other young men. After giving the two young men the drugs that they wanted, they informed our son and his accomplice that they did not have any money to pay. Our son and his accomplice told the other two young men that they would pay for the drugs and the young men responded by giving a CD player and a beanie cap. Our son and his accomplice left the bus and the other two young men reported to the police that they were held up at gun point.
When our son and his accomplice caught wind that they were wanted for robbery, they split up and went into hiding. The young man that was with our son was picked up the same night with the CD player and the beanie cap in his possession. The police found our son’s coat but were not able to find him for two months and twenty-two days. No gun was ever found, and the young man with our son gave up the name of our son in a deal to reduce his time.
Our son was given a state appointed attorney and he planned on fighting the charges by saying that it was not him. When he realized that that was not going to work, he decided to try to make a deal. He thought he would get in more trouble by saying that he was dealing drugs so he started making a deal figuring that they would get him for theft of some small dollar items in a public place. No gun was involved as the two young men had claimed and even though the bus system had it on camera, there was no evidence of any weapon at all.
The District Attorney did not care what evidence was available. District Attorneys make their name by being tough on crime. The way that this District Attorney, John Copek, did his job was to threaten our son into submission. Of course, we are all proud to live in a free country that gives us rights and protections against wrongful prosecution. This fact makes us feel safe and makes us believe that only the guilty go to jail or prison. Our son had just turned 18 years old, we did not have the $25,000 that attorneys said it would take to fight measure 11, and he was assigned an inexperienced public attorney who was not making any money off of the case so she was definitely not going to spend the money a paid attorney would to hire a private investigator. John Copek told our son that he was going to prosecute for Robbery I, but he would accept a plea for Robbery II. Copek was not going to accept a non-measure 11 for this offence, and Copek, the Public Defender, and the Judge all told our son that he would be given the maximum sentence if he fought and lost the case. In fear of receiving a longer sentence, our son conceded and pleaded guilty to Robbery II.
Don’t get me wrong. My wife and I are against theft, robbery, and crime in general. I do not want to have my things stolen, but I don’t think that I should be able to falsely accuse someone of theft because I have some problem with them and have that person sentenced to prison. Many people may read this and say “I am sure that they had enough evidence against your son to prove that he was a violent criminal”, but that just was not the case. The drug deal that took place on the bus was filmed by security camera. On that film, two young men sat across from two other young men for a few minutes. After a few minutes passed, two of the young men got up and walked off the bus. There were other people on the bus and none reacted to anything that happened. When the “victims” reported the crime, there were no other witnesses. The “victims” said that their “assailants” had a gun under a bandana and that they could tell by the tip sticking out that it was a hand gun. I would like to point out that my son’s coat was found, all the stolen items were recovered when my son’s accomplice was caught, the area was searched and investigated, and no gun or bandana matching the description was ever found. My son’s accomplice did not get rid of any of the stolen evidence so why would he have gotten rid of a gun and bandana. My son got rid of his jacket when he learned that the police were looking for him and left his gloves in the pocket, but no gun or bandana was ever found. A reward was placed for information leading to the arrest of my son, but when the police received information on his whereabouts, no gun was ever mentioned. The obvious conclusion is that there was no gun, and no bandana. The security camera showed no display of violence and no witnesses came forward from the bus to collaborate any reports of violence. With no evidence of violence, threat, or a weapon, John Copek demanded a plea to a minimum of Robbery II so that Measure 11 violent crimes law would assure a maximum sentence with no possibility of early release. All of this based was on word versus word.
Based on this type of Justice, I can claim that I was threatened by every person that I do not like and have them face a choice of paying $25,000 to defend themselves unless they want to plead guilty to a lesser charge that until places them in prison for a minimum sentence. Are we all having visions of the Midnight Train and Turkish prisons?
I miss my son. It hurts deeply into my soul. He is being charged as Robbery I in 7 years in prison. This is his first theft. He stole shoes at FredMeyer’s in Salem and the pliers he used to cut the security tape off is considered a weapon. My son needs to be home with me. I wish there was some other kind of punishment rather than prison. He is going to come out corrupt. Please some one out there please help!
There once WAS a 17 year old boy who had a 14 year old girl friend. They had been boyfriend/girlfriend for almost a year. One day the cops were at the boys house inquiring about something unrelated. Someone mentioned the word abortion. The cops asked “who” had the abortion. upon finding out it was the 14 year old girl they asked the two kids how many times they have had sex together. Both parents of both kids were right there during questioning and told the two kids to tell the truth. They admitted to having sex 3 times. They grabbed the 17 year old boy and charged him with 3 counts of second degree rape and wanted to lock him away for about 18 years. He settled for a sick and disgusting plea bargain and is now serving 5 years. 5 years in prison for doing what kids have been doing for thousands of years. He will now go through life labeled as a predatory sex offender with lifetime parole and registration. I hope to see those who did this tried for treason and crimes against humanity when the time comes. this was in Springfield, Oregon. I now view Oregon as a Nazi prison state. This is just ONE set of family lives that has been destroyed by Oregons cruel mandatory sentencing laws. But that is ok. They are creating the army that will destroy them soon enough. Just thinking about this brings me to rage. Those responsible for mandatory sentencing laws better pray that this government holds together long enough to protect them from people like me and many others I know. They have no idea of the anger and rage they have created against themselves for what they have done but hopefully one day they will.
I am now a greiving mother getting ready for what Oregon will throw at my son due to measure 11. A hard working, kind, young man who went out with a girl who lied to him about her age. He has never been in any trouble before and shows the utmost respect for people. Now he faces up to 25 years in prison for “doing what kids do.” He has lost his carrier as a teacher and any other future plans. Is it worth losing his life over? I don’t think so. I am just learning the trouble and pain this measure has caused many families. I wonder, are all the young fathers of 15 and 16 year old girls’ babies now in prison? My son didn’t get anyone pregnant, but this all makes me think about this. So, not only are they facing mass prison time and loss of their lives, who is supporting these babies? Oh yeah, the state of Oregon welfare system. I am learning that the sex offender label is being so frivolously applied to so many people, I fear that shortly 30 – 40% of the state’s population will be labeled sex offendors and locked up. What is a judge in Oregon anyway? Doesn’t sound like they can do much but sit on a bench and throw young people in prison for many, many years because of one lapse in judgement. I wouldn’t be proud of my experience and education if I were a judge in Oregon. It appears you don’t use any of it anymore.
Imagine.. you are a young boy of 17. A junior in high school.
Now imagine.. a blended family. 6 children total.. 5 girls.. and you.. the only boy. 2 of the girls are your real sisters.. 3 girls are step sisters.
Now also imagine that at age 13.. your mother dies from cervical cancer and you along with your younger sister.. who live out of state.. now go and live with your Dad.. his wife, your older sister and 3 girls you don’t even know… in Oregon.
Now let your mind wander and see your youngest step sister get called to the principal’s office for fighting with another girl.. and in the middle of her conference with the principal.. she informs them that you have been having sex with her. Now.. even though you know that 5 months earlier.. the police were called to her school because another girl overheard her talking about having sex with her cousin… but today.. she is saying it is you!
Since you know that it is not true.. What can you say?
Now imagine that two years earlier.. this same step sister had testified to the same DA and had her Uncle put away in prison for 12 years for touching her.
Now.. just think about this… Your step mother.. and your step sister.. now go meet secretly and tell a jury that you had sex with her… she says.. 3 times.
Now.. imagine that the police show up at your door.. and arrest you on 3 counts of rape.. and 4 counts of sexual abuse.
Now see yourself at your bail hearing and learn that the judge has set the bail at $1,000,000.00. 1 millions dollars you say? YES.
Now picture yourself sitting in the Washington County jail for over a year while you wait for your trial.
See how the last time you went to school you were a junior.. and you never even got to finish your junior year or senior year… because you were sitting in jail… waiting for your trial to begin. See how you have never got to drive a car.
Now see yourself at your trial. The DA offers you a deal. 5 Years in prison if you say you did it. Remember what you said to your dad? “Why should I go to prison for something I didn’t do?” Remember how you declined their offer?
Now.. imagine that the DNA evidence is presented.. and it takes two days to present. Oh yes.. there was no DNA found. But imagine that the DA still took two whole days to have all these people come in and testify as to what is DNA and how it is collected… and then you find out.. there really is no DNA evidence.. but the DA leads everyone to believe that if they had more money.. many additional tests could have been performed and they would have found just what they were looking for.
Now.. imagine that your step sister gets on the stand and now tells the jury that in not only happened 3 times.. but in her estimation.. about 40 times. But.. imagine that she can not say when it happened.. or what she was wearing. She can not even say when it last happened. Just that it did.
Also imagine that the Dr who examined your step sister say that the hymen is still intact.. but because of your step sister going through puberty.. her estrogen levels are very high making the hymen “pliable” and so it can “stretch” itself.
Now.. imagine you getting on the stand.. and what are you going to say? You are only going to say what happened.. right? And imagine you telling the jury that you NEVER had sexual intercourse with your step sister.
Now.. picture the jury coming back with a verdict of Guilty. Guilty of 2 counts of Rape.. and 2 counts of Sexual Abuse.
Now.. picture yourself at your sentencing hearing.. and the Judge tells you.. 12 years. NO PAROLE.. NO TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR.
Now.. see yourself LOCKED UP behind bars, and razor wire, and guards for the next 12 years of your life. You will not get out of prison until you are 30 years old.
Imagine that happening to you. OH NO.. it isn’t your imagination. IT IS REAL! Welcome to your REAL life!
Enter the REAL life of my son!
My daughter was given a sentence of 14 years 10 m0nths on measure 11. This was a first offence, she was drunk, with her husband and they robbed a bank. Stupied? yes. But the sentencing is out rages. She received 70 month for each teller in the bank. She had no weapon. Her husband who is 50 years old got 35 year sentence, life? he also had no criminal history. COME ON PEOPLE, where is the justice here? Thier 5 children were put into the system,what a nightmare that has been. Five years have passed, how many millions of dollars have been spent on them and thier children? is society better off? A girl in prison with my daughter killed her infant baby and received a 10 year sentence. What is wrong with this picture ?
Not all prisons ahve bars ready for preorder!
http://www.pdbookstore.com/comfiles/pages/RBCJ.shtml
I miss my son deeply. It hurts through my whole being. He has been incarcerated on a Measure 11 charge for 14 months now. I wrote to the Governor. I continue to do what I can to help these juveniles-especially the vulnerable population with mental health or develpmental issues. The sttae of Oregon turns on the children they try to protect. They will remove a child from a home where there is drug abuse or any abuse, but they turn around and abuse the children by putting them in prison when they need help. To me-this is abuse by the state of Oregon. The DHS workers are mandated to report child abuse but then who do we report the state of Oregon’s child abuse to? This law needs to change. I am still here- just misssing my son very much. It’s heartbreaking and destroys people emotionally.
I agree with you Kiah. More people need to post – we all need to help each other. Sorry I haven’t been on for awhile. It took me almost a year to try to get my life somewhat together.There is a big empty hole where my son is concerned. I visit him every week but 5 yrs and 10 mos is crazy! Sam- my son- was my reason for going to school and trying to make a better life for us.Now Sam is gone and I dropped out of school for awhile because I couldn’t deal with the pain of it and concentrate on school work. Now I am back at school getting ready to graduate next month. I am trying to get in touch with the organizations for kids with disabilities and mental health issues so I can advocate for kids like my son Sam. I won’t stop until something is done about this. It’s wrong. Don’t the people of Oregon see it as child abuse when a kid with developmental disabilities is hit by a Measue 11 or am I the only one? WE NEED HELP. MEASURE 11 NEEDS TO BE CHANGED OR ABOLISHED!
My husband is serving a 5 year 10 month sentence no thanks to Measure 11 itself, for an assault that he did do and is owning up to his mistakes. He was 20 at the time of the crime and will be almost 27 by the time he gets released. We met after the crime, before the incarceration, and had our wedding within the prison walls just last month. The entire justice system is a run-around and my heart goes out to all of you that also have loved ones in for one reason or another.
Measure 11 is not justice, it’s not fair, nor do I feel that it is helping our communities. Some yes, most no. As I’ve read many have gotten wrongly accused and in my case yes was rightfully accused yet he’s been doing very very well. Taking classes, staying out of trouble, got moved from maximum to minimum security location, but still no chance of early release….. all the while I hear of sex offenders and such with 25+years sentences who get out once they appeal after 6 years. How is that helping us? our kids? the future?
All we can do at this point, is stay positive and fight for those who need our support. The economy is crap and hopefully the government will soon take a second glance at what they’ve done and let our loves come home to make room for those who are true criminals with worse records. I have faith in all the inmates because some wont change their minds or their actions but many will if they have people out in the world believing in them. How can they succeed and live a better life if it’s harder to find a job, a place to live, volunteer at your childrens school, and so on and so forth, by having a felony on your record??
Stay positive and be strong, at some point this will be over for all of us and we’ll have our friends, family, husbands, wives, fathers, sons, brothers home and we can make a difference!!!
My son is 19 years old. He went to a party where a predatory female
set her sights on him. They were making out all evening as witnessed
by several other people there. A noise complaint was made by a neighbor and when officers arrived they caught our little lovebirds in the backyard in stages of undress. Our young lady had recently completed a stint in rehab so when she had the flashlight shined on her–she made the choice to become hysterical in order to detract from herself. She told the officers she wanted to go home but they convinced her that my son’s advances were unwarranted even though several partygoers were waiting in the wings to speak to them about what was really going on.After that, she was wrapped in the victim’s assistance blanket and these folks offered her alot of fine anxiety meds, money so she could quit her job and enough of that so she could get a new car and a place to live. How is a girl to turn down such an offer? My son’s suffering has provided her with so many creature comforts and she could never tell the truth–she would have no incentive to. And the stories and pictures about her just keep coming-she goes to partys-she has not quit drinking at all and does not intend to find a job anytime soon. Her Mom had all kind of things to say about her damaged personna however pictures speak a thousand words and she looks none the worse for wear than she ever did. She is back out up to her old “tricks”. Meanwhile-along comes the court date–there was not enough room in the courtroom for all of his supporters. Her?–Mom and a forced witness on her side who did not testify to seeing anything however had full knowledge they were “hooking up” that night. We could not take the chance of 30 years so we allowed the judge to decide. Long story short as everyone who has ever written their story here knows-if you can’t say anything bad about her or anything good about him-what do you think happened? That’s right-I join the ranks of the disillusioned, disgusted and devastated Moms of a Measure 11 debacle. My son was sentenced to 12 years. Every phone call from him is tearing my heart right out of my chest. Of course with this type of charge-he becomes a target. Let me be clear about this though-I see his accuser as a victim of sorts too. There are many victims when this type of injustice is perpetrated-including every Oregonian. We pay for these programs and noone even seems to check and see if these are valid claims of victimization. Maybe if they would have given her a loan instead of a free ride-she would have thought harder about telling the truth. Let me extend my support to all the other family members out there who have that hole in their heart right now too. My prayers are with you.
I am so sorry for all of you. I just found this site and it’s nice to know there are others out there who feel the same way as I do. We recently found out our son (who is now 15) was molested by an uncle and in turn molested my step-daughter (who is now 11). We found out about all this 3 months after my son turned 15. She said the last incident happened approx 3 weeks prior to December. Because he is 15, they now want him to serve 6 years and 3 months in jail and that’s a plea bargain. He has never been in trouble in his life. He is a good student, plays sports and is overall a good kid. Now, he obviously did the crime and I honestly believe that he didn’t understand how bad it was because someone did the same things to him and got away with it. We never knew he was molested until all of this came out so he was never able to get the help he needed. Now, instead of sending him into a treatment center which is really what he needs, they would rather go ahead and send him to jail until he’s 21. I don’t understand a law where we punish our children as if they are adults. There is a reason they aren’t able to work or vote or live on their own and that reason is because they are unable to make an adult decision!!! I did many things at 15 that I would never dream of doing now. So, my son who obviously has these issues but isn’t a bad violent kid will go into jail as a boy who needs help and will come out as a man who still needs help only by then it will be too late. It is said that kids who get the help when they are kids usually don’t re-offend. If you wait until they are adults to get them the help then it’s usually too late because we’re already stuck in our ways. I think it’s pathetic that we treat all offenders the same no matter what. This measure took the control right out of the judges hands and put it right into the DA’s hands. Now it’s up to the DA to decide if they like you or your kid or maybe they don’t like the circumstances so they decide to go ahead and put your crime under measure 11 because they’re having a bad day and there isn’t a thing we can do about it! They would rather build more beds in jail and let the kids sit there instead of letting us parents who can pay for damn good treatment pay for it. I am going to do everything within me to try and get this measure changed. It is my goal in life and this is only the beginning not only for my son but for all the other children out there who have made a mistake and are now being treated like adults because of it.
PSU- Now you are seeing the dangerous effects of this horrible law. I will continue to do what I can but we all need to do something – this law is way out of control. I am suffering over my 15 ye=r old developmentally challenged son- he’s been in prison almost 2 years-he has 3 yrs and 10 mos left to go. He was an innocent child–and I say INNOCENT because he is different in that he is at the mental & emotional age of 9-10 yrs old even though his chronological age is 17 now.Imagine all the special time we miss with our kids because of this law-we can’t raise them- the system does. This law is bull s#$@. My son has been bullied & picked on all his life for being different-what did society expect? I am not saying what happened is ok, I am saying that THIS bullying crap has GOT TO STOP. The victim wasn’t harmed but the systen=m pushed Measure 11 anyway. All I can do is pray- I am powerless unless the citizens help-and that doesn’t seem to be doing much good. I want my son home where g=he belongs. Prison is destroying him and society most likely won’t be safe when he is released- that is the affect of Measure 11!
My son after serving time in prison continued to be put in county jail for petty probabtion violations, and then not given his medications while in jail. He is physically dysabled and learning LD. It was plea bargains due to measure 11 and trying to avoid minimum sentencing that brought him to prison. Then when he needed addiction treatment, was sentenced to prison instead. Tax payers paid for his incarsarasion and knew nothing of the waste their money was going to. Tax money that competed with public school and heath care funds.
My husband got into a drunk driving accident 8 yrs ago..he has 3yrs 10 mo left..A little boy lost his life..My 3 kids lost their dad…I lost my husband…I am still waiting…My kids are grown in their 20s…I have to live alone another 3ys and 10 months and I am tired…My husband deserved to get time for this..almost 12 yrs total is what he got…He did not intend to hurt anyone…Murderers, sex offenders they have gotton less time..point is we are all in prison.if we have a loved one in prison..I am tired…
Help, my 15yr old nephew committed a crime and this Friday, the DA wants to sentence him to measure 11, if you can help or have any ideals on what we can do before the hearing, or something we can do to have the DA supervisor review the case before the sentencing please come forward, 5 days and our life’s will be ruined forever! HELP
I screwed up when I was a kid. I had just turned 16 and made a stupid choice to take my dad’s gun and pull it on someone. This was in August 1995, four months after measure 11 came out. I did my 70 months all in the juvenile system. I learned a lot about myself and changed for the better. The time imposed was overkill, one or two years would have been sufficient. Now here I am 30 and it still haunts me. I’m a computer professional, but unable to get a job because of background checks. I’ve had many offers, until the background check comes back. It’s been 14 years since I committed the felony and have been an angel ever since. Nobody wants to give a chance to a felon, even if they were a teenager at the time. I wish there was some law that allows juvenile measure eleven offenders a second chance at life.
As I scroll through and read all of you letters I feel for all of you. My son was sentenced at the age of 15 spent 2 years in McClearen and is on probation for 10 years. He as been out since 2002. It has been such a struggle for him to get on with his life. Getting a job going to school having relationships that are totally appropriate for his age. he has done well but I guess what I am getting at is its always there and the weight is so heavy on his shoulders as well as his family. The PO’s see them as a # and they change everytime he goes in which is twice a year. He found out yesterday that he is not only on probation for 10 years he is also on prison parole. well he was a kid and never in prison and to have that is so stupid. He has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life for something so silly and immature. No violent crime was committed. the families this effects is so huge and consequences are so great. I don’t wish this on anyone
My husband was sentenced under measure 11 due to drinking and driving where his passenger, a good friend, died. The family of the victim were upset but did not blame my husband for the outcome. They both chose to get in the vehicle and drive and therefore both took a chance at life. The DA was determined to give my husband the 75 months and if he didn’t take it then, 120 months. Because manslaughter falls under measure 11 my husband has to spend everyday of this 6 years 3 months behind bars with no chance of early release. He’s not a violent person, he has a drinking problem and had a year of sobriety before his sentencing. My husband now in his early 20′s won’t be released until he’s almost 30 and his first born child will be in school. This measure puts more stress and financial strain on families affected because the significant other is locked up for so long and once they’re released, they will have a difficult time finding a job. I have a hard time finding the fairness in this measure and the reason for judges if everyone is being sentenced and treated the same no matter what the crime or scenario.
kellie johnson dda in portland or,,is a measure 11 severe advocate ,,i am a white male almost 40 years old with no prior criminal,or arrest record,,and have been charged witth att,murder,asst 1,2,3,they are saying iam the leader of a mexican south side gang,,witch i am affiliated with but not as a leader or a gang member,,but as a friend,an x gangbanger who understands the feeling of no acceptance,,i have fed ,clothed,housed,some of thes young men,,and tried to show them right from wrong,,maybe not always the best role model,but always some one who they could depend on,,in the summer of 2008 i was involved by another member of a diffrent gang and was asked to drive some of his homies to a park for a bbq,and where someone in his gang was gonna get a tune up,,2 b checked for wrong doings,no weapons no hospitals,,no regrets,,so i did pick up and drop them off at the location,,having no involvement,,not touching,nor talking to the young man who was brutally beaten,along with one of the young men who had lived in my home,,was hit in the head with the wooden object and received 7 staples to his head,,i touched no one ,,would never had driven anyone to the park that day if i had known what they were gonna do to the victim,,for him i am very sorry,,for my wife and four kids i am sorry,,i am looking at min,,of 70months in prision for driving the victim to the park,,,please help and pray for my family,,we have over 20 wittesses my pi has interviewed,and says i amnot the one with the weapon or did i even touch the victim,,,70months,,u gotta love measure 11,,oh yeah my wife works for pps,,she is a lunchlady,,i work as a tree trimmer for power company,,and we donate time to our schools,,we are the bad people,,if u ask some of the portland polce and dda,are gangsters,,thanks for listening
#39 “me”:
Your message resonates with me the most. My husband also had a duii accident, which injured another drunk man who was riding a bicycle. Now I raise our 2 year old alone. We’re only one year into the 70 month sentence but I’m already so tired. I’ve been keeping a blog about this experience which has sparked widespread outrage by the urban Portland community, as well as the vindictive public attacks by “the authorities”–since apparently no one believes the impact on the offender’s family is valid or worth hearing. They’ve even gone so far as to blame me for the accident too, even though I was home with my infant daughter that night and had nothing to do with it. It’s the old “guilty by association” tactic. But I’m going to keep writing my blog, to give those of us affected by M11 a voice that is rarely heard.
YEA MY BOYFRIEND IS IN PRISON HERE IN OREGON AND I THINK THAT MEASURE 11 NEEDS TO STOP CAUSE HE REALLY DIDNT DO ANYTHING SO I REALLY NEED HIM TO COME HOME PLEASE SOMEONE HELP!!1
My fiance’ isnt perfect… but then who is?
He has his problems and one of the worst happens to be his alcoholism. That got him into trouble and he made a mistake and even acknowledges it!
With the help of the DA, who seems to have all the control, and the dead-beat state appointed attorney and because of measure 11, My fiance has to be apart from me and his new born baby boy for almost six years!
I miss you baby sooo much! We all make mistakes, its sad to see that the court couldnt address your addictions that caused you to be in this mess!
Wow…All these stories ring so close to home….
My husband was incarcerated in May of 2007 and has been sentenced to a 25 year sentence. We have been married 15 years, he has two small children and a wife that does nothing but love him day after day. He has never ever been in trouble by the law and now look his family has been torn apart…life is not the same. We only correspond by inmate email and letters along with the phone calls that come once a week to talk to his kids. I only get to go see him once every 6 months if I am lucky. We are your next door neighbors just an average middle class family who you would never think this would happen to. We had a successful family business, my husband was very involved with his kids and now we are so torn apart. I am waiting for the day he comes home so that we can regain our lives as husband and wife. We need to find a way to get rid of measure eleven so that the sentences can be revamped and the inmates that are in this currupt system can come home to their families and get the help that they really need.
Thanks to all who read my story…
My brother robbed a bank at age 16. My brother did a very bad thing however, being in prison for 7 years as a minimum will not rehabilitate or make him a better person down the road. Juveniles don’t need a prison atmosphere where they can pick up bad habits from other adult inmates in prison. The best way to deal with a child is to be strict and place them in an environment so they may receive therapy and be able to make a positive contribution to society. As for those over the age of 18, your an adult and upon reaching this age you should know that adult hood means responsibility for the things you do.
My problem with Measure 11 is this means my brother must remain in a prison and not be set to a juvenile facility where he belongs.To be rehabilitated, given therapy, and given the second chance as an adult.
It must be difficult for those that accept authority as justice rather then justice as the authority. I to am caught up in a measure 11 charge that I am taking to trial the 15th of this month after turning down a plea that was for 1/4 of the mandatory minimum. I’m scared for all the same reasons that everyone on here has described, there is no justice it’s just-us. My heart goes out to all involved in this hateful hurtful tool used against out community.
My husband was just convicted of a measure 11 crime. There was no physical evidence (he was accused of violently raping a 10-14 year old boy for years), there were no witnesses, no mandatory reporting of anything by and school officals, doctors or counselors. The only thing they had was the kids story. No evidence of any kind. The DA wanted to give him 40 years. The judge gave him 17. I don’t get it. My husband had no previous record of any kind. None. My husbands attorney showed reasons why the kid would lie and cause the charges against my husband. But still the judge gave him 17 years. All of the people that know and love my husband, including my children are stunned. No evidence.
Loving wife….did he do it?
It’s so sad that I have to wish my 17 year old son Happy Holidays on a website. “Happy Holidays Sam! I love you and miss you very, very much!” For almost 2 years he has been shuffled from one institution to another. I don’t know how many times I have visited only to find him with black eyes or bruises on his face or body. I don’t know who is doing this to him because he seems afraid to tell me. When I ask him, he always tells me,”I don’t want to talk about it.” Makes me wonder. M-11 has done nothing but create despair in a child who has had disabilities from the start- he never had a chance. M-11 is a set up for young kids with disabilities and mental health or emotional problems. I will never give up fighting for you Sam. M-11 is wrong and it is an abusive sentence placed on the shoulders of 15 yr old kids with disabilities- the system does not care nor do they take this into consideration. I visit my son and I see these young men who are locked up for such long periods of time. It’s a sad,sad situation. Maybe if the people of this state can see the reality of M-11 on a lot of these young kids- just maybe- Measure 11 wouldn’t be in existence.From what I have experienced along with my son, it is child abuse. The state has a definition for child abuse and they should follow those guidelines. Measure 11 shouldn’t overcome these guidelines or be an “exception” to the rule! The DA’s don’t care because they don’t have to see it. Why would the state want to spend the money punishing these kids so severely when for most mental health issues, therapy is more helpful and more worth the money in the long run? 70 months of incarceration is way too much for a kid of my son’s circumstance and many other youths- I am sure.The impact on the child, not to mention the families of these young kids is heartbreaking.Life just stops for these families.Measure 11 is one of the worst laws that has ever been put into effect. It “allows” the state to legally abuse kids who have disabilities because it does not take their circumstances or situations into consideration.Instead they lock the kids up for severly LONG, HARSH periods of time and many of these kids are from what is considered to be the vulnerable populations. There are many other ways to HELP thee kids -all Measure 11 does is HARM them. I really,truly feel for all of you who have a loved one locked up under M-11 sentencing guidelines.I know your pain. The hole in my heart is still there and it can’t or won’t heal until my son is home safely with his mother- where he belongs!
No, he didn’t. I know, I know, everybody says they’re innocent. But I know the accuser to be a liar about other things. I believe in a statement from someone he is/was close to, they said that he is known to lie or stretch the truth. I don’t remember the exact wording. But that never got to come out in court.
I’m so glad I ran across this website. I have had my world completely turned upside down since my 15 yr old son has been charged with a assualt 2 for something that was totally accidental. Right now we are in the fight of our lives to prove just that. There are days where I just feel we are not getting anywhere. Measure 11 is rediculous!!! If there was a way to get it removed from Oregon laws I would be right there to do so.
measure 11 is all about a bunch of leeches in our government. its a way to keep youth authorities…courts…police officers…..prison workers in jobs….its our government being able to lie and steal.
my son was only 13 years old….he was involved in fight… a boy larger and older than him was on top of him beating him up. 4 boys pulled the boy off of my son. the boy got a bloody nose in the process of being pulled off. the boys dad pressed charges. i was not allowed to talk to my son who was put in youth authority custody. a court appointed attorney told him to plead guilty or he would get bigger sentence……my son did and now has felony record from youth…i was not allowed to talk to my son or offer him advice before hand. ….now that’s plain kidnapping by the government…and as an adult if he defends himmself….they look back at the record from youth…..and he is presumed guilty….measure 11 allows our government to kidnap…steal…lie…get rich and get away with it….its absurd that people allow this………there are cannibals that have more dignity than this…
my husbands son sexually abused my daughter. he was 15 and is being tried as an adult under measure 11 but we haven’t gone to court yet. my daughters father just told me yesterday that he’s going to file a civil suit against my husband once this is over with since he is the parent of the abuser. can you sue the parent at the same time the minor is being tried as an adult?
I have a friend whose son was 14, tried and convicted as an adult and the parents still had to pay child support to the State….how about them apples?????
My husband is being charged with 3 measure 11 assaults, for simply defending himself from someone trying to pull him out of his car. Because oregon only has an equal force law, my husband is being charged. I would very much like to be notified of any news regading the repeal of measure 11. Thank you for your time
Holding on to Hope, I am praying for you and your son. It’s the best I can do. I truly feel what you are going through. My son has been locked up for 2 years or more now.He was 15 at the time–he will be 18 in June. Measure 11 is totally wrong for these kids- 15 yr olds are still children for God’s sakes! I will advocate for these kids for the rest of my life if that’s what it takes. It is child abuse-the state of Oregon has a definition for child abuse and Measure 11 falls under that definition-especially when they lock up 15 yr old kids for long periods of time.With my son, there was another boy involved. This boy started the conversation and talked my son into what happened. During the hearing, the DA anounced that this other boy was going to testify AGAINST MY SON! The DA said if my son did not take the plea bargain of 5 yrs & 10 mos then he could go to trial and face 13 yrs in prison-that’s messed up. Whenever I read the police reports I get so upset that this other kid would even have the nerve to try to testify against my son when this kid started it all to begin with. My son has mental health issues and is developmentally disabled-he also has an organic brain disease that will never heal. The DA or Judge never even looked into this and wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to let them know I had been attending therapy with my son for 7 yrs. All they cared about was a measure 11 conviction. I cannot stand to see my son in prison but its all I have. Its the only way I can see him. The family of the other kid- they could have stepped forward- they could have apologized but no- they didn’t care either. My son had been bulllied all his life because he is diferent than other kids so when this other kid came along all my son wanted was ACCEPTANCE from another kid. All the other family cared about was protecting their son- whom I had asked NOT TO COME ON MY PROPERTY in the first place so he had no business being here that day. He was hiding in my back yard so I didn’t even know he was there.If you want to email me Holding on to Hope, you have my permission. I know your pain – I am still going through it myself. Something has to be done about this dangerous law because it is causing too much harm to these kids. They need help-NOT HARSH LONG PRISON SENTENCES!!!!
You can email me at shoulder4support@gmail.com. Its an email I use so I can be a support to anyone if they want or need it.
Well in case anyone doesn’t know- there were 2 new pecedents set by the Supreme Court of Oregon last Sept or Oct. Ther were 2 cases that won their appeals. So if we want to work on appeals for our family members through the courts we have those 2 precedents. I think they decided that due to the Oregon Constitution’s stipulation that “the punishment cannot be disproportionate to the crime” these cases were appealed and won. We can use those,-we can read the text of Measure 11 and we can read the Oregon Constitution- which isn’t as long as some states’ constitutions. If any of you feel like your loved one’s rights were violated you can also look for the wording in the state constitution that shows rights were violated. I have been going to school and workin toweards trying to help my own son and this is the route I am taking. It may be a lot of work but it is the only way I see that I can do anything-because otherwise we seem to be powerlesss against this harmful law. There is hope – in that those are some of the things we can do to advocate for our kids and familly nmembers. I will advocate against Measure 11 until the day I die. I have worked with kids with behavioral issues and I am really concerned about this.
Whoops- I meant to put that on the MY STORY page
A young man, married with three children not yet teenagers faces 70 months (minimum) in prison because of an unjust system. His wife was brutally beaten by the “alleged victim” and the husband rushed to her defense. The “alleged victim” also assaulted his own wife. The married man did what any respectable husband would do and defended his wife and the wife of the “alleged victim”. End result, husband gets arrested and indicted with a single measure 11 crime. The “alleged victim” is alive and well and is only being investigated for his actions at this time. I guess physical and visible evidence of injury as a result of assault to the innocent wife is not enough to immediately arrest him. The husband has no criminal record, a loving father and husband who faces the gross un-American result of reckless laws. Oregon should be ashamed of itself as well as its lawmakers.
ANY ONE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR STORY WITH ME , PLEASE EMAIL ME AT pedrocer7@hotmail.com I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WRITTING A SECOND BOOK . MY FIRST IS READY FOR PREORDERING AND WILL BE RELEASED AND FORMALY PUBLISHED THIS YEAR. I AM COMPILING SOTIES FOR MY NEXT BOOK WHICH WILL FOCUS ON THE EFFECTS OF MEASURE 11 AND OTHER COOKIE CUTTER SENTENCING AND WHO IT MAKES US VICTOMS . IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS A GROUP. OF COARSE YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE YOUR REAL NAMES. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS LABOR OF LOVE, PLEASE EMAIL ME.
WHERE CAN WE GO TO GET THES INJUSTICES CHANGED?
I CAN TELL MY STORY, BUT REALLY WHAT I (AND YOU) WANT IS CHANGE!!
WHAT CAN WE DO? WHERE DO WE GO? WHO DO WE TALK TO?
WE NEED TO START MASS MAILINGS, OR PROTESTS OR SOMETHING!
LETS ORGANIZE OUR PAIN AND START A MONVEMENT FOR CHANGE!
SEND YOUR STORY TO ONE OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, AND SEE WHICH ONE WANTS TO CHANGE THE SENTANCING LAWS IN OREGON. THAT CANDIDATE WILL GET MY VOTE, AND MY FAMILIES VOTES AND MY FRIENDS VOTES.
Hello, my name is Ethan Soriano. I’m here to share my Measure 11 experince. On February 27, 2009, I stole some shoes for my sister because she had no shoes. The security guard attacked me and held me down untill the police arrived. Once the police came, they took me into custody and chrged me with Robberry 1, which carried a mandatory sentence for 90 months in state prison; I was 17 at the time. The police took me to Marion County Juvenile Detention and booked me. Two days later, the sheriff department came and schackled me up and transfered me to Marion County Correctional Facility. I was scared. I was only 17, and was beeing sent to an adult correctional facility. Once I arrived, The prison guards stripped searched me and told me to put on the jail’s uniform. I was then sent to P.C. ( Protective Custody) where all the sex offenders are incarcerated. I didn’t know what was going on I thought this was all a dream, I mean come on SHOES!? After being sent with all the sex offenders, I had to learn both prison politics and prison terminology. While in P.C., I had to deal with all these child molesters and their disgusting stories. It made me sick, how could anyone rape a child let alone a baby!!!! I was locked up with Russel Ros, the guy who raped his two year old daughter to death, and Brian Livingston, the Turner cop who raped young girls. I’ve seen, herd, and experince things that a 17 year old boy shouldn’t have to. I was there untill June 5, 2009 where I was forced to take a plea bargin. I had no idea how the justice system worked with D.A.s, Public Defenders, and what not. I now serve a 5 year Zero Tolerance probation sentence with 5 to 20 years over my head. How rediculous. I am currently enrolled in college to earn my Associated of Arts in Cognitive Psychology. I want to help men that are incarcerated cope with their time in prison. Also, I would like to be a D.A. so that the sex offeneders will never hurt another child again. But with this recent crime, I’m not even sure if I can pursue my dreams? Something has to happen, either Measure 11 be rewritten or abolished, but something has to happen. Kids that are innocent or not have to experince what I did. Which I don’t think it’s even necessary in the first place because after they’re done getting sentenced they are transferred to Mclaren’s Youth Correctional Facility, so there is no need for all that drama. Measure 11 is a good law for those who are really guilty of it and for sex offenders, but in most cases, it’s not like that at all. If a child or teen is really guilty then they should just stay in detention and not be psychologically or physically scarred. Some kids get raped or they commit suicide for being harrassed by men, and trust me these guys aren’t high school bullies. And some of these kids don’t have to pay for the rest of their lives because of one dumb mistake. Some of these kids will have to work at a cannery for the rest of their life or at Mcdonalds. I don’t even care if a Measure 11 stops me from my dreams because I will not stop untill I accomplish them. And if all else fails then at least I tried because I will not be a loser, I refuse to.
I’m looking for stories from victims of measure 11
I am 18 years old and writing a college argument research paper.
I am REFUTING Measure 11
So if anyone has the time to tell their stories and answer some questions please email me:kitty_kiyokawa32@yahoo.com.
Thank you.
my son did something very dumb and committed a robbery im not saying he is innocent but he has never been in any kind of trouble in his life he got with my nephew and they robbed a drug dealer it was very dumb thing to do but he got 70 months in prison for it i dont think 70 months is a fair sentence for someone who has never been in any kind of trouble so i understand how you all feel good luck to you all
Vicky
Back in 1999 or 2000, the constutionality of Measure 11 was upheld by the Oregon Supreme Court. Not sure exactly online where you could read the decision, but I am sure someone can help you find it
My son was in prison when I found out our about PAC-UP, a group of people that had loved ones incarcerated under Measure 11. that group actually got a repeal measure on the ballot. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of money….reform was shot down by 66% of the voters, in other words more people voted for mandatory minimums in 2000 than did in 1994 when Kevin Mannix, and Steve Doell got it passed the first time.
Victims of crime are a hard group to win an argument for repeal or even reform with.
I am not sure this is the forum to discuss these issues on, but possibly the webmaster can help us find a way.
The Supreme Court can upheld constitutionality of anything. I am sure if others in high positons were in the shoes of all of us- things would change. The problem is that people who do not experience the pain and suffering of Measure 11 do not realize how dangerous this law is- especiall to 15 year old kids with organic brain disease,developmental disabilities and mental health issues.Keeping them locked up all these years is not helping them it is harming them. When a child can be helped in less harmful ways but the system decides to use the most harmful way,that constitutes child abuse.It causes more harm to the child who is already emotionally disturbed.
I have spent over a month researching everything I could on Measure 11, and have read all of these stories posted on this website.
I wrote a month ago on a research argument report, and have learned a ton about our oregon justice system.
From reading each of the stories I have come to the conclusion that most of you guys are not necessarily upset with Measure 11 but instead upset with the unjust trails in court.
Most of the stories do not apply to Measure 11. Our Oregon justice system should cover circumstances such as, mental disabilities, robbery without weapons or threat(shoplifting), unproven sex offenses. Those are all cases dealing with the injustice in the courts not Measure 11 itself.
I am not defending Measure 11, just clarifying the issue here.
I wanted to give a thanks to everyone who responded to my comments, and was willing to share there story with me. I wanted to give a special thanks to Ethan Soriano, whose story I was able to use in my paper.
It is late and I am exhausted from crying non stop for the last 5 days. Someone very dear to me is facing a very long prison sentence under Measure 11. My life is in shambles, I have lost my best friend, 1/2 the income to our house hold, and may loose even more.
The person charged is a good and decent person who has no prior record, but made a mistake. He is aware of his mistake and willing to seek the help he needs. Measure 11 just throws people away with out looking at who the real person is. Measure 11 DESTROYS familes and makes VICTIMS of us, as we who remain on the “outside” are forced to pick up the shambles of our shattered lives. This is CRUEL and UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT to the innocent. Measure 11 needs to be amended or gotten rid of all together. I am tired of crying and my future looks bleek. Thanks Measure 11
The crying rarely stops, especially when justice does not prevail. My 20 year old son made a mistake at his fraternity’s Halloween party, in that he had so much to drink that he couldn’t recall his actions. During that time, a young lady (not necessarily the term I would prefer to use), who was also drunk and did not know my son prior to the evening, who sought out this party, hooked up with him passionately and later cried rape. The evidence did not support this, nor did statements from witnesses who saw them together behaving normally for two drunken college students. What got to the jury was the politically charged D.A. who turned my son’s trial into a game show, their own stupidity and prejudice for an out of state college student, and an alleged victim who was allowed in the courtroom during the entire trial to shed phony tears, change her story, and give testimony inconsistent with what she originally told police. She brought her friends into her plan as well, and all of their testimony was clearly scripted. The non-unanimous jury verdict (another horrible Oregon law) sent my son to prison for 100 months, followed by 12 years probation, as well as a life time of sex offender registration. During jury instructions, the law prevented them from hearing the term “Measure 11” let alone the
mandatory sentencing guidelines. It’s doubtful that many of them even connected their decision with the consequences. Following the trial, a juror even commented online that my son was not a
monster, yet it was apparent that he (or she) voted to convict. Now tell me, does the mandatory sentence fit a person described like that??
My son is a young man who was a stellar student, valued community member, from a family who has loved and embraced him his entire life, and is not at all a violent person, let alone a criminal. He had no prior record. Dozens upon dozens of friends, community members, teachers, coaches, fathers of girls ,neighbors, volunteered their support by writing letters exemplifying my son’s fine character, strong work ethic, and as a well- mannered young man with many attainable goals and a very kind heart. The D.A. read them and tossed them aside. My son was originally charged with four Measure 11 crimes, two of which (kidnapping) were dropped during trial because evidence did not support them. I’m sure that the judge valued her own career in a small college town by not dropping Rape and Sex Abuse, yet it was clear during the verdict reading that she too was surprised at the outcome. The entire courtroom was. Had it not been for Measure 11, which tied the judges hands, we can’t help but think that probation and an alcoholic treatment program would be handed down. Even so, my son was not guilty.
My son has spent the last 13 months locked up in a medium security prison in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it’s taken me that long to tell his story—that’s how devastating this has been. He’s
clogging the system along with other inmates with similar situations and stories. He’s surrounded by victims of Measure 11’s faults, plea bargains, and wrongful convictions like his. He’s appealing his case, is remaining empowered through work, physical activity, education, and creativity, and refuses to be taken down by a person who fabricated a story for her own personal gain. Even so, it’s not a lifestyle we would ever wish on our own worst enemies. We travel 800 miles every few weeks to see him in person in addition to hearing from him often. This is not the life he deserves. Measure 11 is destroying families in Oregon and beyond. This one-size-fits-all law does not work. If anything, for the sake of many, verdicts in such cases should be unanimous. My heart goes out to the juror that believed in my son, had reasonable doubt and voted not to convict. We know the truth, which will come out in retrial, and will always believe in our son’s innocence.
Did you know ………………………..that ODOC (Oregon Dept. of Corrections) evaluates each incoming prisoner and assigns them an ACRS (Automated Criminal Risk Score) which is a statistical calculation developed by ODOC research to predict an offenders risk of re-offending within 3 years of release. The lower the score the less likely to re-offend and be a threat to the community.
Did you know ……………….that inmates that have high ACRS are eligible to be released up to 30 months early if they complete the 6 month AIP program. Inmates with high ACRS are able to talk to counselors and have priority for referral to community programs.
Did you know ……………….that those with low ACRS are not allowed to enter into the AIP early release program, and do not have access to counselors or able to apply for special programs.
What’s wrong with this picture? Shouldn’t we be giving early release to those that will not be back in prison? Shouldn’t those that are not a threat to our community, (as per a government agency) be given access to community programs and counselors?
Did you know……………………..there is a total of approx. 14,000 prisoners in Oregon, and of those 14, 000, there are 8,000 prisoners with low ACRS and of those 8,000 there are 5,000 that were first offenders.
That’s 5,000 people that could be paying taxes instead of wasting tax money. The average prisoner costs $23,000 per year, which is $115 million a year that could be available to the schools. The very place we need to put money to keep the kids from becoming future prisoners. It’s called being proactive, instead of reactive. It is my personal opinion, that each one of these inmates needed a “time out”, and some kind of life changing action, and they could have gotten the “life- changing-time-out” they desperately needed, at treatment centers, not in a prison.
Did you know……………………..that ODOC has had an average of 70% compliance on their requirements to Measure 17 (Inmate Work Act requiring correctional institutions to actively engage inmates in full-time work or on-the-job training). This is due to overcrowding and the lack of jobs or educational programs.
I suggest that Oregon release the prisoners that have low ACRS and have done half of their sentence. This creates $115 million a year, along with the money that would have been used to build more prisons.
I suggest that Oregon give tax incentive to businesses to hire ex-prisoners. This creates more jobs, and more tax revenue.
I suggest putting this extra money into proactive programs in the schools, as it is cheaper, more advantageous and has a higher rate of return, then sending them to prison when they are older.
I suggest that Oregon starts an alternative incarceration program that works on the same principles as the Civilian Conservation Core. Instead of sending them to prison, they would be working on fixing and maintaining Oregon, while they get a “life-changing-time-out”, and all the while paying taxes.
MAKE SOME NOISE, CONTACT THE GOVERNOR, THE MAYOR, SOMEONE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO STOP DUMPING MONEY INTO PRISONS AND CONTAINING THOSE THAT MADE A ONE TIME MISTAKE.
TELL THEM YOU WANT YOUR TAX DOLLARS SPENT ON EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION. SAVE THE PRISONS FOR THOSE THAT JUST WON’T LEARN THEIR LESSON, OR ARE A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE NEED PRO-ACTIVE SCHOOLS NOT RE-ACTIVE PRISONS!
72. Catherine Kiyokawa – May 17, 2010 : Here is your response.
I at least am not a supporter of Measure 11. It limits how a judge can issue a sentence to the accused. You must not have understood the emotions behind some of these stories. It is painfully clear that a majority of these people are not happy with the law. Imagine if a person who committed a Measure 11 crime three times but years apart is sentenced to the minimum allowed by a judge. Now take a first time offender who gets the same exact amount of time, even if he has absolutely no criminal record. It does not make sense. Remember humans make mistakes!!!!! It is a common and proven story for a person to go into prison with no criminal background and come out a knowledgeable career criminal. Imagine your eighteen year old son, friend, cousin, brother, nephew or neighbor went to prison for 36 to 60 months. Imagine he has no criminal record, he was a good student with a bright future. Do you think after that long in prison for a first time offense he will come out the same person a rehabilitated person a better person. FUCK NO!!! If he survives he will be a person who learned to eat his food fast while watching his back. He will be a person who had to take a piss while someone stood guard. He hid his emotions until he forgot how to express them and only understood the dog eat dog mentality. Measure 11 is a lazy one track way of handling things. It may have sounded like a good idea to voters at the time as exploited by crooked bureaucrats but it has obvious flaws. The person to change this law has my vote.
Need to know if any of you have heard that Kevin Mannix’s nephew was charged with a measure 11 crime and all charges got dropped!? I heard this from someone doing time in the ODOC prison system for a measure 11 crime.
I have always wanted the best for my child,unfortunately as it is I am disabled and may never achieve a six-figure job so I can leave my child a good inheritance.Thank you Oregon and your Ballot Measure 11.In my weakened condition,I do not believe I will be able to survive the 70 month minatory sentence for what,even the investigators deemed as an accident. After the state of Oregon ‘s correction department effectively kills me my kid will be stinking RICH!!
Then where will Oregon get the money to protect the average citizen.
Job,
Can’t understand whether its you or your son that is in prison for a meaure 11. But just a note there is a thing in the ODOC by laws that is called Cost of Care for Incarceration. The ODOC can charge an inmate up to $55,000.00 per year for every year they are incarcerated! True story there was a woman at coffee creek whos mother left her with an estate. When she was released the ODOC took it and she had nothing. This has always been a part of the ODOC policy but until recently they have not had to use it, since their budjet shortfall due to all the prisoners locked up due to measure 11 mandatories!!!
can anyone tell me if there is movement for measure 11 to be put on a ballott to be over turned my son got measure 11 and for never being in trouble he got 5yrs 10 months for robbery so im hopping it gets over turned
My son is serving a 7 year 6 month sentence for a measure 11 crime. He was in an alcoholic blackout–the victim only had a cut lip, refused medical attention and could not identify my son as his assailant. Prior to this, my son according to the discovery was stopped 3 times by police who saw that he needed to be taken to the drunk tank, but instead was interrogated and then they say he attacked a man and violently hit the victim’s head on the pavement. My son remembers nothing, just waking up in the jail. He looked at his knuckles and there were no bruises. He made a mistake, he got so drunk he went into a black out, he needs help not prison but NOBODY LISTENED!!
First of all I truly feel for every one effected by Measure 11 and the Justice system. I realize right now my story is small compared to most but as I read I fear for what is ahead.
My son was a good high school student and went on to earn a basketball scholorship to local community college. One night is life took a huge turn for the worst. He was at a party and everyone was having a good time when a know trouble maker showed up. The trouble maker quickly began looking for a fight and targeted one of my sons friends. My son and his friends decided to leave the party when the trouble maker pursued them out the door, he pushed my son out of the way to go after his friend and my son struck him with a bottle. I do realize this was wrong and beleive some punishment was just. He was intially charge with a measure 11 offense with a mandatory sentence of 7 years. We hired an attorney and the crime was reduced to a 19 month sentence. Keep in mind he does not have a juvenile record or a any record for that matter he had never been in trouble before. He served 90 days and then has been in and out for various pv violations. My greatest fear his he is know in the system and the state and the county want him there. His latest PV was he was at work working for a local moving company and his supervisor was late getting back to the site where he was at. He ended up being 15 minutes late to his treatment program. He called several times to inform them but it did not matter. He is now serving 19 months at Powder River for being 15 minutes late to his treatment program. He was not sleeping, not doing drugs, not even playing basketball but he was working and had worked close to 80 hr in two weeks. His supervisor came to court but the judge had clearly made up his mind. His parole officer sat at the table and actually laughed as the judge sentenced him. His this the best use of tax dollors? I will be checking this site often. I pray that one day I can post that my son has beaten the system. Any advice someone can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Teresa,
Your Mannix story has circulated through the cells of Oregon prisons at least since 1999, the year my son went inside. Don’t believe everything you hear. A lot of the Inmates have nothing better to do than “spin yarns”
To You don’t get it Catherine….life isn’t fair, but what is worse than a measure 11 sentence is remaining a victim during and after release. You have to pull yourself up and take control of your life and actions. I have a “friend” that recently was released from prison….he had a sales job with in 2 weeks of his coming home. His comment was “I have to give them my best, they gave me a chance.” My son was able to start his own business, he is making a living, he is happy and a success. There is life after prison, BUT it’s up to you to find it, no one hands it to you on the day you get out. All they hand you is your belongings, a bag of condoms, an indigent pack and an Oregon Trail card with what ever money you saved while you were inside. Everything else it up to you….
Measure 11 is an unfair law, I don’t see any legislation to make changes to it. It was supported by 66% of the voters in 2000 when PAC-UP got it on the ballot for repeal. Oregonians want it, and I think it will be with us for a good long while. It is as strong as ever, no crack that I have heard of.
I have been where some of you are, it takes time to think through the circumstances your family member got you involved in. You need to support your person inside, but they need to figure out where they made their mistake and how they are going to change their life when they get home.
The PO is not your enemy, they are there to help BUT you can’t play games, break the rules and think you’re going to get away with it. You need to make up your mind to use that resource to help you, not be secretive and do what you want then hide it from your PO. They have job security without you going back inside…I don’t think you get many chances to mess up when you are on Post Prison Release.
Some of you might think some of my words are not very “warm and fuzzy” , this is a long tiring road, some friends and people don’t understand your feelings, your decisions….why you stick with your loved one, son, daughter, wife or husband inside. I understand, and I commend you, they need you to help them get strong and understand what they need to change when coming home. I encourage you to stay strong, move forward, and be there waiting at the gate on the day of their release….I check in here regularly, I have been active for M/11 change since 1999. I have volunteered at the Dome Building in Salem, collected 750 of the signatures to get M/11 on the ballot, an a member of FAMM and have shared whatever information I could to try to help family members waiting for their loved one…..I am on this site, reading info frequently, should you have questions I can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask. If I can lead you to your answer, I will be very happy to do so.
Z
David….my son was in Powder River for three years. It is a really good place for your son to do his time. We live in the Portland area and requested that our son go to PR from Two Rivers to do his minimum time. We drove 5 hours over to visit and 5 hours home every Saturday and we never missed a Saturday for 3 years. We were fortunate to be able to do that….God blessed us. While he was there, the inmates grew a huge garden for fresh veggies for the facility, they mow and work at the City golf course, they repair, paint and clean and do Christmas decorations in the City library. They put up fences, fight fires and clean camp grounds for the County for the benefit of hunters and vacationers then chop the wood they get in the parks etc. to deliver to the elderly and low income for heat in the winter, they shovel the sidewalks when it snows….the community is very accepting of the inmates and of the prison being there, and the inmates work for and in the community, it’s a win win. It is pretty far away, but I can’t think of a better prison to do time in. The guards are very respectful to both inmates and their visitors. Encourage your son to accept his sentence, there isn’t anything you/he can do about it. He needs to do his best, take all the classes they offer and the whole family should take this time to heal. He is safe and needs to work hard and improve himself. He can still go to Community College when he comes home, you can apply for a PELL Grant online for him….search F A S F A online, you can have every thing ready for him when he is released….and he can start to school the first day of the next semester. The people at the Community College are very helpful, just tell them he’s in prison and they will help you get everything in place, since he’s over 18, he will have to give you permission to do this for him, but that’s not a problem, the C College will tell you what they need. You don’t have to repay a Grant if your grades are…C or better, but check with admissions to make sure it’s a C. Before he gets out, get a certificate of incarceration…it makes things so much easier. And he can sign up for food stamps to help with costs at home……Don’t be a victim, he has already lost time….he can’t afford to lose more time complaining about the system….he’ll be fine….make the best of it, it could be a whole lot worse…..
My ex husband tried to rape me in my own bed. I told him to leave me alone and did so in front of the cops. About a month later he tried to rape me in my own bed at 11 o’clock at night. They said I could go to trial, a attempted rape is a he said – she said sort of thing. A cut and blood is obvious. I plead guilty to a misdemeanor and went to jail for 30 days.
I don’t understand, who plead and who went to Jail? Whose blood was obvious….
Id never hire a felon. Too many liabilities!
Fortunately, 21st Century Black Man, not every one is like you.
My daughter is in prison under measure 11.She has no criminal history ( 40 years old ) Robbery m11 sentence 70 months, but she received 280 months!!!!!!!! that is almost 15 years ! Why, such a huge sentence? I believe it was personal. She is an alcoholic and was drunk and biligerant when arrested. She and her husband got drunk and robbed a bank. They gave her 70 months for each teller in the bank ( 4) .It is unbelievable to me that they could do such a thing, but they did. She has been in almost 7 years so far.Tell me how this is justice? Tell me how this is protecting the people. This was totally out of character for her. Her children were put into the system and that has been a nightmare in itself. Her husband received almost 35 years,he is 51 years old. I can not even begin to tell you what a heartbreaking nightmare this has been for our family. You taxpayer dollars at work.
Do not forget, felons CAN vote in all Oregon elections. They CANNOT vote in a federal election such as for the President, etc. Get them registered….you can do that at DMV….and get them to vote. We can’t depend on every one else to help us….we have to help ourselves.
im facing a measure 11 crime charge I definatly did not do . I used a gun against 5 harded felons who jumped me on my way home on a one lane country road. the attackers tried to pull me out of my vehicle and would have probably killed me .yet I have a perfect record I was charged now after 35000 dollars Im out of money and have to consider a plea. the measure 11 gives the corrupt Jackson county DA Mark Huddlseson the leverage to force his will. I did nothing illegal that night but trie to protect my life and get back to my family. Where is the justice ..no where just a way for lawyers to make a killing and bleed us down…. I think its time for measure 11 to be repealled and bring back comon sence back to oregon.
Ask your attny if he will take your case as a court appointed attny. Since you have paid him that money, he might consider it.
Zoraida
I was wondering if you thought it was right for them to be able to charge children as adults?
Because after reading everything you’ve written. I must say that yes life isn’t fair but our life as adults is much more complicated for children to comprehend and for us to push our rules on them when they don’t even know that measure 11 exists and what it could do to them.
They are going to make mistakes and thats when they learn and to throw them in prison and then make them wear it when they get out is not just, and that is something us as adults have power to control. We should take charge of our kids (0-18) actions and punish accordingly, not the state.
Not only is the frontal lobe not fully developed, but they are prone to making bad decisions. That is what is not right.
It’s not about being a victim of the charge it’s the fact that they are even charged by the state. I would rather lose my hand for stealing than losing 7 years of relationships with family and friends. Then after you get out yes their are strong ones who get past it. I was one of them, But one size does not fit all and that is why we got to get rid of it. Because life isn’t fair but this is our world and we allow everything to happen because we don’t stand up for what is right.
You said that oregon wants measure 11, that is until they feel the effects of it’s punch.
Terran:
I suppose it depends on the crime. Measure 11 deals with violent crimes, not just everyday stuff, mistakes as you call them.
If a younger person kills my son, or if a 40 year old kills my son…my son is just as dead and whomever kills him should get the same amount of punishment. I cannot think of any grounds for a “aggravated” plea for someone that age. They can’t own guns, they can’t drive a car, what they do and where they go should be totally under the control of their parents, that’s our job….who should be held accountable. Same goes for rape. Now assault, certain kidnapping charges, girl friend boy friend sex stuff, child sex abuse at the hands of a parent brought to light during a divorce….the DA dramatizes and twists those charges to such an extreme, I think that is a travesty of the law and a total waste of tax payers money.
Your question boarders on the same thing non-boundaries as measure 11, what you want to get rid of. Each crime should be looked at separately, BUT just because someone is young, and made a “mistake” has no bearing with me. If you don’t want to do the time, don’t do the crime. Remember Measure 11 deals with VIOLENT crimes. If you are violent at these young ages and get away with it with a slap on the wrist….what are we in for later in that youngsters life?
I believe a lot of the problem with younger kids getting into trouble is their parents are so busy trying to put food on the table and clothes on their kids back, they don’t have time to parent. And we as a society have lost RESPECT for most everything. Respect helps keep you from making mistakes at any age. I think it’s time we stop making excuses for people, suck it up, do our time, get out and make a life for ourselves….if we keep going back inside, we just prove that the People of Oregon are correct with their voting for longer sentencing.
What is everyone doing to keep Mannix’ new measures from getting passed?
I hope I haven’t offended anyone on this board, if so either think about what I said and find a possibility that I am accurate or tell me how I an wrong.
I am a 34 yr old single parent of 3,I have been a faithful great dad since 16 yrs old. I am now faceing a measure 11 crime ,after two men came to my residents with fire arms and intemidated me and my children.. I did what i thought was right and got my children away from the situation and took these people where they wanted to go. I knew of rumors of these men robbing, stealing and of being in prison.. so i was concerned and scared they commited a serious crime when i took them where they wanted to go. Now im faceing there crime.. while they run free bragging of setting me up… I live in a small town and every one knows the truth of my innocents including the man who was perpatrated. but even though ive never been in trouble with the law and i told the truth i still face this crime not belonging to me… I am scared now as much as i was that night but of our justice system not of the criminals.. Ive lost every thing but my children,my buissness my tools were stolen,my cars were stolen every thing i worked hard for over a ten year period all gone. After playing musical court apointed attorneys i got one after being incarerated for twenty some days .. After bail im now broke with a deal pushing incompetent attorney facing a impossible measure 11 case god help and i pray for any one in a simular possition. THIS IS THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH IN MY LIFE!!!! Please pray for my children and my self and hope for a jury to find me innocent for my childrens sake…..
So Billy….do you know where you made errors in judgment? How would you handle this exact same situation now?