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Articles by Mark Wilson

Oregon Suspends Outside Prisoner Work Crews After Prisoner Escape Sparks International Incident

by Mark Wilson

On September 22, 2021 Oregon prison officials suspended outside prisoner work crews “in order to review any potential changes following a walk away earlier this year” according to an internal memo sent by Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) Director Colette Peters and Deputy Director Heidi Steward.

The pause comes in the wake of a high-profile international incident. Fourteen-time felon, Jedaiah Lunn, 36, was incarcerated at the South Fork Forest Camp, a 200-bed minimum-security prison on the Oregon coast operated by ODOC and the Oregon Department of Forestry. While on a work crew at the Gales Creek Campground on April 14, 2021, Lunn walked away, accosted two women who are Japanese nationals, brutally beating them with a large stick, and severely injuring both of them. He then stole their car. Later that day he was caught and arrested. Lunn faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree robbery and escape. 

The incident prompted angry Japanese government officials to write Oregon Governor Kate Brown demanding answers. After taking several months to respond, Brown initially stood by the program. The Forest Camp has “largely been successful” Brown wrote to a Japanese diplomat.

Of course, the program’s success was little ...

No Qualified Immunity for Oregon Prison Officials’ COVID-19 Response; Class Certified

Sixth Circuit Refuses to Extend Bivens to BOP Prisoner’s First Amendment Claims

Federal prisoner Scott Callahan is incarcerated at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, ...

BOP’s Terminal Island Response Sparked COVID-19 Spread

California Prison Factories Fined For Exposing Unwitting Workers to COVID-19

"Conservative New York County Enacts Progressive Transgender Prisoner Policy"

The ...

Democrat Controlled Legislature Introduces Two Bills to Abolish Oregon’s 164-Year Old Felon Disenfranchisement Law

by Mark Wilson

“Individuals who commit crimes need to be held accountable, but they should not be stripped of their rights as a citizen,” said Oregon state Senator Floyd Prozanski, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, whose committee is considering one of two bills to eliminate Oregon’s 164-year prohibition on ...

Oregon Prison Staff Said to Contribute to High Prisoner COVID-19 Infection, Death Rates

by Mark Wilson

 

With 3,392 (28.1%) of 12,073 prisoners infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) and 42 prisoner deaths - 20 deaths occurring in January 2021 alone — Oregon prisoners are being infected at nearly 10 times higher than Oregon’s 3.1% general public infection rate and they are dying at a ...

Federal Judge Orders COVID-19 Vaccinations for 12,000-Plus Oregon Prisoners

by Mark Wilson

 

“Our constitutional rights are not suspended during a crisis. On the contrary, during difficult times we must remain the most vigilant to protect the constitutional rights of the powerless,” declared U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman in issuing a preliminary injunction, directing Oregon prison officials to ...

Nearly Killed by Dehumanizing Culture of Indifference, Oregon Prisoner Sues for $975,000