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Photo courtesy of the Statesman Journal.
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Mill Creek Inmates Give Back
When you think of typical inmate jobs, things usually come to mind like kitchen work, road crews, and perhaps laundry services. But for 10 inmates from Mill Creek Correctional Facility in Salem, their work assignment on Monday was to move a 27-foot-tall noble fir to the Capitol.
Although the tree is a little shorter than in previous years, and despite one limb being broken off during transport, the tree successfully made it to the Capitol rotunda.
After the 10-man inmate crew (along with other state workers) delivered the tree, volunteers who are retirees from the Local 280 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers strung lights and hung ornaments.
The tree, cut Thursday from the Tillamook State Forest, will serve as the centerpiece for the Capitol’s annual holiday celebration.
The official lighting ceremony will take place on December 1st. After that, school choirs and other groups will perform music at scheduled times up until December 23rd.
The Oregon Department of Corrections recognizes that meaningful work is known to contribute to the success of offenders upon release.
“We are proud that these inmates were able to contribute to this Salem holiday tradition; it allows inmates to give back to the community by providing a valuable service. Opportunities such as these reinforce the Oregon Accountability Model, which can ultimately lead to successful transitions from prison to home,” said Max Williams, DOC Director.
Click here to learn more about the Oregon Accountability Model
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