Please comment by May 24th to support ODOC rulechange

Here's a sample letter that people can modify - remember these letters
have to be received by Monday May 26th so they should be in the mail by
Saturday May 24th, which is just a week from this coming Saturday. If you
don't have a stamp or time, please just email your letter to
pdxbookstoprisoners@riseup.net, (including a return address) and we'll be
happy to print your letter and send it off for you.

This rule change is going to make it a whole lot easier to get books into
Oregon prisons, and with the recent extreme media mail rate increases,
it's pretty much the only way our projects can continue to realistically
serve people who are incarcerated in Oregon.

Please write your letter today!

SAMPLE LETTER:

Birdie Worley
ODOC Rules Coordinator
2575 Center St NE
Salem OR 97301 May 12 2008

Dear Ms. Worley,

I am writing in regards to the proposed changes to mail rules to allow
prisoners to receive used books (OAR 291-131-0025).

I fully support this change because I feel that prisoners are under -
served in many ways by not having access to used books.

The new rule will help all prisoners have greater access to books and
educational materials to learn from.

I also feel it's important because indigent prisoners are currently at a
disadvantage in acquiring books, and allowing used books into Oregon
prisons will make it easier to get books at a lesser cost.

Thank you for addressing this issue.

Signed,

--------------------------- Original Message----------------------------
Subject: [freejeffluers] Your input is needed
From:    info@freejeffluers.org
date:    Tue, May 13, 2008 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
We have just been informed of a proposed rule change for the Oregon
Department of Corrections (DOC) that we are actually in support of! The DOC is
proposing to allow prisoners in Oregon to receive USED books. (Currently they can
only receive NEW books).  This is great news for prisoners and the
environment. The DOC will take public comments on the proposal until May 26.
We are asking everyone to contact the DOC to express your support of this rule
change by the deadline of May 26. Please send your supportive and polite
comments to:
Birdie Worley
Department of Corrections
2575 Center St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-4667
phone: (503) 945-0933
email: birdie.worley@state.or.us
To view the proposed rule change, go to:
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/0508_Bulletin/0508_rulemaking_bulletin.html
(scroll down to “Department of Corrections” – it is alphabetical)
Rule Caption: Incoming Mail Services for Inmates Incarcerated in
Department of
Corrections Facilities.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 179.040, 423.020, 423.030 & 423.075
Stats. Implemented: ORS 179.040, 423.020, 423.030 & 423.075
Proposed Amendments: 291-131-0025
Last Date for Comment: 5-26-08
Summary: This proposed amendment will permit inmates incarcerated in
Department of Corrections facilities to receive used books through the inmate mail
system. Rules Coordinator: Janet R. Worley
Address: Department of Corrections, 2575 Center St. NE, Salem, OR
97301-4667
Telephone: (503) 945-0933
Thank you for your support!
-Friends of Jeffrey Free Luers
http://freejeffluers.org
Please donate: http://freejeffluers.org/donate.html
info@freejeffluers.org