After 26 Years of Incarceration: Barb’s Story

Interview by Patty Katz

As the director of PSJ’s Beyond Barriers Program, Patty Katz works toward dismantling the barriers people face to become successful and productive members of society. This is the first in a series of Patty’s interviews about one person’s challenges after leaving prison. We hope the series will give you a glimpse of the barriers people face reentering our communities.

In January of 1983:

• The Internet is born.
•  “Crack” cocaine is developed in the Bahamas and soon appears in the United States.
• The Washington Redskins defeat the Miami Dolphins, 27-17, in Super Bowl XVII, winning their first NFL championship since 1942.
• Barb is arrested and will spend the next 26 years in prison.

Justice Matters (JM):  When did you enter the correctional system?

Barb (B):  My arrest occurred on January 17, 1983; I stayed until January 16, 2009.

JM:  Was it your first time in the criminal justice system?

B:  Yes, I had never been in trouble before.

JM:  How long were you in prison?

B:  One day shy of 26 years. I was granted parole on July 22 and got to leave on January 16.

JM:  What types of programs or classes were available to you in prison?

B:  At that time, I was able to attend college and earn a degree. I completed a drug and alcohol workshop, Pathfinders and Breaking Barriers. Life Track trained me to talk to people on their “last chance” before being sentenced to prison. I completed anger management and domestic violence programs, along with cognitive behavior classes and another program called “Many Roads, One Journey.”

JM:  What was it like in the months between when you were granted parole and when you were released?

B:  Nerve wracking – I couldn’t concentrate. It was hard to sleep. I wasn’t afraid of being in prison; my fear came on release day – walking out without shackles, having only one officer walk to me the gate…as the gate opened, my stomach started getting all kinds of butterflies. I had made a lot of friends I didn’t want to leave behind. I don’t know how to hang around people in the real world.

JM:  Talk about the re-entry help you received in prison.

B:  There really was none. I submitted a communications request to a transition counselor, and my request was ignored until it was too late for me to attend the transition classes. I did attend a 45-minute class where we talked about when to contact your parole officer (PO) and how to get along with your PO. We learned we were required to look for work or attend school and advised to get acquainted with the area we were moving into – learn the bus system, where the grocery stores were, things like that.

JM:  What were your housing plans for your release?

B:  I thought I would go to my mom’s, but her address was denied and I didn’t know what to do. I kept applying and getting denied because of my charges. Finally, there was one short-term housing opportunity, and I was able to go there for three months.

JM:  Tell me about your first day out.

B:  The first real restaurant I ate at was Marie Calendars. I was shocked at the prices. The selections were overwhelming, so I just got lasagna and my sister got chicken fettuccini and we split each of them so I could try both. I was not used to food being hot, so I burned my mouth. I didn’t know how to use a knife, so that took a bit of getting used to. 

JM:  What are some of the biggest barriers you are facing?

B:  Public transportation and employment. I had never ridden a bus, so it was very confusing. I fell on the steps of the bus my first time on, and that was embarrassing. A woman where I lived helped me by explaining the schedule and which bus I needed.

JM:  Employment? Did you work in prison?

B:  Yes, I had a job most of the 26 years I was incarcerated. I worked in the kitchen and in the recreation department. My first real job in prison was with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). DMV came to Oregon Women’s Correctional Facility (OWCC) in August of 1987. I worked there until 1993.

JM:  What did you do for DMV?

B:  When people call DMV, they often speak to someone from the prison. I answered questions about different classes of driver’s licenses and different fees for services, things like that. My next position was with the Secretary of State’s Office; I worked there for a year.

JM:  What did you do for the Secretary of State?

B:  I walked people through the process of setting up a business. I did a lot of data entry. After we got that up and running, I started working for Tourism.

JM:  What does that mean; did you give guided tours through the prison?

B:  (Laughs) NO! I answered phones and talked to folks about vacation opportunities in Oregon. I mailed brochures, sorted and processed the mailings…and more data entry. In 1994, I went back to work for DMV and worked there until I left prison.

JM:  With all of that work history, I’ll bet you have had no problems getting a job.

B:  Well, actually employment has been my greatest obstacle. I put in at least ten applications five days per week. Most of the applications ask the question, “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”

JM:  How do you answer that?

B:  I say “yes” and then write “I would like the chance to talk about that in an interview.”

JM:  How many interviews do you get after submitting 50 applications per week?

B:  I have not had a single interview. No one has given me the chance to discuss that question.

JM:  How many job applications ask the question, “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”

B:  This is only a guess, but I think about 90% of the applications ask that question.

JM:  It seems incredulous to me that you are not able to transfer the skills you acquired during 20 years of work at the DMV. Can you work for DMV on the outside?  

B:  I could work for Department of Motor Vehicles in Salem, at the main office, but there is a hiring freeze, and that opportunity is not available at this time. I have researched how I would get there, and there is an opportunity to carpool from Eugene to Salem. I am ready to work for DMV, get a wage that would support me and get benefits. I have health issues that need to be addressed, and I don’t have health insurance.

It is discouraging to turn in 50 applications each week and not get a single call back. Right now, I am looking for any kind of employment.

Story Update: Barb got a job at the end of April. She has also met with a re-entry counselor and will be joining a group for additional support. Keep Barb in your thoughts and look for the next interview in our next issue.

This interview was originally published in the Spring 2009 issue of Justice Matters.