Prison Activism Now: Oregon CURE

Oregon CURE is a chapter of International CURE (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants) founded in 1975 in San Antonio, Texas by Charlie and Pauline Sullivan. Oregon has had a CURE chapter since 1991 and now has approximately 400 members across the state. Oregon CURE works to reduce crime by advocating for effective criminal justice policies and practices. For example, Oregon CURE encourages a pro-family policy throughout Oregon’s prison system,

Background: Oregon CURE is a chapter of International CURE (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants) founded in 1975 in San Antonio, Texas by Charlie and Pauline Sullivan. Oregon has had a CURE chapter since 1991 and now has approximately 400 members across the state. Oregon CURE works to reduce crime by advocating for effective criminal justice policies and practices. For example, Oregon CURE encourages a pro-family policy throughout Oregon’s prison system, in part because of the connection between family contact during incarceration and successful re-entry into the community by people leaving prison.
 
In 2005: Oregon CURE was one of many Oregon groups involved at the legislative level to help legislators see the impact of corrections policy on community safety. Oregon CURE members wrote letters to legislators, participated in one-on-one meetings, and provided legislative testimony. This was part of a successful effort to stop new mandatory minimum sentences from being enacted, and part of an unsuccessful effort to stop Oregon from committing to yet another prison. As part of their ongoing support for family members of prisoners, they held monthly orientations for new family members of prisoners, and monthly support groups for family and friends of prisoners. Approximately 50 people attended support groups and orientations this year through Oregon CURE.

To learn more about CURE, visit www.oregoncure.org.

This profile originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2005 Justice Matters.