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On September 13, 2019, at approximately 11:00 a.m., the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) mail room reported receiving an envelope with an unknown substance. The mail room, which is in a small building outside of the main Penitentiary, was secured and evacuated. As a precaution, one mail room employee was taken to the local hospital. The Oregon State Police were onsite, and the Salem Fire Department cleared the building as safe for employees to return to work.
On September 11, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) also received an envelope with an unknown substance. The administration building was evacuated, and four employees were decontaminated and transported to a local hospital. The CCCF incident is still under criminal investigation.
At this time, these two incidents do not appear to be related. The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) is working with its law enforcement partners to determine next steps. More details will be released when available.
DOC’s 14 institutions receive thousands of pieces of mail every day. Each piece is opened and reviewed by DOC mail room employees.
OSP is a multi-custody prison located in Salem that houses over 2,000 adults in custody. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including death row, disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon’s only prison.
On September 11, 2019, at 8:25 a.m., the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) mail room reported receiving an envelope with an unknown white powdery substance. The mail room area was secured and the administration building evacuated.
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Hazardous Materials Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are on site to evaluate the powder for any hazardous substances. Four employees were decontaminated and transported to a local hospital with minor symptoms.
More details will be released when available.
CCCF is a multi-custody prison located in Wilsonville accommodating 1,260 adults in custody. The prison has cell and dormitory housing, work programs, skills training, treatment programs, health services, religious services, physical plant, a central records unit, and administrative areas. CCCF participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises, including a contact center, auto CAD, and document scanning. In addition, CCCF houses the state’s intake center, which provides intake and evaluation of all individuals committed to state custody by the courts. The intake center houses approximately 400 adults in custody. CCCF’s minimum facility opened in 2001, and the medium facility opened in 2002.
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An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Donald Miller, died August 21, 2019. Miller was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary and passed away in the Infirmary while on hospice. As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified.
Miller entered DOC custody on June 5, 2012, from Multnomah County with an earliest release date of June 7, 2021. Miller was 71 years old. Next of kin has been notified.
DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of 14,700 individuals who are incarcerated in 14 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.
OSP is a multi-custody prison located in Salem that houses over 2,000 individuals. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including death row, disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon’s only prison.
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