1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

The Oregon Department of Corrections is horrifically neglecting the conditions of the Deer Ridge Correctional Facility near Madras in the face of the Cram fire, and subjecting inmates to unnecessary smoke inhalation risks, as well as apparently lying regarding intent to evacuate the facility when no efforts have been made to do so, and neglecting to even use their own inmates trained in firefighting techniques to help establish safeguards to defend the correctional facility. These inmates have already been processed by our justice system and are serving out their punishment, and to allow inhumane conditions such as this threatens to make their their punishment cruel and unusual, a violation of their basic civil liberties. Please act swiftly to direct the Department of Corrections to rectify the situation at Deer Ridge, and ensure inmate health and safety in the face of this fire.