11/25/2025
Tags: InMyOwnWords
Leo R. - Second Chances
Should we offer more opportunities (second chances) for adults who're incarcerated within Oregon's Department of Corrections (ODOC), to aid them with achieving a successful transformation? I believe offering more second chances to incarcerated adults who've shown inexorable efforts, devotion, and seriousness towards their rehabilitation, can be the remedy of putting a stop to the cycle of recidivism, in which can help eliminate the mass incarceration problem that we face today in Oregon's criminal justice system. For example, Oregon disburses $51,417 annually for housing an incarcerated person per year (Tamir).To exemplify an easier understanding on how much is being misspent each year to house Oregon prisoners, there are 12,518 (man and woman) adults within all Oregon State Prisons; so, if we multiply that number with the annual cost to house a prisoner ($51,417), the total amount that Oregon spends each year is $643,638,006 (more or less). Therefore, if we offer more opportunities like a helping hand to prisoners, it can help reduce the recidivism rates and raise the chances reform; furthermore, Oregonians can use this money instead, for more urgent matters, such as ending the homeless epidemic, fentanyl crisis, or improving our local schools to make our communities a better place for all citizens.
Although, some Oregon prisoners would say that our prison system doesn't offer any opportunities to oneself, in regards with prison reform, change, or self-betterment; however, I'd voice differently in some regards, because from my own personal experience, I've had a second chance of an opportunity that was granted to me by the aid of a complete stranger (Melanie Doolin), in which has helped me change my life, and it all started with a child's game of “Rock, Paper, and Scissors".
"My Story"
My name is Leonardo, I'm currently serving 80 months in ODOC for the irresponsibility of decisions, I made on the night of August 20th, 2022; namely, falling asleep behind the wheel, while I was under the influence which led to a dangerous car crash that injured an innocent bystander, but also the death of my passenger. Fundamentally, I'm heavily indebted to those I've caused harm directly or indirectly, including my community, and I'm exceptionally remorseful and apologetic for everything I've done. By extension, I've taken the highest regard of accountability and responsibility for my mistakes and errors that led to my incarceration, and since then, I've acted with prudent steps and efforts to reconcile with my society.Re-entering prison after only being free for 19 months had a devastating blow, due to the fact that I obviously failed horribly with reform. I became a part of the statistics of the high rates of recidivism that we face today, in Oregon (recidivism rate 24.6%) (Budke). After I was brought back to prison, I was sent to Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI) which is in Pendleton, Oregon to serve my sentence. Due to my past, in which I come from a long stemming history of ex-gang involvement, EOCI was the only facility that I was able to serve my sentence with safety, so I wouldn't be targeted or assaulted by other active gang-members, due to being an ex-gang member.
The far distance away from my fiancé, kids, family, and friends had major challenges with my support system and my mental state. Consequently, the only methods of communication were through phone services (which cost $2.80 for a 30-minute call) or hand-written letters. I started working for Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE) call center in the beginning of 2024, to be able to provide for my own necessities to become self-sufficient. My job description at the call center consisted of making cold calls to people across America, in hopes of assisting them with a debt relief program, for those who're struggling with some form of debt, such as credit card, personal loans, medical, or taxes. After working for several months for OCE, it_ became a normality of being rewarded monthly with special food feeds because we reached our goal for our monthly work quota at the end of each month.
However, on a particular day in the beginning of March of 2024, it'd become a special day for me because I'd meet someone that would change my life for the greater good in the upcoming future. On this day, we were going to be receiving donuts as an appreciation for all employees who worked at the call center. Within seconds, the excitement escalated amongst all the donut lovers, including myself, because to be treated in prison with this kind of delicacy (donuts) isn't a day-to-day occurrence. Shortly after finishing eating my fair share of maple bars, I saw the lady with the fancy suit (who brought us the donuts) walking by, as she was carrying a box of leftover donuts in her arms. So, I immediately stopped her and asked if I could get an extra donut. She replied, "I'm so sorry, but unfortunately, there isn't enough for everybody to get extras or I'd."
But I wasn't going to give up that easily for an extra donut, so I replied with, "How about we play the best two out of three in a game of 'Rock, Paper, and Scissors', and if I win, then I get an extra donut, but if I lose, then I get nothing?" Surprisingly, she agreed to these terms, and after playing an intense game, I ended up winning. Therefore, I got to enjoy my third scrumptious maple bar of the day.
Two months later, I finally saw the lady again and after saying our hellos, I finally asked her if she wanted a rematch but this time, we're going to be playing for three questions instead. She agrees, but this go-around, I end up losing the bet; however, she still allowed me to ask my three questions, which consisted of: "What is your name?" and "What is your job title?" After she told me her name was Melanie Doolin and that she is the director for OCE, I asked my third question, "What made you want to become the director?" She shared with me that she believed in giving second chances to adults who're incarcerated, by offering them support, job placement, work experience, and vocational training in which can help them have a successful rehabilitation during their incarceration; furthermore, have a positive re-entry back into society after their release.
Her answer to my last question really hits home, because I felt the depth of her purpose to want to help others, who're less fortunate with opportunities like me. Next thing I know, I started sharing my personal testimony on the reason why I came back to prison, the length of my sentence, how my crime has affected me, and the plan of actions that I've taken to work towards my reform and accountability. In addition, I also shared my experience in prison witnessing the sad reality on the way that majority of people serve their time, by occupying themselves with insignificant affairs, such as: watching excessive TV, engaging in prison/gang politics, tattooing, substance use, or sleeping their time away, which has no favorable benefits or profits towards a person's self-improvement or change.
As a result, this made me reflect to my old self, because sorry to say, I use to be one of those individuals who wasted many years in segregation (during my first imprisonment), due to my misconduct behaviors, actions, or years of useless gang activity. This time around, I had an urgency to approach my rehabilitation differently than ever before, so I can achieve positive results with great endings of a successful transformation as I serve my second adult incarceration because I didn't want to come back again.
At the end of our 15-minute talk, she offered me a job opportunity in Salem, Oregon, where I'd be working at OCE Forge, as a metal fabricator to learn how to weld, fabricate, build commercial trucks, customize Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) vehicles, and a few other things. I'd have to relocate to another prison that is less restricted with security clearance and has a lower custody level; because, I'll have to be gate cleared (which means I can leave the perimeter of the facility and be within the local community), due to my job being located 15 minutes away from the prison. This opportunity felt too good to be true, because during this time in my sentence, I was still struggling severely with self-guilt, shame, and self-worthiness because of my actions that led me back to prison.
This moment felt like a scene out of the TV show "Undercover Boss", when at the end of each episode, the undercover boss of the company reveals herself/himself to the employee and changes their lives with a reward or promotion because they've been working hard to better themselves or their personal story has touched them.
"My Journey"
I came to Santiam in early May of 2024 (with 5 years left on my sentence) with no experience working on tow-trucks, fabricating, or knowledge of tools. I knew that I was going to struggle, but with strong determination, commitment, dedication, and ambition nothing was going to stop me from learning or achieving success. I've lost count of how many times I've failed in the past, so this time around, the only option was to persevere with excellence and succeed in my journey of rehabilitation.
Since I started working for OCE Forge, I get to leave the prison Monday through Friday, from 6:45 A.M. to 1:45 P.M. to work at a local shop in the community. I'm a part of a four-man team, in which we specialize, in assembling commercial tow-trucks with row beds from start to finish for a private company. For example, at the beginning of each build, we start with installing the electrical wiring systems and electrical wires, relay modules, circuit breakers, fuse blocks, Power Take Off (PTO), hydraulic tank and hydraulic lines, row bed, hydraulic cylinders, pylon, air compressor and air lines, tool boxes, lights (strobes, ICC lights, Marker lights, left aud right turn lights, work lights, LED lights, aud light bar), front and rear jumps, j-boxes, and lastly connecting the winch. It takes our team roughly about two to three weeks (give-or-take) to complete each project from beginning to finish. These tow trucks are sold to customers throughout the nation with special customization for each build, to customer wants, needs, or preferences.
As a result, to being transfer to this minimum-security prison for my work, I've also been taking advantage of other opportunities that SCI has to offer, such as: I'm able to get visits from my fiancé and kids weekly or biweekly, I'm currently enrolled at Chemeketa Community College to obtain my Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree, in which I'm on track to obtain in 2026, and currently have 38 college credits with a 4.0 GPA (when I came to prison, I had an illiterate level of education). I'm also a part of a club (Homeward Bound Club) at my facility that facilitates special institutional family events or fundraisers, in which we donate a percentage of fund raise money to several non-profit organizations or charities. I've also participated in over 31 independent/group self-help programs or studies.
I'm actively involved with Alcoholics Anonymous at my facility (36 months sober and clean). On May 17th of this year, I was a guest speaker for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at my facility, in which I spoke in front of well over 125 adults (Adults in Custody, family-members, and friends) about the importance of suicide awareness so we can help eliminate this horrible epidemic that is going within our communities in society (I shared how Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma have a relationship and causation to suicide).
I've also devoted myself vigorously to self-improvement, such as reading, writing, computer progression of my understanding of Microsoft Office Suite, educational studies, spiritual meetings or church services, artistic skills, entrepreneurship, and parental studies. In addition, I'm frequently in contact with community advocates/business owners who are supporters of my rehabilitation, my vocational training, continuation of sober living, obtaining a higher level of education. I'm currently working on creating an art portfolio to create my own lettering art book. I've started writing my autobiography and hope to convert it into a book in the upcoming future to help at-risk youth in the communities of America, so they don't make the same mistakes as I did as an adolescent and reveal the true ugliness of gangs, crime, and criminal thinking.
This door of opportunity that was granted for me from the director of OCE: Melanie Doolin, has opened many doors of rehabilitation to discover my true worth and self. As a result, it has been the pivoting point that has altered the trajectory of my life in such a positive fashion. I'm going to be re-entering back into society on April 20th, 2029 with about 5 years of vocational training (assembling tow trucks); an AAOT college degree; a savings account (since working on the tow trucks, I've been able to send money home to my fiancé to start a transitional savings account for my re-entry), a credit score (we're in the process to start developing my credit with a pre-paid credit card, due to me not having a credit score before my incarceration), prudent efforts to pay-off my court restitution, and so much more accomplishments that'll continue to come, in the near future.
But one thing is certain, I am not the same person who I was when I first got arrested on the night of August 20th, 2022. I have become a new creation of rehabilitation and hope, and even though I've made horrible decisions or poor choices in the past, I'll no longer make excuses for myself or minimize my actions .. I'll be the change that my fiancé, kids, family, and friends need of me to become, because I've lived a part of the criminal justice system for far too long, and have caused so much harm to others; however, no mas (no more), it's time to live as the man that my creator (God) destined for me to be, and that is being: a great husband, a great father, a great son, a great sibling, a great friend, a great neighbor, and lastly a great member of society. This is my story, and my name is Leonardo Rodriguez-Perez and I'm a believer of second chances, and most importantly, I want to conclude this project with first giving the utmost thanks, gratitude, and blessings to God because I wouldn't be alive today or come this far in changing my life around, if it wasn't for him. In addition, on behalf of my family, I want to say to the director of OCE: Melanie Doolin, thank you for believing in me, and everything that you've done for me, by giving me your helping hand that has positively changed me forever. God bless you.
Sincerely,
Leonardo
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