DaaaihLoong writes: "Update on Barrilee Bannister, #11309597, in Oregon's Coffee Creek Correctional Facility:
Although Norma Land, the Executive Assistant to the prison's superintendent, has insisted that Barrilee Bannister's change in job status (from full-time to part-time) has nothing to do with the fact that she reported a guard's sexual harassment, Bannister lost her job as visiting room orderly on 1 October.
When I spoke to Norma Land on 27 September, she at first said that one issue had nothing to do with the otehr. She then contradicted herself and said that she was not allowed to talk about cases which were under investigation. When I reminded her that I was calling about Bannister's job status and not the sexual harassment (which I had called about the week before), she became flustered and stated, "We're not talking about any of Ms. Bannister's issues right now."
I then asked if the change in job status was part of the investigation. She told me that she couldn't comment on that. She also would not say how long she thought the investigation would take.
Someone from Oregon also called. Norma Land asked her if Barrilee was asking people to call in and then proceeded to give her the same run-around.
On 27 September, Barrilee was confronted by Captain Bjerke that she was being overly dramatic and blowing things out of proportion. When Bannister asked for examples of such behavior, the captain didn't answer.
Please continue to call Superintendent Joan Palmateer's office at (503) 570-6412. Ask why Bannister's job was terminated despite the fact that she has been doing an excellent job and has been actively (and successfully) soliciting donations for the children's visiting room. She is also asking that callers ask Ms. Palmateer or her assistant Norma Land how many inmates have died in the six months that CCCF has been open (there have been quite a few)."
