Dedication to Michael Francke, Jan. 21

The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) honored past Director Michael Francke Jan. 16, with the dedication of a conference room at DOC headquarters – the Dome Building in Salem. In May 1987, Francke was appointed to the position of DOC Director by Oregon’s Governor. He was tasked with addressing issues within Oregon’s prison system, much as he had done as Director of the New Mexico DOC before coming to Oregon. Francke was a visionary who cared deeply about improving the system and making Oregon a better place. He did not get to finish his work, as he was murdered outside DOC headquarters on January 17, 1989. Mr. Francke has been honored with the newly dedicated Michael Francke Conference Room, which has been renovated with fresh paint, new fixtures, and improved infrastructure. There is a shadow box frame in the northeast corner of the room encasing memorabilia related to Francke’s time with Oregon DOC. A bench and memorial monument have been placed outside the entrance to the Dome Building. Oregon Corrections Enterprises – the prison industries arm of DOC – designed and manufactured the beautiful memorial pieces, including the bronze plaque recognizing Francke’s end of watch. Each piece of stainless steel and copper was hand formed and heated to create the varying colors. Downtown at the state Capitol, a Japanese umbrella pine tree has been planted along with a commemorative plaque in Francke’s memory. DOC employs 4,600 staff members at 14 institutions, two community corrections offices, and several centralized support facilities throughout the state. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of over 14,500 adults sentenced to more than 12 months of incarceration, and direct or indirect supervision of 31,000 offenders on felony supervision in the community. DOC is recognized nationally among correctional agencies for providing adults in custody with the cognitive, education, and job skills needed to become productive citizens when they transition back to their communities.