In the tender early days of parole, I rode the buses of Portland, Oregon, looking for a job. On every employment application was the question: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

I rode buses for days. Each morning as I crossed the Burnside Bridge, I would see women I met in prison, rolling up a tarp, a cardboard box. One day I saw The Enforcer. Once a mighty Viking Warrior, now lost on a corner.

The women looked better when they were in prison.

The Department of Corrections uses discipline before problem-solving. I spoke to a few of the officers who tried to offer problem-solving advise, only to be burned by both inmates and staff. Most of the officers kept themselves, finished their shift and got the hell out of there.
The exception was Big Buck, our Maintenance Crew Boss. He was the first one in my experience to ask questions to our crew about how we plan to make it on the outside.

Nearing Parole, I wondered: How would I react when I have an encounter with the police of anyone wearing a badge? Will I have flashbacks? How many years will pass before I am not affected? I learned the answer one night on “Snow Patrol.” The Captain of the prison and I worked shoulder to shoulder, trying to keep up with the snowflakes.
He complimented my work. He knew I held a shovel in my hands, he turned back to his task. He trusted me.

Halfway through my 6-year sentence, I believed I carried myself like a worthy seasoned felon. That is until I got set up by a conniving young woman with a pretty smile. Pretty Smile left me holding onto stolen property. I discovered the truth when I overhead a woman looking for the exact items before. I could have lost all my privileges. I could have been sent to The Hole. Sitting nearby were two women who witnessed the entire episode. I asked them, “Do I look like a punk?”

My new cellmate slowly paced the cell in a way that accentuated her curves as she talked about the women in prison. She was a teacher and entertainer of full-immersion prison school. I wanted the material. My next lesson was hookers.

My new cellmate slowly paced the cell in a way that accentuated her curves as she talked about the women in prison. She was a teacher and entertainer of full-immersion prison school. I wanted the material. My next lesson was hookers.

G Unit was the discipline unit and housed the roughest women in the prison. Whether you are a from the Country Club or skid row, it is where everyone begins their prison time. It was where this volleyball mom met Celly, the Alpha of the prison, and my new cellmate.

I broke 20 bones in the car accident that led me to prison. I didn’t know if I would survive six years in a women’s full-custody prison. Yet, my greatest fear was: Who are are the women, what have they done, and how do they decide who will be in the cell with you? 

Finally, the audiobook of Falling is in the final stages of production. In prison lingo, it has been a stretch of time. Although the book is doing well, the best way to get the women inmates’ voices over the wire, is by producing an audiobook. I offer an audio sample of my favorite passage: The Stars, a fire drill under night sky with the Lifers.

In my town of Ashland, Oregon, our precious bookstore, Bloomsbury Books survived the economic downturn of COVID. The  Book Talks have resumed and I was thrilled to be included. It was a packed house, who doesn't love a messy story that ends in redemption?

One of my favorite bookstores -- Bloomsbury Books at 290 E Main St Ashland Oregon --survived the pandemic and is thriving in Ashland, Oregon. I am honored to be selected to give a book talk on October 10th at 7pm!

Two years into my prison sentence at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, I began attending The Art of Living program. The teachers, David, Beth, and Dar came in every week and taught a breathing and mediation program. The breathing program, Sudarshan Kriya, S.K.Y. is a powerful breathing technique by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. It incorporates specific natural rhythms of the breath. Psychiatrists at the India School of Mental Health found that the levels of the stress hormone Cortisol are significantly lower in practitioners of the Sky breath technique and is found to eliminate stress, fatigue, and negative emotions such as anger, frustration, and depression. This allows one to be calm, energized, focused, and relaxed. Even in a women’s prison! 

The Law Librarian at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility called me. (Once a felon, always find-able). But it was good news. She read my book, Falling, and wanted to do a book group for the women in the Medium/Max side who have borne the brunt of COVID with very few outside services.

I told her that writing the book about broke me. “I had to open a very black door of my past. Originally, I was terrified of the women. But many were kind to me and I learned to love the unloveable, including myself. I promised the women inmates I would write about their tragic histories, I would humanize them. I need to ask you, did I humanize the staff of DOC as well?” 

Long story short, the law librarian put it in the hands of Colette Peters, the Director of the Oregon Department of Corrections. After reading Falling, she told the law librarian that she wanted the book in every library in the Oregon Prison system. 

January 2022: Governor Kate Brown commuted the sentences of 912 inmates who were deemed at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19. The freed inmates were medically vulnerable, had completed at least half their sentences and were not serving time for crimes against people.Brown also commuted the sentences of 41 inmates who fought the historic 2020 Labor Day Fires.

Governor Brown was slapped with a lawsuit by Oregon House Rep. Kevin Mannix, the architect of  Measure 11/mandatory minimum sentencing. The measure removes the ability for judges to oversee sentencing. 

Last month’s newsletter, Chick’s Guide to the Slammer brought up some heavy questions. I followed the Minnesota Kim Potter trial of the officer who shot instead of tasered Duante Wright and said to myself, “I remember the fear of going to prison.” Even if she is a police officer, she’s gonna need a guide book that tells the truth about living in prison. This month’s newsletter is The Glossary from Falling. It delves into the details of prison life through slang, descriptions and events unimaginable in the outside world.

When I was convicted of Manslaughter II/DUI, which is a fatal felony car accident, I knew I was going into prison. It was just a matter of how long. I was desperate for information about living in a women’s prison. Would I get a bra and most importantly, who was going to be in that cell?

Orange is the New Black had not been written, nothing existed to describe life in a full custody women’s prison. Would I survive? What could I do to prepare? Who will I be on the other side? Most importantly, Who were the women, and what did they do to get in there?

Thanksgiving is more than the festivities, it gives us to look back at lessons we learned and the good people who came into our lives. Those of you who are graduates of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility might remember “Blondie”. We are in touch. Through her tender heart and humor, I found ways during my prison sentence to make it through the holidays, away from my family. Blondie concocted a prison granola bar recipe from the canteen list. It is a damned good treat in or out of prison. May we find ways to be grateful all year long.

Karen Andrea Campbell in conversation with Jane White

Tuesday October 19, 2021 | 7:00PM - 8:00PM

JOIN US ON ZOOM
REGISTER HERE: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84865187344

Kathi MCCoy, AKA Angel Boss, organized two Falling book talks that featured the people who are creating upward change in prison reform.

In her home above the lights of Portland, Kathi/Angel Boss Invited judges, lawyers, doctors, educators, first line mental health responders, politicians, philanthropists, and householders and religious leaders to gather and listen to readings from the book that exposed the realities of incarceration alongside the leaders who are creating hope and progress in prison reform.

Celebrate Mother's Day and warmer weather, hopeful days ahead! Here's a sale on Falling. Think of it as a beach read with the grit of the sand. Please Enjoy a 50% Discount on the Kindle version of "Falling" from May 9th through May 16th

Ashland resident Karen Campbell spent six years in prison for vehicular manslaughter, and she hopes her book about the experience will help humanize female inmates.

“The metal doors of the jail crash open, my ears ring, my teeth rattle, and the hairs stand up on my arms. The noise screams, ‘You are not free, you are here for punishment and this is your life now.’ We step into the jail and the doors slam shut behind us. That’s why it’s called the Slammer.”

If you missed the radio broadcast on KBOO, below is the link to listen to the Podcast version.
Emma Lugo, the interviewer, is a grand humanitarian. I did my best to keep up with her. Please give it a listen!  

All my Best,
Karen

Celebrate Mother's Day and warmer weather, hopeful days ahead! Here's a sale on Falling. Think of it as a beach read with the grit of the sand. Please Enjoy a 50% Discount on the Kindle version of "Falling" from May 9th through May 16th

One of our own has been freed, Lisa Roberts. Lisa and I served time together at Coffee Creek. Lisa was a stand-up gal in all areas of life on the inside. She revealed consistent strength of character no matter the circumstances. She will do well on the outside as she took her time seriously and applied herself first to take inventory and then to improve and grow.

Tenderly, with Bambi steps at the clearing, we reenter the world, hoping for herd immunity. The world has learned the circumstances of confinement: isolation, impatience, and futility. And yet, through simple mindful tasks, we find purpose. We emerge grateful to the loved ones in our lives.