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Oregon acknowledges negligence in inmate death

By WTOP Staff

NIGEL DUARA
Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The state of Oregon has acknowledged that negligence played a substantial role in the death of an inmate who was killed after he repeatedly asked to be protected from the Aryan Brotherhood and was instead transferred to a cell with a member.

The Department of Corrections made the statement in court documents filed on Aug. 22 in response to a lawsuit by the widow of 28-year-old Michael Hagen.

The lawsuit says Hagen told prison administrators he feared for his life after he refused to join the gang. Members concluded he was either an informant or someone who wouldn’t fight back.

Inmate Terry Lapich has been accused of beating Hagen to death in 2012. He told prison guards that Hagen fell off his bed.

No prison employees have been disciplined in connection with the death. Each side in the lawsuit has requested a jury trial.

In its legal filing, the state said it violated its own policies when it moved Hagen into a cell with an inmate who had promised to hurt him. However, it denies claims in the suit that violence is prevalent at Oregon prisons, and that its policies, training and discipline structure are inadequate to protect inmates.

Hagen was sent to Snake River Correctional Institution for 17 years in 2010 after robbing a Portland check-cashing store and severely beating a clerk.

His widow and the Department of Corrections agree on a number of developments in the court documents, including that white supremacist inmates quickly learned that Hagen was a talented artist, and Lapich and another inmate asked him to tattoo them.

Hagen declined, saying he didn’t want to lose his job as a tutor, a relatively good position within the prison. Lapich and the other inmate persuaded two other inmates to beat Hagen in retaliation for his refusal, the documents state.

Prisoners labeled Hagen a snitch after Lapich and the other inmate were disciplined.

Hagen’s new cellmate learned of the snitch allegation and punched Hagen, who told prison officials he needed to get away from the man. The officials declined and told Hagen he could either return to his cell or go to a disciplinary unit, the documents state.

He chose the disciplinary unit and was threatened by eight inmates after his release. Again, he complained to prison officials, who moved him to a different room with another white supremacist gang member who threatened him.

Hagen later told a hearing officer he believed the only way to get moved out of that cell was to fight his cellmate. He charged him in a break room, and the inmate tossed him to the ground and stomped on his head. The documents say Hagen again told prison officials he feared for his life.

Prison officials ruled that Hagen was indeed under a legitimate threat and instructed staff not to return Hagen to the prison’s general population.

For reasons that remain a mystery, Hagen was instead returned to that population on Feb. 2, 2012, in a cell with Lapich.

“Shortly after Mr. Hagen entered the cell, audible screams came from inside the cell,” according to the lawsuit. “Officer (Donald) Harris heard the screams (and) did not take any action.”

The Department of Corrections denied that Harris heard screaming.

Hagen died a day later at a Boise, Idaho, hospital.

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Reach the reporters on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/nigelduara and https://www.twitter.com/pdxdub

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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