About Our Leadership
Acting Director
Heidi Steward has served as the Oregon Department of Corrections Deputy Director since April 1, 2019.
Ms. Steward is a 23-year DOC veteran, beginning her career in 1996. During her tenure, Ms. Steward redesigned the department’s cognitive interventions toward evidence-based programs created specifically for criminal justice-involved adults. She implemented a new case management model allowing counselors to serve as change agents.
Ms. Steward served as a representative on two trips to Norway to learn the principles of humanity and normality applied throughout Norway’s corrections system. She has applied those best-practices and innovations to Oregon’s corrections system – both in employee wellness and bettering the environment of those in custody. Ms. Steward’s focus is on the professional environment, family well-being, and the culture inside and outside Oregon institutions. This has yielded notable improvements to the health and well-being of DOC staff and adults in custody.
Services Provided
All DOC divisions fall under the Office of the Director, and many divisions have their own functional units. The following services are provided within or in partnership with the Office of the Director:
Tom Shin, Chief Financial Officer:
The Chief Financial Office is responsible for the oversight of all financial activity for the Department of Corrections. Our programs include Central Accounting, Contracts and Procurement, Budget and Planning, AIC Revenue Generating Activities and AFAMIS Support. Additional areas supported by the Chief Financial Office are:
- Budget Office
- Budget Development and Management
- Long-Range Construction Plan
- AIC Financial Services
- Central Trust and Statewide Business Services
- Procurement and Contacts
- AFAMIS Support
- Accounting
Budget Documents:
The Budget Office identifies funding resources and needs, develops the department's budget, and monitors activities that affect the budget. The resources need to support the projected growth in the state prison population, including funds to house and supervise offenders, plus those needed for support and administrative functions.
The budget document is updated to reflect the Governor's priorities and again to reflect decisions made by the Legislature.
DOC's Internal Audits facilitates discussions on agency risk and completes an annual risk assessment to help drive audit topics for the year. Internal Audits provides assurance to the agency that processes are working as they should, and if not, makes recommendations for improvement. Internal Audits does this by talking with people, reviewing documentation, compliance, operational, financial, and system-related activities.
Jennifer Black, Assistant Director:
The Office of Communications is responsible for creating and executing communication strategies to provide information about DOC to stakeholders and the public, as well as providing key information to its employees and adults in custody. The office represents the agency to the State Legislature, including information about Department strategy, positions on issues, and testimony. In addition, the office coordinates media activity for the agency and contributes to numerous special projects. The Office of Communications oversees:
- External Communications
- Internal Communications
- Legislative Relations
- Media Relations
- Public Records
- Strategic Planning
- Correctional Outcome Through Research and Engagement
- Project Management
- Change Management
- Performance Management
- Process Improvement
Gary Ninman, Acting Inspector General:
The Office of the Inspector General provides an oversight function on behalf of the director and deputy director of the Department of Corrections.
The Office of the Inspector General was created in 1990 as recommended by an investigative report to the Governor. The Inspector General has broad responsibility for oversight of suspected, alleged, or actual misconduct within the Department of Corrections, reporting to the director or deputy, and to other officials as required by law and the DOC Code of Conduct. The Office of the Inspector General oversees:
- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
- Hearings
- AIC Litigation Tracking
- Security Threat Management (STM)
- Special Investigations Unit (SIU)
- Special Needs Population
- Intelligence Section
- DOC Rules and Policies
Melanie Doolin, Administrator:
Oregon Corrections Enterprises promotes public safety by providing AICs with meaningful work experience in a self-sustaining organization.
Oregon Corrections Enterprises
3691 State Street
Salem, Oregon 97301
Ph: 503-428-5500
Budget Documents
The Budget Office identifies funding resources and needs, develops the department's budget, and monitors activities that affect the budget. The resources need to support the projected growth in the state prison population, including funds to house and supervise offenders, plus those needed for support and administrative functions.
The budget document is updated to reflect the Governor's priorities and again to reflect decisions made by the Legislature.