MARION COUNTY, OR - An Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) adult in custody, Shannon Wade Spencer, died the evening of March 7, 2025. Spencer was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) in Salem and passed away at a local hospital.
As with all in-custody deaths, the Oregon State Police have been notified, and the State Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.
Spencer entered DOC custody on February 12, 2019, from Douglas County with a projected release date of May 10, 2027. Spencer was 63 years old. Next of kin has been notified.
DOC takes all in-custody deaths seriously. The agency is responsible for the care and custody of approximately 12,000 men and women who are incarcerated in 12 institutions across the state. While crime information is public record, DOC elects to disclose only upon request out of respect for any family or victims.
OSP is a multi-custody prison located in Salem that houses approximately 2,000 adults in custody. OSP is surrounded by a 25-foot-high wall with 10 towers. The facility has multiple special housing units including disciplinary segregation, behavioral health, intermediate care housing, and an infirmary (with hospice) with 24-hour nursing care. OSP participates in prison industries with Oregon Corrections Enterprises including the furniture factory, laundry, metal shop, and contact center. It provides a range of correctional programs and services including education, work-based education, work crews, and pre-release services. OSP was established in 1866 and, until 1959, was Oregon’s only prison.
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