"‘Critical Situation’: Oregon U.S. Attorney Responds to Sheriff’s Warning on Overcrowded Portland Jails"
Earlier this week, the Oregonian reported that the number of prisoners reached 1,043, 92% of the jail's capacity, according to Sheriff's officials. Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell said that at 95% capacity, a "jail emergency" will be triggered, resulting in the release of inmates based on their risk assessment scores.
Multnomah County's two jails are nearing capacity, pushing public safety leaders to make tough choices to protect the community. NWCC Board Chair Ken Thrasher, a strong advocate for a safe, livable community, asserts that "enough is enough" in response to this crisis.
Photo: KOIN
Just as HB 4002 recriminalizes drug use that will increase people going into county jails, we find out the jail system is at capacity due to the lack of beds and serious staffing challenges.
At 90-92% of jail bed capacity, this creates an additional problem since hitting 95% triggers the release of persons in jail back to the streets. Like the lack of shelters for the unsheltered homeless, the shortage of jail beds and staffing issues at the County’s jails and sheriff’s office are creating another gridlocked and failed system in the County.
Why does Portland and Multnomah County always seem to be in crisis management? Lack of planning and leadership at the County Commission is a major part of these problems. We keep playing whack-a-mole for our communities, sweeping the homeless into other neighborhoods, and now releasing inmates to our streets because of poor planning.
The County needs to fix this debacle now." — Ken Thrasher, NWCC Board Chair
Link to article: ‘This is an emergency,’ Oregon’s U.S. attorney responds when sheriff warns Portland jails nearing capacity. — the Oregonian
