![]() “For me it reinforces spending our limited resources in the most productive and cost-effective ways,” Chair Kafoury said. “That not only impacts our capacity in terms of the jail beds, but it also places disproportionate strain on the staff who are working in the jails because of the complex needs of many of these inmates.” “I am concerned that as we face population emergencies, we have this signature, somewhat unpredictable population that averages around 10 percent or more of our jail capacity at any time,” Meieran said. Marshals service, which uses 10 percent of County beds. I do believe that the Sheriff’s Office and the Board are doing the best that we can with what we’ve got.”Ĭommissioners pressed for innovative and cost-effective solutions while acknowledging the stress that emergency releases place on corrections staff and people in custody.Ĭommissioner Sharon Meieran noted the complexity of the jail population and the multiple public safety partners who use the County facility, including the U.S. “It’s incredibly important that we re-calibrate and look. “It needed to be revised,” said Commissioner Lori Stegmann, who also serves as co-chair of the County’s Jail-Use Committee. ![]() The Sheriff's Office is also working with the County’s Pretrial Services Program to increase the likelihood that defendants who are released early actually make it back for upcoming court appearances. Thursday’s revisions go further - excluding Measure 11 and domestic violence charges, while also reducing the likelihood that inmates charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle would be force released. Inmates whose history includes sex crimes, crimes relating to children, risk to a known victim, danger to the community, and multiple charges for driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) are among the last to be considered. The Sheriff’s Office considers several number of factors, including an inmate’s risk of harming themselves or others, their history of violence, and their behavior while incarcerated. Whenever adults in custody are released because of crowding, the Sheriff’s Office works to ensure that it releases inmates who pose the lowest possible risk to the community. The previous management plan directed the Sheriff’s Office to develop a priority list of adults eligible for release when the jails become overcrowded. To prevent overcrowding, 232 adults in custody have been force released during that time frame. Since July 2017, there have been 323 yellow alerts and 56 red alerts. When 90 percent of jail beds are occupied, the Sheriff's Office issues a “yellow alert.” The office issues a “red alert” when the jails are above 95 percent capacity. It puts them in housing situations that are not ideal and can hurt their recovery and our efforts of breaking the cycle of recidivism.” “And frankly, it’s hard on the adults in our custody. “When we get into population emergencies, it is incredibly difficult on our staff and our Records Division to have to prepare for it,” Reese said. Fewer beds, increased rates of personal and property crimes, and rising arrests have all squeezed jail capacity, Reese said. But the jails continue to operate near full capacity. “I was interested to read the recent Corrections Grand Jury report,” said Chair Deborah Kafoury, noting the report “highlighted options that are focusing on diversion, treatment, and housing for people who are cycling through our jails with severe and persistent mental illness, and options that are focused on substance abuse treatment.”Īlternatives to incarceration, including diversion programs like the county’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, have helped ease overcrowding. The board reduced the number due to budget constraints and a strong desire to create alternatives to jail for low-level offenders and those struggling with substance use disorders and mental illness. 12 briefing where the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office provided updates on the County’s two adult jails, in downtown and Northeast Portland.Ĭurrently, Multnomah County funds 1,192 jail beds - down from 1,251 last year. The Board approved the changes two days after a Nov. ![]() We acted quickly to prevent that and then came back before the board today for a revision.” “We had individuals with high scores who were being released from custody or potentially being released. “That was one of the precipitating reasons for revising the jail capacity management plan,” Reese told the board. Sheriff Mike Reese presents amended Jail Capacity Management plan to Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. ![]()
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