Twenty of the 23 Oregon counties who dedicated to being early adopters of the state’s new deflection program to help people with substance use issues and supply an “off-ramp” to keep away from felony fees have obtained preliminary funding.
Lawmakers obtained particulars on the rollout of funding to determine deflection packages throughout a latest listening to updating them on implementation of House Bill 4002, which reintroduces felony penalties for possessing small quantities of medication.
13 counties have mentioned their packages shall be carried out by September, when the brand new misdemeanors for drug possession go into impact below HB 4002.
The invoice established a Behavioral Well being Deflection Grant program to direct funding towards counties and tribes to fund and arrange the deflection packages, partnerships between legislation enforcement companies and behavioral well being entities.
Deflection packages anticipated to be carried out by September
A complete of $20.7 million was allotted to fund this system. Ken Sanchagrin, executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, mentioned the CJC directed $150,000 towards the analysis of packages, $2 million for tribes, and $18 million towards counties.
Sanchagrin mentioned the fee requested every early adopter county to ship “fundamental data” starting on April 9 and gave them a two-week deadline to use for the preliminary funding.
Three early adopters – Curry, Josephine and Malheur counties – didn’t apply for 50% funding. The counties that haven’t but utilized are eligible to use for the second spherical of funding.
The Legislation Enforcement Assisted Diversion mannequin — which has been in effect in Marion County for eight years — is the kind of program most counties shall be pursuing, Sanchagrin mentioned.
Baker, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Criminal, Deschutes, Hood River with Wasco and Lane counties recognized LEAD as their deliberate strategy. Deschutes and “a couple of” different counties will use totally different approaches, Sanchagrin mentioned. 9 counties are nonetheless figuring out their strategy.
“We’ve been very proud of seeing the place counties are ranging from, however actually these conversations are ongoing,” he mentioned.
The CJC shall be required to gather knowledge together with arrests, fees, and convictions of recent fees. HB4002 requires the compilation of deflection program outcomes, with an annual report prepared for legislature beginning in August 2025.
Lawmakers additionally hear replace on pretrial launch, Marion County LEAD
Lawmakers additionally heard an summary from Decide Matthew B. Shirtcliff, the presiding decide in Baker County Circuit Court docket, on adjustments adopted in pretrial launch tips for the up to date drug supply and manufacture fees in HB 4002.
Oregon Supreme Court docket Chief Justice Meagan A. Flynn issued an order May 23 reclassifying offenses to carry extra people charged with critical drug offenses in jail till they seem earlier than a decide.
“This order permits extra folks charged with drug crimes that pose the best threat to public well being and security to be held till a decide determines whether or not they are often launched with circumstances to make sure public security and future courtroom appearances,” Chief Justice Flynn mentioned in a launch concerning the order. “It additionally will enable native presiding judges to tailor further necessities to handle native public security priorities and sources.”
The order moved Class B felony supply and manufacturing of managed substance fees, together with supply of hydrocodone inside 1,000 ft of a faculty, to “maintain for judicial evaluate.” The order additionally permits judges to think about “overriding circumstances” particularly for individuals charged with supply or manufacturing managed substances.
The discretion for judges to decide on to make use of overriding circumstances is an try to acknowledge and deal with particular person neighborhood wants, Shirtcliff informed lawmakers.
Shirtcliff mentioned presiding judges are reviewing and updating their pretrial launch orders and crafting these overriding circumstances.
Representatives of the Marion County LEAD program, together with Marion County District Legal professional Paige Clarkson and LEAD program coordinator Josh Wolf, introduced knowledge as an instance the LEAD mannequin success. Of 76 present and energetic purchasers and alumni, 55 have been housed, 38 have been employed, 22 have been in therapy and 28 had been “clear” for no less than 30 days. Of these 76 purchasers and alumni, 15 had regained custody of kids and 10 gave start to “clear infants.”
This system’s standards for arrest diversion requires a rechargeable offense, a historical past of low-level crime, a number of arrest cycles, no sufferer with potential restitution, no historical past of violent crime, and the person can’t be a intercourse offender.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and fairness points. Attain her at [email protected] or on X @DianneLugo
