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Portland jails nearing capacity causing eligible inmates to potentially be released

Multnomah County's sheriff said jails are more than 90% full. At 95% capacity, inmates will start to be released — 2003 was the last time inmates were released.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Multnomah County's Sheriff is sounding the alarm as two jails in the Portland area are nearing capacity. 

In a report to county stakeholders this week, Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell said both the Multnomah County Detention Center in downtown Portland, and Multnomah County Inverness Jail in Northeast Portland have reached 90% capacity. That puts them under a 'Yellow Alert', currently jail staff are reviewing which adults in custody would be eligible for release if the jails get even more crowded.

Once jails hit 95% capacity, or 'Red Alert' level, a forced release will be triggered by state law. 

"Forced releases, when you look at the system as a whole, that is a reflection of the failure of our systems of accountability and our rehabilitative goals," said Morrisey O'Donnell during a county meeting Monday.

A forced release hasn't happened in years. The sheriff says her team has seen an increase in inmates in custody especially over the last ten months — and says she doesn't see that rate slowing down.

Morrisey O'Donnell is advocating for more funding to help hire more staff and increase capacity at the jails.

"I will continue to advocate for right-sizing the corrections system so we're able to be nimble and address our public safety needs," said Morrisey O'Donnell.

Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards told KGW the alert highlights a need for increased funding, which is something she's advocated for in the past.

"There's been a lot of retirements and turnover, and she asked this last budget cycle for additional budget. I offered an amendment to try and get her that budget — the chair didn't put it in her budget and unfortunately we weren't able to get the adequate amount of resources," said Brim-Edwards.

KGW reached out to the Multnomah County chair for comment and at the time of publishing, had not heard back.

Currently there are 1,130 jail beds budgeted for in Multnomah County — as of Sunday, those were 92% filled.

As for who gets released if jails hit 95% capacity, there is a set of criteria that's based on a persons risk to community safety. The sheriff said if there are not enough people who meet that criteria for forced release, then law enforcement would be limited on who is booked into jail.

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