Portland, Ore. (Oct. 4, 2024) — Multnomah County today reported that local law enforcement officers have referred 71 eligible people to the County’s new deflection program since Sept. 1, 2024, the date when Oregon made carrying a small amount of illegal drugs (possession) a misdemeanor that can send a person to jail.
The County is coordinating referrals to recovery, housing and mental health services as an alternative to entering the legal system.
“At this critical moment for our community, we are committed to building a system to make sure law enforcement connects those eligible for deflection with behavioral health and addiction resources. We’re doing that,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “This system moves people away from incarceration and toward health and healing, makes our community safer and begins addressing some of our gaps in treatment. We have a long way to go, but this first month makes me optimistic about what’s possible.”
For the 71 people who accessed Multnomah County’s deflection program, outreach workers have made 136 total referrals to social services, including sobering services, detox treatment, inpatient and outpatient treatment, mental health services, medical care, housing or temporary shelters, peer delivered services, and recovery support.
“Multnomah County’s deflection program, unlike the criminal legal system, can quickly connect individuals with essential stabilizing services and peer support to help guide them down the long road to recovery,” said Grant Hartley, Multnomah County director at Metropolitan Public Defender. “It provides support and compassion, rather than threats of incarceration, to motivate individuals to engage in treatment and other services.”
In February 2024, when the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4002, legislators provided an option for all counties to offer deflection to eligible individuals. In Multnomah County, as part of an agreement with a leadership team of law enforcement and behavioral health partners, individuals who opt for deflection have 30 days to access these services. If services are not accessed within 30 days, they will be ineligible for deflection for the following 30 days. If they are stopped by law enforcement again for the same reason within that 30-day window of ineligibility, they may be arrested.
The leadership team included the Portland and Gresham chiefs of police, the Multnomah County Chair, Multnomah County Sheriff, the Multnomah County District Attorney, Metropolitan Public Defender, the presiding judge of the Multnomah County Circuit Court, the chief criminal judge of the Circuit Court, representatives from the Mayor of Portland’s Office, the Chair’s Office and the Department of Community Justice, as well as the directors of the Health Department and the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council.
Beginning Sept. 1, the Health Department began dispatching mobile outreach workers to connect with eligible individuals stopped by law enforcement due to the new law. The County has been coordinating closely with the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Gresham Police Department and District Attorney’s Office to track outcomes from the interactions.
“We recognize that access to treatment is the most effective pathway to recovery for those struggling with addiction,” said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. “This is why we are committed to supporting deflection work and ensuring there is a viable alternative to incarceration for those in our community who need it.”
“I am encouraged by what the Portland Police Bureau and our partners have been able to accomplish in the last month,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day said. “PPB remains committed to helping individuals suffering from addiction find a path forward while simultaneously doing what’s best for our community and organization.”
Professional peer and behavioral health outreach workers with 4-D Recovery, the Promoting Access to Hope (PATH) team, Volunteers of America, and Tuerk House respond to calls from law enforcement and refer people eligible for deflection to services.
Tony Vezina, the co-founder of 4-D Recovery, said he is seeing progress daily as outreach teams make contact with people seeking treatment. He believes peer outreach will help move more people into recovery and improve community safety and livability.
“Six months from now, the public will have a better understanding of the successes that are happening and the number of people who are getting into treatment,” said Vezina. “Help is coming. Things are changing. Services are being ramped up.”
The Coordinated Care Pathway Center — operated by Baltimore-based provider Tuerk House — remains on track to welcome participants in mid- to late October. Tuerk House has made progress hiring and training staff to operate the center, and renovations are nearing completion. The County will share more information in the coming days.
“Our Tuerk House team is ready to open the doors of the Coordinated Care Pathway Center and begin serving the people of Multnomah County,” said Bernard Gyebi-Foster, the Chief Executive Officer of Tuerk House. “Over the past 60 days, our leadership team has worked with our community partners to hire and train new staff. Each person who walks into the Center will be greeted by experienced and compassionate professionals who are prepared and eager to support them on their recovery journeys. We are committed to providing these individuals the highest level of care and attention and working with the surrounding neighborhood to quickly address issues as they arise.”