Civil Commitment in Oregon FAQ
Civil commitment—sometimes called involuntary commitment—is a legal process in which a judge decides whether a person should be forced to accept mental health treatment in a hospital for up to 180 days.
Report: 9 of the 10 People Who Died in Oregon Jails in 2020 Had a Disability
The report sheds light, for the first time, on the systemic failures that contributed to the deaths of 10 individuals in six county jails across Oregon, as well as the facilities in Springfield and The Dalles.
Black People with Disabilities Are More Likely to Be Killed by Police than White People with Disabilities
Solitary Confinement of Mentally Ill Inmates in Oregon's Prisons
In 2015, we went inside the Oregon State Penitentiary unit that houses inmates with severe mental illness. What we found was alarming.
The Criminalization of Mental Illness
Our communities have been hit by an affordable housing crisis and we’ve failed to invest in community mental healthcare and support services.
Hospitals Sweeping Patients with Mental Illness into Criminal Justice System
Our 2019 investigative report (“The ‘Unwanteds’: Looking for help, landing in jail”) into trespass arrests at six Portland hospitals revealed that too often the hospitals resorted to having people arrested when they won’t leave.
Medical Neglect in Prison
Our 2019 investigative report concluded medical neglect led to the death of an inmate who experienced mental illness and cognitive disabilities at the Oregon State Penitentiary.
Multnomah County Jail Detainees in Mental Health Crisis Endure Solitary Confinement, Violence, and Deprivation
In our 2017 report “A Merry Go Round that Never Stops”, we examined jail conditions of people accused of low level offenses and advocate for healthcare and supports.
Banning the Use of Canines to Control Jail Inmates
In the fall of 2018, we issued a report to bring attention to the fact that Columbia County was using canines for this purpose and to call for a statewide ban.