Editorial: Multnomah County making strides improving cruel conditions for mentally ill inmates

Somewhere between 32 percent and 80 percent of the 35,000 people booked into Multnomah County Jail each year suffer mental illness.

Let that sink in. Each year, we send as many as 28,000 people into a place that's particularly ill-equipped to handle them. So, instead of rehabilitation, the experience can lead them deeper into their illness and to behavior that's far worse than when they arrived.

Just how much worse wasn't clear until last year's disturbing report from Disability Rights Oregon, which described a regular practice of treating disease with violence and solitary confinement. After reading the report, it was difficult to walk by the downtown Portland jail without thinking about what could be happening inside.

Thankfully, though, Sheriff Mike Reese and other county leaders listened. In a follow-up report released May 10, the Portland-based advocacy group found numerous improvements. More jail and clinical staff was brought on and now, officials better track cell time to be sure inmates are out between 14 to 28 hours a week. And Reese lived up to his promise to provide better employee training with the aim to reduce their use of force and restraints.

In the follow-up, Disability Rights Oregon also found staff had reduced their use of restraints by half. The jail also now requires a "use-of-force" report that's widely reviewed when restraints are used. These are solid improvements that will help inmates and create data and paper trails to help everyone be sure this progress remains on track.

Thankfully, though, Sheriff Mike Reese and other county leaders listened. In a follow-up report released May 10, the Portland-based advocacy group found numerous improvements. More jail and clinical staff was brought on and now, officials better track cell time to be sure inmates are out between 14 to 28 hours a week. And Reese lived up to his promise to provide better employee training with the aim to reduce their use of force and restraints.

In the follow-up, Disability Rights Oregon also found staff had reduced their use of restraints by half. The jail also now requires a "use-of-force" report that's widely reviewed when restraints are used. These are solid improvements that will help inmates and create data and paper trails to help everyone be sure this progress remains on track.