Citing 'unacceptable' situation, Oregon lawmakers announce state psych hospital reforms

Two senior state lawmakers said Wednesday the influx of low-level offenders to Oregon’s public psychiatric hospital is “unacceptable” and announced legislation to lessen the number of people sent there.

The announcement, made by House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, and Sen. Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, is the first time Oregon lawmakers have spoken out about the rising number of mentally ill defendants sent to the hospital.

“The current situation at the Oregon State Hospital is absolutely unacceptable,” they said in a joint statement. “Failure to properly address this issue has led the state to a perilous point.”

The lawmakers lead the House and Senate committees that control criminal justice law.

Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/06/oregon-lawmakers-announce-reform-plan-citing-unacceptable-situation-at-state-mental-hospital.html