Mental Health/Mental Illness

In 2007, the Oregon Legislature authorized $4 million to divert mentally ill people from jails into community treatment centers. Starting in January, that money is being distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services to counties around the state.

Idaho wants to put sick people in prison. In the near future, a mentally ill person in Idaho who has never been convicted of a crime could end up in a prison if civilly committed.

Idaho keeps people labeled “dangerously mentally ill” in the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Some of these people have never been convicted of crimes, but like other prisoners, they spend their time in isolation in the maximum security prison.

Early in July, the Salem Statesman Journal ran a series of investigative stories about suicides in Oregon's prisons. Since the series ran, another prisoner has committed suicide, and the paper has responded with a strongly worded editorial encouraging the Oregon Department of Corrections to do more to protect prisoners.

Strengthening Prison Programs - Increased funding for programs proven to reduce recidivism.