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Tillamook County approves three‑month extension, outlines non‑law‑enforcement deflection approach
Summary
Commissioners approved an amendment extending a Behavioral Health Deflection grant and heard that the county will pursue self‑referral and active outreach pathways rather than a pathway that holds charges in abeyance.
The Tillamook County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved Amendment No. 1 to a Behavioral Health Deflection grant agreement with the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, extending the grant’s performance period by three months while the county finalizes policies and partnerships.
Melody Ehres, who presented the item for the county, said the deflection work group has been designing which of six federally‑recognized deflection pathways Tillamook County will use. “Only one of those involves the justice system in abeyance… I just want our community and our community leaders to be very clear. In Tillamook County at this time, we are not pursuing that pathway,” Ehres said, adding the county is pursuing self‑referral and active outreach pathways.
Ehres told the board the work group is clarifying policies and memoranda of understanding, including how officers conducting active outreach will handle situations where an individual has outstanding warrants. She said the goal is to make recovery services easier to access and that the county was “this close to being able to operationalize these first two pathways.”
Commissioners discussed how deflection differs from diversion: diversion typically applies after a person has entered the criminal justice system, while deflection seeks to connect people to services before they are charged. One commissioner, speaking from prior policing experience, noted diversionary options have long existed inside the criminal justice system for eligible defendants; board members said the county will not be using the grant to place charges in abeyance.
The board unanimously approved the amendment by voice vote. Commissioners and presenters said the extension—granted through a state action tied to Measure 110 implementation and House Bill 4002—gives the county time to finalize operational details and prepare memoranda of understanding with law enforcement, service providers and the district attorney’s office.
No specific budget figures were discussed during the meeting. Presenters said they would continue reporting to the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council and proceed with finalizing the two pathways for launch.
