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Sheriff’s office seeks contract extension for behavioral health deflection program after early successes
Summary
Deschutes County staff notified commissioners of an intent to award contracts to the same provider partners for the second year of a behavioral health deflection program that diverts people from jail into treatment; staff reported 29 successful completions and asked the board to authorize the notice of intent to award.
Deschutes County’s sheriff’s office told commissioners July 23 it plans to contract again with the same provider partners for a second year of the county’s behavioral health deflection program, reporting early successes and asking the board to approve a notice of intent to award.
"So far, we've had 29 successful completions in the county," said Neil Marchington, the program coordinator, describing the first-year operational outcomes. The sheriff’s office and program partners told the board the program offers law enforcement an alternative to arrest for certain low-level incidents tied to substance use or behavioral health needs and provides peer support, case management and quick referrals to treatment.
Program model and early results - Deflection in the field and in-custody: The program offers multiple referral points — field encounters, jail roster reviews and interagency referrals — so officers and partners can divert people into treatment or transport them to partner facilities rather than booking them into jail where appropriate. - Provider roles: Peer support organizations and treatment partners operate alongside law enforcement; partners include BestCare and Ideal Option under existing agreements. The program runs a Taylor Center operating location for assessment and linkage. - Outcomes and scale: Staff reported 29 successful completions to date, 22 active clients and 19 unsuccessful exits; program staff estimated a roughly 72% active/completion engagement rate among participants so far. The program began operation September 1 of the prior year and was built rapidly through interagency cooperation, staff said.
Board action and procurement The board approved a notice of intent to award a contract for the behavioral health deflection program (document 2025-606). Commissioners praised the interagency approach; several noted the program’s early outcomes and encouraged continued evaluation and expansion where funding permits.
Context and next steps Commissioners and staff discussed funding timing and state rollout of deflection program resources. Staff said state guidance and CJC (Criminal Justice Commission) allocations remain under development and that the county will continue to track funding announcements. The sheriff’s office and county procurement staff said they will finalize contracts with the providers named in the notice of intent and return to the board as needed for formal contract action and future funding requests.
