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Community Corrections official warns board that state funding cuts could trigger opt-out transfer process
Summary
Erin Hartman, Klamath County Community Corrections, told the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 that a statutory "opt out" or transfer to state control could be triggered if statewide funding for community corrections falls below a defined baseline level.
Erin Hartman, Klamath County Community Corrections, told commissioners on Oct. 28 that if statewide community corrections funding drops below a baseline level the statutory process established in 1995 (commonly referred to during the meeting as Senate Bill 1145) can be triggered and may lead counties to transfer local community corrections operations back to the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC).
Hartman summarized the statutory framework cited in the meeting (transcript references included ORS 423.483 and OAR 291-031-0095) and described a written-notice process that starts a 180-day (six-month) transition during which the state may assume responsibility for supervision, sanctions and services for locally supervised offenders, including certain misdemeanors and sentences of 12 months or less. Hartman said the decision to accept a state takeover is a local decision but is only permitted if statewide funding falls below baseline.
She described operational consequences: allocation amounts to counties do not increase automatically under a state takeover; any reduction in county staffing would limit how many positions the state could accept for transfer; salaries for transferring employees are guaranteed to match county salaries for 12 months unless higher bargaining outcomes apply; and inventory of equipment purchased with state grant funds above a specified threshold would transfer to the state.
Hartman reviewed historical precedent (several counties have considered or used the option in the past) and said a reduction scenario affecting criminal fines and fees, treatment-transition funds and grants could produce an estimated net impact to Klamath County in discussion of roughly $343,681, with statewide totals discussed in the meeting on the order of about $4.1 million. Hartman emphasized the county could opt to attempt to retain local control and that returning services to the state is a one-time option per statutory rules.
Commissioners voiced strong support for retaining local control of community corrections, saying county-run programs are more responsive to local needs and that state takeover would likely reduce locally tailored services.
Speakers quoted or referenced in this story: Erin Hartman, Community Corrections; commissioners.
