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Multnomah County weighs two pretrial models as budget pressure forces choices
Summary
Commissioners received competing pretrial delivery plans: a county-led consolidated services model serving supportive needs and a court-led restructuring that would shift many pretrial functions to the courts. Supporters argue option 2 saves millions and reduces duplication; some advocates urge survivor-centered staff and commissioners pressed for more cost detail and a transition plan.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners heard competing proposals April 1 to reorganize the county’s pretrial monitoring and services amid budget constraints and the prospect of cuts to existing programs.
Sarah Mullen, executive director of the county’s local Public Safety Coordinating Council, presented a final report that distilled the work of the pretrial subcommittee into two delivery options and called for a transition that preserves court appearance rates, community safety and equitable design. “A primary shared goal that we have is to increase successful court appearance,” Mullen said, outlining practices — unified case management, behavioral messaging for reminders, peer navigators and material supports — shown to boost appearance rates.
The court’s proposal, described as option 2 and advanced by Chief Criminal Judge Michael Greenlick and trial court administrator Barbara Marcio, would shift…
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