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Clackamas chair flags old jail, 2,300 'forced releases' and explores site near courthouse
Summary
Chair Roberts described the county jail as obsolete and unsafe, said the county records about 2,300 forced releases per year, and said leaders are studying options — including building a new facility near the courthouse — while noting tight finances and potential bed reductions if no funding is found.
Chair Roberts told the forum that Clackamas County’s jail, built in the 1950s, is outdated and inefficient and that the county currently records about 2,300 "forced releases" annually.
"It's inhumane not to provide adequate health care when somebody comes in there," Chair Roberts said, describing safety, medical and operational shortcomings inside the aging facility and urging planning for a modern replacement. He said the board prefers a site near the courthouse to reduce transport costs and keep court and custody operations adjacent if feasible.
Roberts warned that the county faces fiscal constraints: if no alternative funding or approach is identified, the county may need to close roughly another 110 beds — a move he said would likely increase forced releases and strain the system. He linked jail conditions to the county’s broader responsibilities for crisis response, noting that many people booked into the jail have behavioral‑health needs and that the facility currently functions in part as a mental‑health provider.
Other panelists at the forum emphasized alternatives and supports — including the Caring Place, a stabilization center and transitional housing options — while saying the county must balance public safety, treatment and fiscal realities. The board did not vote on a new jail at the forum; commissioners said site studies and budget planning will continue.
The forum included public questions about services provided to people while in custody and on re‑entry, and commissioners described existing transition programs, GED and workforce supports, and partnerships that attempt to reduce recidivism and repeated jail contacts.
Next procedural steps described at the forum were staff studies on site suitability and budget options and planned follow‑up discussions at board meetings.
