Multnomah County officials are proposing to use $200,000 of contingency funds to improve relations between the sheriff’s office and the county’s health department, according to sources. This initiative aims to address issues related to the care and well-being of jail inmates by fostering a better working relationship between the two organizations responsible for their oversight.
The County Board of Commissioners is expected to review the proposal on May 2, with plans to initiate efforts to integrate the sheriff’s office and Corrections Health in order to improve cooperation and communication. This proposal follows a series of inmate deaths last year and a report from a National Institute of Corrections consultant highlighting significant health care and operational issues within the Multnomah jail system.
The consultant’s report specifically called out the county health department for failing to share essential information with corrections officers and recommended the hiring of a “CEO” of jail health services who would operate independently from the health department. While this recommendation remains a potential consideration, the sheriff is launching a corrections recommendation project to address the various reports and recommendations provided by different entities and take appropriate actions.
According to spokeswoman Sarah Dean, this project may involve exploring the possibility of adding a third-party position to oversee jail health services, among other corrective measures. By addressing the recommendations and improving collaboration between the sheriff’s office and the health department, officials hope to enhance the care and management of inmates in the Multnomah jail system.