Local Public Safety Coordinating Council - Feb. 6, 2025

Agenda

1. Welcome/Introductions– 4:00 pm [Chair Malcolm McDonald, Clackamas County Community Corrections Director]
2. Action Item (if quorum reached)– 4:05 pm Election of LPSCC Chair and Vice-Chair [All LPSCC members]
3. Action Item (if quorum reached) – 4:20 pm Discussion and Approval of the Clackamas County Justice Reinvestment (JRP) Semi-Annual Report – [Chair McDonald]
4. Update: Clackamas County’s Deflection Program – 4:35 pm [Bill Stewart, Deputy District Attorney]
5. Public Comment – 4:45 pm
6. Adjourn – 5:00 pm

Minutes

Members present: Malcolm McDonald, Mary Rumbaugh, Adam Freer, District Attorney John Wentworth, Chief Shaun Davis, Christina McMahan, Commissioner Ben West and Sheriff Angela Brandenburg.

Guests present: Elizabeth White, Bill Stewart, Chris Chandler and Trent Wilson.

Welcome/Introductions

• Chair McDonald welcomed LPSCC members and guests and announced his retirement, effective March 3rd, after 27 years of service.
• He introduced Chris Chandler, who had recently been promoted to captain and would be stepping into a leadership role as the Director of the Community Corrections Division. Currently, they are co-captaining while Chris completes the onboarding process.
• Chair McDonald said the first order of business was review and approval of the JRP semi-annual report. He noted the report had been sent out for review prior to the meeting.

Discussion and Approval of the Clackamas County Justice Reinvestment (JRP)

• The Chair indicated the report largely reflected what had been reported in previous years. He noted Community Corrections works closely with the District Attorney’s Office to identify individuals appropriate for supervision in lieu of incarceration.
• Chair McDonald discussed the Clackamas Substance Abuse Program (CSAP) and Clackamas County Jail Program (CCJP). He noted over the past year, the number of individuals placed on departure sentences had increased. The Chair indicated this was a key metric for the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC), and stated CJC had expressed concerns about the county’s prison numbers in its last grant application and since then, the number of individuals sent to prison had returned to baseline levels.
• Commissioner West requested clarification about data related to unsuccessful program completion on page 6 of the report. Chair McDonald said this referred to individuals who had completed inpatient treatment but relapsed during aftercare, indicating individuals participated for most of the 18-month period.
• District Attorney John Wentworth commended the quality of the report. Chair McDonald expressed appreciation and credited the county’s data personnel for their efforts.
• Chair McDonald noted CSAP maintains an open-door policy, allowing former participants to return if they needed additional support. He indicated this was a key difference between CSAP and other treatment programs and the reason why the program was so successful.
• DA Wentworth asked about recidivism and whether any long-term statistics were available for CSAP graduates. Chair McDonald indicated ongoing data collection efforts and noted consistently low recidivism rates among those who completed the program.
• One year after graduation, between 80% and 90% of participants remained out of the criminal justice system and program graduates have gone on to become leaders in the recovery community.
  • Chris Chandler will provide additional information about recidivism and incorporate the group’s feedback into future reports.
• Commissioner West asked about program funding sustainability. Chair McDonald and the Sheriff noted facility expansion and maintenance as emerging needs.
• The Chair mentioned the importance of partnerships, calling out the partnership with Clackamas County Health Centers. Because the program is community-based rather than a correctional facility, it allows for billing for outpatient services, leading to cost savings.
• Commissioner West discussed waivers available for expenses related to housing and recovery supports. Chair McDonald indicated he had received an email from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), which wanted to present information to LPSCC on the waiver process.
• Chair McDonald then requested a motion to approve the JRP progress report. Commissioner West motioned to approve, and Adam Freer seconded the motion. With no "nay" votes from any members present, the vote was unanimous. No objections or further discussions were raised, and the motion was passed.

Election of LPSCC Chair and Vice-Chair

• Chair McDonald stated that an election process was needed to appoint a new LPSCC Chair due to his impending retirement. He explained that any voting member could make a nomination, and once a nomination was made, a second from another member was required to proceed to a vote.
• The Chair called for nominations for Chair. DA Wentworth nominated Sheriff Brandenburg, and Commissioner West seconded the nomination.
• The Chair asked if there was any opposition to Sheriff Brandenburg’s nomination. Hearing none, the nomination was confirmed. Members then cast a voice vote to elect Sheriff Brandenburg. All members present voted in favor, and the vote was unanimous.
• Members discussed whether the current meeting frequency aligned with LPSCC needs. Christina McMahan noted the Juvenile Crime Prevention Plan requires LPSCC approval every biennium and this year’s deadline is March 31st.
• Mary suggested the need to increase meeting frequency as the legislative session progressed, particularly given uncertainties around funding. She also recommended filling the vacant Vice-Chair position to assist with scheduling.
• Chair McDonald mentioned the need to revisit LPSCC’s bylaws and meeting schedule to better align with the group’s role.
• The Chair then initiated the process for electing the Vice-Chair and called for nominations. Sheriff Brandenburg nominated Chris Chandler for Vice-Chair, and Commissioner West seconded the nomination.
• The Chair opened the floor for additional nominations, but no other candidates were proposed. He asked if there was any opposition to Chris Chandler’s nomination. Hearing none, the nomination was confirmed. Members then cast a voice vote to elect Chris Chandler. All members present voted in favor, and the vote was unanimous.

Update: Clackamas County’s Deflection Program

• Bill Stewart shared a weekly update report and executive summary, highlighting recent law enforcement referrals, demographic data, and program outcomes.
  • Law enforcement participation exceeded expectations, with over 60 cases per month—above the projected 40. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) led referrals, followed by the Oregon City Police Department (OCPD).
  • 77% of referrals were male, and 85% identified as Caucasian. Homelessness was likely underreported due to unreliable address data.
  • Officers conducted field tests for drug possession, but fentanyl detection often halted further testing, potentially underrepresenting polysubstance use.
  • The program expanded partnerships from 16 to 30 nonprofits providing housing, addiction treatment, mental health support, and peer mentorship.
  • 30 cited individuals had not connected with navigators or service providers, likely due to unreliable contact information or disengagement. Efforts continue to re-engage them.
• Commissioner West asked about tracking individuals who refused deflection. Bill stated that cases remain in the system for reassessment. Sheriff Angela Brandenburg suggested tracking long-term outcomes for those who declined. Bill indicated no formal tracking process exists yet.
• Bill discussed the conditional discharge program, which serves as an alternative intervention to deflection. It is a post-charge diversion program that allows participants to avoid further legal penalties if they successfully complete treatment.
• DA Wentworth compared Clackamas County’s approach to Measure 110, noting that while only 50 people statewide called the Measure 110 hotline, Clackamas County engaged 56 individuals in under six months.
• Bill outlined a shift to the program model to include those already in custody due to outstanding warrants or failures to appear. Program navigators have begun working directly with the jail to identify these individuals, securing treatment placements and transportation upon release. In some cases, participants were taken directly from jail to treatment or transitional housing. Bill noted this approach has been effective, with nearly half of the most recent Impact Court participants coming from custody.
• Bill outlined several priorities for the next phase of the deflection program:
  • Increasing law enforcement training on demographic data collection to improve reporting.
  • Expanding social referrals, allowing officers to connect individuals with services without making an arrest or citation.
  • Establishing warm handoffs between law enforcement and service providers to ensure individuals follow through on treatment referrals. This would involve on-call service providers connecting with individuals in real time. For this to succeed, both law enforcement and treatment providers must be engaged, and additional staff capacity will be needed.

  • Targeting high-volume areas, such as the 82nd Avenue corridor, with service providers available during peak hours. Commissioner West inquired about funding for expansion. Bill noted that many community partners currently provide in-kind services, but long-term sustainability would require dedicated funding.

    Chair McDonald added that legislative discussions on future investments in deflection would be key to determining whether the county could expand the program beyond its current scope.

Other: Legislative Update

• Trent Wilson provided updates on policy and budget discussions impacting criminal justice and public safety.
• He noted uncertainty around funding for the deflection program, which is set to expire in June with no commitment for renewal. While some lawmakers support community-based interventions, competing priorities could impact funding.
• Key points:
  • Justice reinvestment funding may see increased reporting requirements, with a focus on participant outcomes, recidivism rates, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Potential modifications to mandatory minimum sentencing laws could affect the number of individuals eligible for deflection.
• Mary inquired about behavioral health funding. Trent mentioned ongoing legislative discussions about increasing investments in substance use treatment and mental health services, though budget constraints could limit new allocations.
• Trent encouraged members to engage with legislators and provide testimony as needed. He discussed the need for LPSCC members to stay engaged in efforts to secure financial support.

Closing Remarks

• Chair McDonald expressed gratitude for LPSCC’s commitment to justice reinvestment and community-based solutions and noted positive progress in reducing recidivism and supporting rehabilitation efforts.

Public Comment

• No members of the public present.