‘Nearing a crisis point’: Grand jury underscores short-staffing at Multnomah County jails

Published 8:04 am Thursday, December 5, 2024

An updated look into Multnomah County’s correctional facilities has determined that a lack of staffing is “nearing a crisis point” that could exacerbate public safety.

In early October, seven selected jurors reviewed the Corrections Division’s four facilities to inform the 2024 Corrections Grand Jury Report that was released on Tuesday. Oregon law requires that a grand jury conduct a similar report annually, but the latest jurors noted issues that date back several years.

One of the group’s key findings was that Multnomah County Corrections is continuing to endure staffing shortages — an “exceptional challenge” that jurors said could worsen conditions for current employees and in-custody adults.

“Hiring and staffing challenges have been mentioned in previous CGJ reports but county leadership has failed to make progress in addressing the staffing crisis,” the report reads. “Many funded and unfilled MCSO positions remain open due to HR hiring delays.”

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