Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell has taken a firm stand against using jail bookings as a remedy for the homelessness crisis, making it clear that the county's correctional system will not include people whose only offense is lack of shelter. According to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff O'Donnell underscored the need to focus on "evidence-based, sustainable solutions" rather than incarceration, which she views as a costly temporary fix. The Sheriff's office emphasized the preference for issuing criminal citations over custody for violations of city ordinances.
Reflecting on the policy implemented in August 2023, O'Donnell reminded that her office directed the booking of individuals solely for offenses codified in the Oregon Revised Statutes, specifically excluding city ordinances such as the Public Camping Ordinance. This move aligns with the Portland Police Bureau's policy, which requires city officers to book only suspects deemed "bookable" based on the Multnomah County Sheriff's Special Order. In relation, an administrative error was made, inadvertently suggesting prior communication with the Portland Police Bureau regarding the Public Camping Ordinance and its inclusion in booking criteria.
The sheriff's office has been in communication with the Mayor's office since Spring 2023. These discussions have firmly identified city ordinance violations as ineligible for bookings, thus putting the responsibility on the courts to process such cases. Despite ongoing enforcement of the Public Camping Ordinance, O'Donnell was unequivocal in her position that she "will not be directing the Sheriff’s Office to book any individual on city ordinance violations," as stated by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
