Hours of testimony were taken Monday night on a bill that would recriminalize illegal drugs in Oregon. Under the revised bill, possession of controlled substances in Oregon would bring the possibility of jail time.  

Brandt Harley, with Metropolitan Public Defenders, says lawmakers are ignoring facts about why criminalizing drugs doesn't work, "I have heard this bill described as a treatment first process that legislators say will get people into treatment rather than jail in this proposal and that is simply not accurate." He added, "You've been provided data and research showing the recriminalization will only exacerbate the addiction crisis in our communities, and not only will it fail in achieving its purported goal, but it will also deepen the racial disparities that are rampant in our criminal system." Defendants who don't complete treatment could face 180 days in jail. Harley says there aren't enough addiction treatment programs to keep people out of jail, "Before we punish people for not engaging in treatment we must ensure that treatment is actually available, it is not and this bill does not change that sad reality."

Representing the Oregon Sheriff’s Association, Hood River County Sheriff Matt English says this bill does allow for treatment before jail, "The ultimate goal of being able to divert individuals into treatment and not to jail while still holding them accountable." Suppoerts add 23 counties plan to create deflection programs under the bill, to send people into addiction treatment.  

Umatilla County D.A. Dan Primus, representing the Oregon District Attorneys Association, says this gives counties the ability to get people into treatment, "We believe the amendments represent a meaningful policy package that will provide our communities, behavioral health, and law enforcement partners the tools needed to begin to address the severe addiction crisis and drug overdose deaths." He says this bill aims to keep drug users out of jail, "District attorneys and our law enforcement partners have committed to first divert individuals facing the PCSU charge away from the criminal justice before deeper intervention from the criminal justice system is necessary."

HB 4002 gets another work session Tuesday evening.