Abstract
Most of the people who died in Oregon's jails last year had a disability, according to a new report by Disability Rights Oregon released Feb. 8, the East Oregonian reported. The report looked at deaths between January and the end of October 2020, during which at least 10 people died in Oregon's jails. The report did not review deaths inside the state's prisons. Despite a drop in jail populations last year because of COVID‐19, Disability Rights Oregon found the number of people dying actually increased from previous years. The nonprofit also found five of the 10 people who died had a mental health condition, and that six died by suicide — the leading cause of death. “We see people dying because they don't have access to what they need in the community,” said Liz Reetz, author of the report. “Then we're asking jails to step in and solve all of these roles — the detox center, the psychiatric crisis center, the health care provider — that they weren't really made to do.” In Disability Rights Oregon's jail report, law enforcement also stressed the need for more services.
Published Version
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