Lane County Deflection Program Celebrates First Year With Open House - 10/21/25

The Lane County Deflection Program is celebrating its first full year of operation with an open house on October 22. The open house will celebrate some of the milestones reached in the first year, as well as highlight the community partners who support the people in Deflection.

“We could not do this work without our partners,” said Deflection Program Coordinator Clint Riley. “In particular, our peer navigators through Ideal Options who work side by side with program participants to guide them through the recovery process, and Reveille Foundation which provides emergency stabilization housing.”

There have been 23 graduates in the first year. Those graduates spent an average of 142 days in the program prior to graduation. Another 71 people are currently enrolled and participating.

Day: Wednesday, October 22

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: 680 Tyler Street, Eugene

Speakers: Board of County Commissioners Chair David Loveall (also a Reveille Foundation board member), District Attorney Chris Parosa, and Ideal Option’s Senior Director of Community Development Josh Lair.

Interviews: Clint Riley and Reveille Foundation President Steve Yamamori will be available for interviews in addition to the speakers. Program participants will be offered the opportunity to participate, and some may be available for interviews.

The open house location is also a treatment and housing center for Deflection Program participants. To maintain the required privacy for a treatment center, all attendees will need to sign a non-disclosure form upon entering the facility that covers any accidental viewing or discovery of personally identifiable medical or treatment information.

About the Deflection Program

The Deflection Program provides a community-based alternative to jail and prosecution for drug possession and low-level quality of life crimes by deflecting individuals prior to arrest to treatment programs. In Lane County, if a person is eligible for deflection and has indicated interest, the responding law enforcement officer has the option to call on a peer navigator to connect with the person. The peer navigator will enroll them in the program, which includes case management and tracking. If the deflection program is successfully completed, the charges will not be filed. If the program is not completed, the charges may be filed, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.

Learn more at www.LaneCountyOR.gov/deflection.

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