Disability Rights Oregon Advocating For Criminal-Charged, Marion County Opposes
- 04/16/26
SALEM, OR — On Monday, a federal judge denied Marion County’s request asking the court to allow the county to file a response opposing a Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) motion to exclude more criminally-charged individuals from the Oregon State Hospital in the ongoing Mink/Bowman case.
If approved, Disability Rights Oregon’s motion could allow criminally charged individuals to be allowed to walk free from the State Hospital without first being stabilized or held for prosecution.
DRO’s motion asks the court to limit “who can come to the state hospital for competency restoration services and how long they may stay at the hospital.”
Categories of crime that are excluded from hospital care by DRO’s motion include, but are not limited to:
- Property damage in excess of $1,000
- Possession and use of a stolen vehicle
- Theft in excess of $1,000
- Burglary
- Identity theft (including scamming seniors)
- Aggravated harassment
- Disorderly conduct
- Failure to appear in court on a felony charge
“It’s absurd that Disability Rights Oregon is advocating to take away treatment from criminally-charged individuals causing harm in our community,” said Commissioner Colm Willis, Chair. “Allowing these individuals to continue to freely and openly cause harm to our community instead of getting them the help they need is dangerous and irresponsible. Marion County residents deserve better.”
Marion County continues to weigh its options to address ongoing community challenges caused by the Oregon State Hospital’s refusal to fully staff their current bed capacity.
Disability Rights Oregon Advocating For Criminal-Charged, Marion County Opposes
- 04/16/26
SALEM, OR — On Monday, a federal judge denied Marion County’s request asking the court to allow the county to file a response opposing a Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) motion to exclude more criminally-charged individuals from the Oregon State Hospital in the ongoing Mink/Bowman case.
If approved, Disability Rights Oregon’s motion could allow criminally charged individuals to be allowed to walk free from the State Hospital without first being stabilized or held for prosecution.
DRO’s motion asks the court to limit “who can come to the state hospital for competency restoration services and how long they may stay at the hospital.”
Categories of crime that are excluded from hospital care by DRO’s motion include, but are not limited to:
- Property damage in excess of $1,000
- Possession and use of a stolen vehicle
- Theft in excess of $1,000
- Burglary
- Identity theft (including scamming seniors)
- Aggravated harassment
- Disorderly conduct
- Failure to appear in court on a felony charge
“It’s absurd that Disability Rights Oregon is advocating to take away treatment from criminally-charged individuals causing harm in our community,” said Commissioner Colm Willis, Chair. “Allowing these individuals to continue to freely and openly cause harm to our community instead of getting them the help they need is dangerous and irresponsible. Marion County residents deserve better.”
Marion County continues to weigh its options to address ongoing community challenges caused by the Oregon State Hospital’s refusal to fully staff their current bed capacity.