Oregon Found in Contempt, Faces Hefty Fines for Delaying Admissions to State Psychiatric Hospital

Federal judge finds Oregon in contempt over mental health care delays for people in jail

A federal judge has found Oregon’s state health agency in contempt of a court order that requires severely mentally ill detainees be swiftly admitted to the state psychiatric hospital. Starting Saturday, U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson will begin calculating a fine of $500 per person, per day for each individual ordered into the care of the Oregon State Hospital left waiting in local jail for more than a week. The average waiting period for …

Oregon found in contempt, faces hefty fines for delaying admissions to state psychiatric hospital

The state has for too long flouted a long-standing court order to admit jailed criminal defendants with mental illness to the Oregon State Hospital to become competent to stand trial, U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson found.

Judge holds Oregon Health Authority in contempt for failure to promptly make admissions to psychiatric custody

The Oregon State Hospital has routinely failed to abide by court orders requiring it to promptly admit criminal defendants with significant mental health needs.