Multnomah County Approves $6.4M Plan to Reduce Oregon’s Prison Population

PORTLAND, Ore. – In an effort to curb rising incarceration costs and reduce the number of individuals entering state prisons, Multnomah County leaders have approved a new plan aimed at diverting certain convicted felons away from prison and into supervised parole programs.

The initiative is part of Oregon’s Justice Reinvestment Grant Program, a statewide effort designed to limit prison use and redirect funds into local public safety and rehabilitation services.

A Costly System

Housing inmates in Oregon’s prison system comes with a steep price tag—more than $1.4 billion every two years. In response, state officials have encouraged counties to develop alternative approaches that lower incarceration rates while promoting community safety.

One driving force behind the move is the potential cost of building a new prison, which is estimated at $400 million. Avoiding that expense by investing in community-based supervision and services is a key objective of the reinvestment program.

A Shift Toward Intensive Supervision

Multnomah County’s newly approved plan involves a $6.4 million commitment to help move eligible felons out of the prison system and into intensive probation supervision. The approach includes wraparound support such as:

Drug treatment programs
Housing assistance
Mental health services

District Attorney Nathan Vasquez expressed support for the initiative during Monday’s vote, while also voicing ongoing concern about individuals in the system who lack legal representation.

“I am in support of this budget and will be voting yes,” said Vasquez. “I do continue to have concerns about the unrepresented defendants who are not receiving attorneys and who are, essentially, left in the wind.”

Collaborative Planning

The plan was developed through a collaboration between DA Vasquez and Chief Criminal Judge Michael Greenlick, who explained that the program is designed to identify individuals who could be better served—and pose less risk—through structured probation rather than incarceration.

“The program looks at reducing prison population by identifying folks that would benefit from intensive probation supervision,” Greenlick noted.

Addressing Recidivism

Supporters of the plan argue that alternative supervision can help reduce recidivism, or the likelihood of reoffending. Many individuals in the justice system struggle with addiction, housing instability, or mental health challenges—issues that incarceration alone does not resolve.

By focusing on rehabilitation and accountability within the community, officials hope to break the cycle of repeat offenses and avoid the long-term costs—both financial and social—of incarceration.

The program represents a growing trend across Oregon and the nation: shifting from punishment to prevention and support, with an emphasis on public safety, fiscal responsibility, and human dignity.