2022 WCSO Annual Report - Report - Page 6
MA N AGING
WASHINGTON COUNTY’S
ONLY JAIL
Operating the only jail in a County of around 613,000
residents is challenging. Maintaining the safety
and security of everyone inside the jail requires a
thoughtful systems approach with quality care and
services. Our jail staff works faithfully around the
clock to ensure Washington County’s Jail is safe and
secure for the public, staff, and adults in custody.
Maintaining jail safety was no easy feat during the
pandemic, especially while balancing creating an
environment safe from COVID-19 and ensuring
dangerous offenders are not released early because of
overcrowding.
In 2022, COVID-19 safety protocols continued to
significantly impact jail operations, including masks
and temperature checks upon entry, isolation
protocols for any positive cases of adults in custody,
and reduction of those in custody.
WCSO is incredibly proud of the dedicated staff who
continued to work in person each day to maintain
the safety and security of our facility during the
pandemic. Health and safety measures in a jail setting
impact jail operations and ultimately increase the
safety of anyone in the facility. For those working in
corrections, Lieutenant Jordan Weston points out,
“There has been no change with the mask mandate
since day one. There is not a reason that staff is
permitted to take off the masks – ever – within the
secure perimeter.”
Note: jail staff discontinued wearing masks in most jail
areas in March 9, 2023 as pandemic health protocols
moderated.
4 | 2022 WCSO Annual Report
JAIL MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
STAFFING
The Washington County Jail is the second smallest
jail per 1,000 residents in any Oregon county. The
jail holds 572 beds, but due to staffing shortages, it
operated with 508 available beds for most of 2022.
Even with the limited capacity to house adults in
custody, the jail had 13,980 bookings for the year.
EVOLVING NEEDS OF THE JAIL POPULATION
The population of adults in custody has changed
significantly in recent years as many individuals
in custody need critical stabilizing services for
substance abuse and mental or behavioral health
issues. Additionally, court processes have slowed
considerably because of the pandemic, resulting in
a higher percentage of dangerous adults in custody.
Our highly trained staff does an excellent job
managing this population and ensuring a safe, wellrun jail.
STABILIZING SERVICES
The Washington County Jail is critical to the justice
system and keeping our community safe. As the
population we serve in the jail continues to require
essential stabilizing services to improve their health
and successfully transition back into the community,
we believe community-based mental health and
substance use disorder services should be expanded.
The jail works to reduce recidivism by providing
education and programs to meet the needs of adults
in custody.
