First year of Washington County’s deflection program shows progress, areas to improve

Oregon voters passed Measure 110 in 2020. The goal was to decriminalize small amounts of street drugs and move users into treatment. That goal was ultimately not realized, and in 2024, the legislature changed the drug laws. They implemented a new program: it let counties set up deflection programs to direct people facing misdemeanor possession charges away from the criminal justice system and into treatment.   Most counties set up these deflection programs, and some, like Washington county, kicked off their program on as early as they could: Sept. 1, 2024. Now, a new report is out that details how many people went through the deflection program, or otherwise received treatment and social services to support their sobriety. We’re joined by Danielle Far, the senior program coordinator of the county’s deflection program.