| Community Corrections History |
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What is the history of community corrections in Oregon?
In 1976, the Governor´s Task Force on Corrections proposed a new system of community-based corrections based on a Minnesota model. They recommended legislation to create a partnership between the state and the counties to provide supervision and sanctioning of offenders. Based on this recommendation, the 1977 Legislature passed the Community Corrections Act. The act funded existing community programs and developed alternatives to prison incarceration. The act gave counties the option of managing all, part, or none of the services for offenders under supervision.
The original Community Corrections Act has been subject to many debates over the years. A variety of changes have been proposed, ranging from abolishing the act to mandating county participation. The most recent reform occurred in the 1995 Legislative session. That change mandated full participation of all counties in the community corrections act, including supervision of all felony offenders on probation or post-prison supervision/parole. In addition, the law required counties to keep those offenders who previously served 12 months or less in a state institution. Over 90% of these individuals were serving short prison sentences as the result of a revocation of community supervision. Some other effects of the 1995 law change include:
- Local public safety coordinating councils were formed in each county to develop and recommend plans for use of state resources to serve adult offenders and to serve as planning and implementation forums for the coordination of local criminal justice policies.
- Funds were allocated for projects to construct, renovate, acquire or remodel local correctional facilities. The new beds were for the offenders who will remain in the community rather than being returned to Department of Corrections prisons. Operational dollars are included in the biennial grants made to counties for community corrections activities.
- Counties were given the ability to design and deliver a continuum of sanctions and services to fit the community and the offender. Locally appointed supervisory authorities move offenders serving 12-month or less sentences between incarceration and community sanction alternatives.
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