Federal Judge Holds Oregon Health Authority In Contempt Over Psychiatric Admission Delays

A federal judge has found the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon State Hospital in contempt for failing to admit criminal defendants with mental health conditions to the psychiatric hospital within the court-ordered seven-day window. The judge imposed fines of $500 per day for each defendant waiting beyond that period, citing ongoing constitutional violations and the state's lack of sufficient action to remedy the backlog. The ruling highlights that defendants can wait weeks in jail awaiting admission, with average waiting times recently reported as long as 29 days. The court also appointed a neutral expert to monitor compliance and directed the state to accelerate discharges and address staffing shortages that contribute to delays. Disability Rights Oregon praised the decision as a victory for defendants whose constitutional rights were violated by prolonged jail stays without needed treatment. Local officials, including Marion County, supported the fines as necessary to compel improvements in the state's mental health care system, which also faces accreditation risks due to these failures.