All county criminal justice departments rely on county general funds for most of their operating budgets. Faced with shrinking financial resources, and system gaps that continue to widen, our criminal justice system cannot keep pace with demands for enforcement, prosecution, jail, detention, and parole and probation supervision. This levy could be used to mitigate budget cuts.

Who is served by the Marion County criminal justice system?

All residents of Marion County are served by the criminal justice system. Between 80-90% of offenders are city residents. Once a city police officer or county sheriff arrests and delivers the detainee to the county jail, the outcome and remaining costs fall on the county.

How would levy funds be spent?

Corrections:

Levy could fund 144 beds: 72 maximum security, 72 minimum-security.

Between July 2000 and June 2001, 16,595 people were arrested and brought to the Marion County Jail. Of these, 4,116 were cited and released and another 3,624 sentenced criminals were released early due to lack of jail space.

Offenders on adult parole and probation supervision have increased 37% in the past seven years. The 37 adult parole and probation deputies currently supervise an average caseload of 100 offenders.

Enforcement:

Additional 24 deputy sheriffs: 18 would be assigned to county-wide patrol and back-up support to cities; two would be assigned to work as detectives; four would be assigned to work on the county-wide interagency gang/narcotic team.

Marion County is one of three counties in Oregon that Congress declared a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Methamphetamine labs, including super-sized labs, have proliferated.

Alcohol and Drug Treatment:

Drug and alcohol treatment is available for only 30% of offenders who have addiction problems. 70 to 80% of all juvenile and adult offenders have alcohol and/or drug problems. The levy would fund addiction treatment for 300 offenders annually, which would reduce future criminal activity.

District Attorney:

Marion County prosecutors have the highest caseload among comparable counties. The levy could fund 5 prosecutors to reduce the more than 300 felony narcotics cases and hundreds of misdemeanor cases that are not prosecuted due to budget constraints.

In the 10,000 cases filed by the District Attorney’s office in 2001, victim advocates were assigned to only 2,336 victims. The 5 victim advocates would assist some of the thousands of victims currently left without assistance.

Juvenile Department:

The Marion County Juvenile Department supervises nearly 2,000 juvenile offenders each year. In 2001, 44% of the juvenile offenders self-reported substance abuse problems. Many youth are unable to access services or the services they need are not available when they need them. Funds would provide drug and alcohol treatment for 70-100 youth annually and could support operation of new juvenile detention facility.

What impact would the levy have on property tax bills?

On a home with an assessed value of $100,000 the annual increase would be approximately $100 for the year 2003; $97 for 2004; $94 for 2005; and $91 for 2006.

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