NEWS
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
County jail population down nearly 25% during pandemic
By ALEX CASTLE
STAFF WRITER
Population at the Uma-
tilla County Jail in Pendle-
ton has dropped nearly 25%
from its usual daily average
since the COVID-19 pan-
demic has led to more con-
ditional releases, fewer peo-
ple being booked into jail
and a majority of court pro-
ceedings being put on hold.
According to Uma-
tilla County Sheriff Terry
Rowan, the jail’s daily pop-
ulation has hovered around
160 in recent weeks, which
is a decrease of about 50
people from the usual daily
average of 212.
The reduction is the
result of a combination of
efforts to reduce the risk of
the virus spreading through
the close-quartered facility,
including local law enforce-
ment showing greater dis-
cretion when deciding to
arrest or cite someone.
“I really appreciate local
law enforcement for step-
ping up and being a part of
the solution,” Rowan said.
Agencies and depart-
ments from Morrow County
to Wallowa County house
individuals at the Umatilla
County Jail, and so each has
played a role in the reduced
population.
Those efforts were cou-
pled with Rowan and his jail
HH fi le photo
Inmates are processed in the intake area on the Umatilla County Jail in October 2018 in Pendleton. Population at the jail has
dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.
staff evaluating its popula-
tion at the onset of the out-
break and each person in
custody who was already at
an elevated risk to COVID-
19 because they’re over 60
years old or have underlying
health conditions.
Rowan said eight peo-
ple who fi t the criteria were
identifi ed, and two of them
have been released. Another
was transported to a men-
tal health facility where he
could receive treatment and
be at a lower risk, while the
other fi ve remain in custody.
Other
conditional
releases have been granted
after a standard evaluation
of the severity of charges
currently being held on,
criminal history and history
of appearing for scheduled
court dates.
While the local jail pop-
ulation began to decline
weeks ago, The Oregonian
reported last week that Gov.
Kate Brown had requested
information from county
offi cials about the potential
early release of inmates in
state prisons. According to a
Friday report, 3,244 prison-
ers were identifi ed as poten-
tial early release candidates
due to age, health conditions
or time remaining on their
sentence.
As the state evaluates
reducing its own prison pop-
ulation, any releases are
unlikely to be followed by
more reductions at the Uma-
tilla County Jail.
“At this time, we don’t
have plans for any additional
releases,” Rowan said.
In the event that an
inmate is suspected of being
sick, Rowan said they have
some segregation units,
which are usually utilized
for disciplinary functions,
or for inmates with men-
tal health conditions and
or going through detox,
where inmates could be
quarantined.
Umatilla County District
Attorney Dan Primus and
his offi ce have also played
a role in the reduction
efforts by closely evaluat-
ing bail amounts and condi-
tional releases for those fac-
ing lesser charges for crimes
like misdemeanor thefts,
drug possession or failing to
appear in court.
“We’re trying to do our
part to balance the pub-
lic health concerns with the
public safety concerns,” Pri-
mus said.
Court proceedings have
ceased for any defendant
that isn’t currently in cus-
tody, Primus said, which
accounts for a majority of
cases. According to him,
less than 40 people currently
at the jail are awaiting tri-
als, nearly all of whom are
charged with Measure 11
crimes.
Measure
11
crimes
include murder, manslaugh-
ter and sex abuse and carry
mandatory minimum sen-
tences without possibility
for early release.
But while most cases are
put on hold for the moment,
defendants still have a con-
stitutional right to a speedy
trial. That right is often
waived in order for the
defense to prepare its case,
but Primus is concerned
about the potential health
risks if they don’t.
“What are we going to
do when we actually need
to bring a jury in?” Primus
said.
Pandemic complicates court- Hermiston Police Department
gets a new set of wheels
ordered community service
HERMISTON HERALD
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
For
anyone
with
court-ordered community
service hours to complete,
it hasn’t been easy to fi nd
opportunities in the age of
social distancing.
Usually, people can get
their hours in at nonprofi ts
such as the Agape House or
PAWS.
But Dawn Skinner,
supervisor at Umatilla
County Community Cor-
rections, said many agen-
cies are not currently tak-
ing volunteers in order
to prevent the spread of
COVID-19 and to com-
ply with Governor Kate
Brown’s executive order
for everyone to stay home
as much as possible.
Salvation Army’s thrift
store is currently closed,
for example, and Hermis-
ton’s community garden
has delayed its opening in
order to keep people away
from the Good Shepherd
Health Care System cam-
pus where the garden is
located.
“Everyone’s kind of in
the same situation at the
moment,” Skinner said.
She said some places
may still be taking volun-
teers, and people are wel-
come to check, but she is
hesitant to tell people that’s
what they have to do, since
everyone should be reduc-
ing their time spent in pub-
lic right now.
For people who still
have a lot of time left on
“THE COURT HAS BEEN
PRETTY FORGIVING.”
Dawn Skinner, supervisor at
Umatilla County Community Corrections
their deadline to complete
all their hours, Skinner said
she’s telling them “not to
stress about it” for now.
For people who are
coming up on their dead-
line and still need to com-
plete more hours, she has
been directing them to
talk to the court, which
has the authority to make
accommodations.
“The court has been
pretty forgiving,” she said.
Skinner said, like every-
one, Umatilla County
Community
Corrections
has been making adjust-
ments to enforce social dis-
tancing in its buildings.
Since March 19, all
county offi ces have been
closed to visitors, with staff
available over the phone
and by appointment when
necessary.
Community
Corrections can be reached
at 541-276-7482.
we anticipate this vehicle
will be in service with us
for many years,” he wrote.
The department was pre-
viously planning on using a
retired ambulance donated
by Umatilla County Fire
District #1, but that vehi-
cle met an unfortunate end
when it was parked at a
mechanical shop awaiting
repairs when a driver lost
control and crashed into it
at “highway speeds.” The
ambulance was totaled.
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PET OF THE
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Emergency Service
The Hermiston Police
Department has a new
crime mobile.
The department has ret-
rofi tted a 2001 Dodge die-
sel as a crime scene vehi-
cle stocked with equipment
for the department to col-
lect evidence at large or
complicated crime scenes,
according to a Facebook
post from the department.
The enclosed truck can
also be used during warrant
sweeps or as a mobile com-
mand post.
According to the post by
Lieutenant Randy Stude-
baker, the department got
an “amazing deal” on the
vehicle from Umatilla
Electric Cooperative.
The truck was in good
mechanical condition, he
said, but it no longer served
UEC’s purpose for it.
“We’re thankful for our
partnership with UEC, and
80489 Hwy 395 N
Hermiston
www.oregontrailvet.com
Due to the
COVID-19
pandemic, animal
shelters need
our help more
than ever. Please
donate to your
local shelter, or
offer to foster an
animal in need.
If interested please go to fuzzballrescue.com and fill out an application.
If you are not able to adopt, but would like to foster or donate, visit fuzzballrescue.com
or you can mail in donations to Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue, PO Box 580, Hermiston, OR 97838
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