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Sheriff reverses course, agrees to book violators of Portland’s camping ban in jail
Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell announced Tuesday that violators of the city’s anti-camping ordinance will be booked into jail after all – at least during the next four months.
The announcement comes after a public back-and-forth between the elected officials after the sheriff took the mayor by surprise by declaring she would not jail people who violated the city’s camping rules. A day after her announcement, Wheeler ordered police to continue to cite people who refused shelter services.
According to the statement, the booking policy will be in effect for the next four months while the sheriff’s office analyzes and evaluates data to see if it’s helping move people into shelter. Per the agreement, people brought to jail will once again be offered services during the booking process. If they choose to accept, the city’s Street Services Coordination Center will plan next steps to provide them resources.