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OSSA MEDIA RELEASE STATEMENT – March 19, 2020

𝗒π—₯π—˜π—šπ—’π—‘ π—¦π—›π—˜π—₯π—œπ—™π—™π—¦ π—–π—’π—Ÿπ—Ÿπ—”π—•π—’π—₯π—”π—§π—œπ—‘π—š 𝗧𝗒 π—˜π—‘π—¦π—¨π—₯π—˜ π—§π—›π—˜ π—›π—˜π—”π—Ÿπ—§π—› 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—¦π—”π—™π—˜π—§π—¬ 𝗒𝗙 𝗒𝗨π—₯ π—–π—’π— π— π—¨π—‘π—œπ—§π—œπ—˜π—¦ 𝗔𝗖π—₯𝗒𝗦𝗦 π—§π—›π—˜ π—¦π—§π—”π—§π—˜β 

⁠Since the onset COVID-19 in Oregon, the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association (OSSA) has been coordinating an effort with our Oregon sheriffs to share suggested practices and precautionary measures that protect the health and safety of our community members and the individuals entrusted to the care of our jails. ⁠

⁠OSSA has held conference calls with sheriffs, jail, and enforcement command level leaders within sheriff’s offices, discussing a wide variety of measures to protect our community, individuals in our custody, and our staff.⁠

⁠We can assure you that your Oregon sheriffs, jail, and enforcement commanders are doing their absolute best to implement appropriate protocols to address COVID-19. We are working with our local law enforcement partners, the courts, district attorney’s offices and public defenders to implement changes to the entire criminal justice system which will help us manage this crisis. Also, we are communicating with our county health departments, the Governor’s office, the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Department of Corrections, and emergency management agencies to ensure that we have the most current information and are implementing the latest recommended changes. ⁠

These changes include a careful evaluation of who gets booked into our facilities to limit intakes, working to get low-risk offenders out of jail as soon as possible, a host of environmental precautions, what calls we respond to, practicing social distancing while being visible in the public, screening of staff, and screening of individuals in our custody.⁠ Moving forward, OSSA will continue to keep sheriffs, jail, and enforcement commanders updated on any recommended practices and trends. ⁠

Your Oregon sheriffs are committed to making our communities around the state stronger and safer. 

With this goal in mind, sheriffs are working diligently to ensure their offices and personnel will be here for our communities during these unprecedented times.

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