Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Panel blasts Oregon State Hospital security
Thursday, September 18, 2008 | No comments posted.
SALEM (AP) — State legislators told Oregon State Hospital leaders they were alarmed by a report that shows how easy it has been to escape.
The report said 51 escapes occurred at hospital campuses in Salem and Portland from January 2006 until August 2008. A dozen of the escapes had been by mental patients who were criminally committed.
Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, a member of the Joint Interim Committee on Oregon State Hospital Patient Care, told top hospital managers at a meeting Wednesday night that the escape rate “is not a record that inspires confidence,” and said managers of any Oregon prison would be fired if that many inmates escaped under their watch.
The panel was formed in January after the U.S. Department of Justice issued a report that assailed patient care and conditions at the 125-year-old mental hospital. The report documented poor supervision of patients, patient-on-patient assaults, excessive use of seclusion and restraints, inadequate treatment and unsafe conditions.
Hospital Superintendent Roy Orr, who got the job in late February, acknowledged the security problems. He also disclosed that there are no security employees at the 92-patient hospital campus in Portland — a revelation that surprised legislators.
“You’re going to have to do something,” said Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem, who warned about the potential for a nightmare escape incident in Oregon’s largest city.
Another member of the oversight panel, Rep. Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton, expressed dismay about the state hospital’s lack of a written policy to notify Salem police when a patient goes AWOL.
Orr told Jenson that problem has been fixed, and Salem Police are the first responders to be alerted during an escape from the 620-bed hospital in Salem.
The focus on security follows a highly publicized escape this summer.
Patient Michael Sands, of Brookings, overpowered a staff member, took her keys and bolted from a locked psychiatric ward. He allegedly carjacked a vehicle in Salem, rammed a patrol car and assaulted a police officer before being subdued with stun guns.
Orr said an outside consulting firm is being hired to conduct an external review of security at both campuses.
The report said 51 escapes occurred at hospital campuses in Salem and Portland from January 2006 until August 2008. A dozen of the escapes had been by mental patients who were criminally committed.
Sen. Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, a member of the Joint Interim Committee on Oregon State Hospital Patient Care, told top hospital managers at a meeting Wednesday night that the escape rate “is not a record that inspires confidence,” and said managers of any Oregon prison would be fired if that many inmates escaped under their watch.
The panel was formed in January after the U.S. Department of Justice issued a report that assailed patient care and conditions at the 125-year-old mental hospital. The report documented poor supervision of patients, patient-on-patient assaults, excessive use of seclusion and restraints, inadequate treatment and unsafe conditions.
Hospital Superintendent Roy Orr, who got the job in late February, acknowledged the security problems. He also disclosed that there are no security employees at the 92-patient hospital campus in Portland — a revelation that surprised legislators.
“You’re going to have to do something,” said Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem, who warned about the potential for a nightmare escape incident in Oregon’s largest city.
Another member of the oversight panel, Rep. Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton, expressed dismay about the state hospital’s lack of a written policy to notify Salem police when a patient goes AWOL.
Orr told Jenson that problem has been fixed, and Salem Police are the first responders to be alerted during an escape from the 620-bed hospital in Salem.
The focus on security follows a highly publicized escape this summer.
Patient Michael Sands, of Brookings, overpowered a staff member, took her keys and bolted from a locked psychiatric ward. He allegedly carjacked a vehicle in Salem, rammed a patrol car and assaulted a police officer before being subdued with stun guns.
Orr said an outside consulting firm is being hired to conduct an external review of security at both campuses.
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines