Approved: 6/27/2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON
Regarding Funding for Behavior Rehabilitation Services for Juveniles
WHEREAS, the cost of defending and prosecuting capital punishment cases cost the State of Oregon approximately $200 million dollars between years 2004 and 2014 without a single individual being executed during this time frame; and
WHEREAS, there is insufficient funding toward rehabilitation of and services for court involved juveniles in the State of Oregon; and
WHEREAS, in Oregon, as of 2017, the recidivism rate for juvenile offenders was 28.8% (1,980 out of 6,886 youth with delinquent referrals); and
WHEREAS, alternative intervention services such as Behavior Rehabilitation Services (BRS) provided by the State of Oregon have proven to be much more effective than incarceration by integrating gender-responsive, culturally-sensitive, trauma-informed and age-appropriate services; and
WHEREAS, Oregon has only 405 beds in BRS facilities and many counties have no such facilities; and
WHEREAS, providing incarceration alternatives aides reducing statewide recidivism rates with the potential for reducing adult offenders, therefore reallocating funding must be a priority;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. We urge the Oregon Legislature to reallocate funding formerly allocated to recently (now) eliminated capital punishment prosecution and defense efforts be redirected to behavioral intervention services such as Behavior Rehabilitation Services.
Section 2. We urge the Oregon Legislature to provide additional funding for alternative intervention services, including more Behavior Rehabilitation Services beds statewide and in all counties.
Resolution Submitted by Peter Nordbye and Michael Kohlhoff, Clackamas County.
