Oregon
Oregon drug possession arrests drop under new law that offers treatment instead of jail
Oregon’s new drug law goes into effect Sept. 1.
The law reintroduces penalties for possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. Some counties will offer “deflection” to treatment instead of jail.
Drug possession arrests in Oregon have fallen from a weekly average of 218 to 170 three months after Oregon recriminalized possession of small amounts of controlled substances and offered treatment programs instead of jail, according to data shared with lawmakers Wednesday.
There was an initial peak of 218 arrests per week after House Bill 4002 went into effect Sept. 1, repealing the Class E violations created by the voter-approved Measure 110 and introducing a new misdemeanor crime for possession, said Ken Sanchagrin, executive director of the Criminal Justice Commission.
But arrests have since fallen to a weekly average of about 180 in October and 170 in November, Sanchagrin told lawmakers.
The bill also allocated $20.7 million for counties to set up “deflection programs” and offer eligible Oregonians treatment before entering the criminal justice system.
Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 4, a total of 442 people were referred to deflection and 263 were enrolled.
“I’m really proud of what we did and I’m also really thankful that you all dug in,” Sen. Kate Lieber, D-Portland, told representatives of Lane, Washington and Malheur counties who talked about their deflection programs.
Lieber, now co-chair of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, will be part of fielding additional funding requests for the program.
“All of us in this room and who have participated in this, ultimately, we want to make Oregon safer and we want Oregonians to get the treatment they need when they need it,” Lieber added.
What Oregon’s dashboard tracking drug arrests shows
A dashboard maintained by the commission shows 1,648 cases have been filed for the new drug enforcement misdemeanor. Of those, 931 cases filed were standalone, meaning there were no other accompanying charges.
Another dashboard maintained by the Criminal Justice Commission shows 2,734 arrests for possession were made from Sept. 1 to Dec. 12. The number includes all possession arrests including commercial drug offenses.
Prior to the pandemic, there was an average of about 300 arrests a week for possession of controlled substance. After Measure 110 went into effect, there were about 50 arrests per week.
Status of county programs for people arrested with narcotics to avoid immediate jail time
Of Oregon’s 36 counties, 28 counties applied for Behavioral Health Deflection grants.
As of December, 19 deflection programs are operational and most have committed to using a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program similar to the program that Marion County has been operating since 2018.
Lane County was awarded $2 million for its new deflection program, which launched Oct. 18.
Lane County District Attorney Chris Parosa shared preliminary data with lawmakers that 65 people were deemed eligible for the county program and 25 people were offered deflection.
A total of 35 people were in deflection, more than offered because police had referred them even without charges filed, Parosa said.
Four people declined the program and 15 people were terminated from deflection. “The primary reasons are that they just weren’t ready for treatment at that point and they’re not willing to engage,” Parosa said.
He urged lawmakers to maintain funding for the deflection programs. If state funding dries up, the program will end, he warned.
“Having talked with many of my compatriots from around the state and district attorney offices, if we are going to have the expectation that they’re going to build up robust programs in their communities, they’ve gotta receive adequate funding as well,” Parosa said.
Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Malheur, Morrow, Tillamook, Union and Wasco each received $150,000 and “are going to need more funding put into their system in order for them to stand up these programs,” he said. “We wouldn’t have even known where to start if that is what had been given to us.”
Sanchagrin said 216 people remained enrolled in deflection statewide and 70 did not complete their program largely because they did not engage as required.
A best practices report by the commission about deflection programs and including recommendations for funding of the Oregon Behavioral Health Deflection Program is expected in April.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo
BBC Travel has published its list of the 20 best places to travel in 2026.
The list of global destinations only includes two U.S. travel spots, and one is the Oregon coast.
The BBC write-up is glowing, calling Oregon’s coastline “one of the country’s bucket-list road trips” – and noting that Oregon is the only U.S. state where all beaches are free and public.
- 6 Oregon towns make list of ‘most adorable’ in PNW
Kaitlyn Brajcich of Sustainable Travel International contributed to the BBC’s article, praising the coast’s accessibility and sustainability:
“Mobi-Mats laid over the sand and free beach wheelchairs enable more visitors to enjoy the shore, as does a new partnership with Wheel the World that maps inclusive lodging and experiences.”
Brajcich also cited the easy availability of bikes, sustainable seafood and transit options as reasons to visit the Oregon coast.
The Oregon coast has racked up plenty of superlatives over the years” “most adorable” small towns, most beautiful landmarks, best campground and more.
If you’re planning to visit the coast this winter, Winter Whale Watch Week begins Saturday, Dec. 27 and runs through Wednesday, Dec. 31.
“Trained Oregon State Park volunteers will be stationed at 14 sites along the Oregon Coast from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said in a news release, “to help visitors spot gray whales on their southward migration to the calving lagoons in Mexico.”
A map of the volunteer sites is available on the Oregon State Parks website.
Winter is also the best season to watch storms and view king tides at the coast, but remember to follow safety guidelines if you go.
- The 6 best places to witness king tides on the Oregon and Washington coasts this winter
The other U.S. location to make the BBC’s travel list? Philadelphia, where 2026 will see a yearlong celebration of America’s 250th birthday, including art and museum exhibits, concerts and a variety of sporting events like the FIFA World Cup.
Mater Dei junior defensive back Danny Lang has set a tentative commitment date and USC is firmly in the thick of his recruitment. The four-star junior, one of the top prospects in a loaded West Coast 2027 defensive back class, said he plans to make his college decision on in the summer after completing a final round of official visits.
“I’m most likely going to commit on July 2,” Lang told Rivals. “That’s my birthday so I think that would be a good time to lock it in.”
Lang, rated the No. 193 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, has emerged as a key target for several national powers. He spent his first two high school seasons at safety before transitioning to corner as a junior, a move that showcased his range, instincts, and positional flexibility.
USC’s Position with Lang
Lang confirmed the USC Trojans, Ohio State Buckeyes, Ole Miss Rebels, and Oregon Ducks will receive official visits. The Trojans, however, already hold one of the strongest relationships in the race.
“USC of course is in there,” Lang said to Rivals. “I’ve been there a lot already and have a really strong comfort level and I like what USC is building. My relationship with T-Reed (Trovon Reed, DB) is very strong.”
That track record matters. Lang has visited USC multiple times across the last two years, including two unofficial visits in 2025. The Trojans also offered early and are the only program to host him more than once. Because of this according to Rivals, the Trojans are an overwhelming favorite to land the hometown star with a 95.5 percent chance.
Lang’s game fits the modern college secondary. At 6-foot-1, he can play corner or safety, allowing staffs to match him to multiple roles. As a sophomore he totaled 33 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Those numbers reflect both physicality and a knack for creating turnovers, traits that translate well across alignments.
MORE: Lincoln Riley Gives USC Roster Updates Ahead of Alamo Bowl vs. TCU
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MORE: What Four-Star Elija Harmon’s Commitment to Oklahoma Means for USC Recruiting
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A Deep 2027 DB Class USC Wants to Control
The broader context heightens USC’s urgency. The 2027 recruiting cycle on the West Coast is unusually strong at defensive back, and the Trojans are in the mix for several national names.
Aaryn Washington, ranked No. 50 overall, recently named a top two of Georgia and USC, with the Trojans positioned as a legitimate contender. Should he commit, he would become USC’s first defensive back pledge in the 2027 cycle. Duvay Williams, ranked No. 40 nationally, is another priority target. The Gardena native is already polished in press coverage and consistently erases opposing receivers. He is widely viewed as a lean toward USC.
Lang fits cleanly into this picture. He is ranked No. 56 overall and No. 9 at corner, giving USC a chance to land three top-60 national defensive backs from Southern California alone. Honor Fa’alave-Johnson and Gavin Williams also remain high on the Trojans’ board, forming what could become the strongest defensive back haul of the Lincoln Riley era.
Why It Matters for USC
Landing even two of these prospects would reshape USC’s secondary pipeline. Adding three or more would qualify as a foundational class for the program’s long-term defensive rebuild. The Trojans’ staff has put themselves in a competitive position early in the cycle, particularly with local players who have repeatedly visited campus and built trust with the current defensive staff.
Lang’s July decision timeline gives USC a clear target window. His official visits will shape the final stretch, but the Trojans’ familiarity, development pitch, and strong connection with Trovon Reed ensure they will remain a major player until the end.
Gov. Tina Kotek’s commitment to boosting prosperity through economic development is encouraging, and I hope her efforts are successful, (“Oregon’s governor unveiled a ‘roadmap’ to business prosperity. Here’s what’s at stake,” Dec. 2). Too often, Oregon’s leading industries and businesses hear platitudes on the importance of economic development only to witness actions that dilute economic development funds, which provide high returns on investment.
Oregon hospitality and leisure is the third-largest private employer sector, creating more than 200,000 jobs and generating $14 billion in annual economic activity – driven in part by state and local lodging taxes.
The state’s 1.5% lodging tax raises approximately $40 million a year and is reinvested in economic development, including tourism promotion and related infrastructure. But some state lawmakers are trying to increase the tax and divert the additional revenue for things without economic benefits – things which should be paid for with general funds. Worse yet, there are efforts to change how county and city lodging taxes are distributed.
State and local lodging taxes are designed to be an economic development tool, and the current system has proven itself – a $40 million investment at the state level and hundreds of millions at local levels for a $14 billion return.
The economic headwinds facing Oregon’s economy are fierce. We should be laser focused on creating the strongest multiplier effect we can with these finite economic development resources. If lawmakers care about Oregon’s economic prosperity, they will abandon these harmful proposals in the upcoming session, and the governor should rebuke any efforts contrary to the goals of her economic development roadmap.
Jason Brandt
Brandt is president and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association
To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
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