A new report from researchers at Portland State University suggests that the perceived increase in lawlessness in Oregon, particularly in Portland, after the decriminalization of hard drugs under Measure 110 was not necessarily due to the law change. The researchers found that many of the complaints from law enforcement about Measure 110 were not supported by data and that other factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, had a more significant impact on law enforcement metrics.
The study found that law enforcement metrics, such as police stops, searches, and arrests, were on the decline even before Measure 110 went into effect, with the pandemic further contributing to this trend. The number of arrests for possession of controlled substances (PCS) had been declining prior to the passage of Measure 110 and continued to decline afterwards, likely due to changes in Oregon’s criminal justice system in 2017.
Despite concerns that Measure 110 would negatively impact drug courts, participation numbers had stabilized by late 2021. Drug courts in Oregon typically focus on high-risk, high-needs individuals who have committed drug-adjacent crimes, rather than simple drug possession offenses.
Overall, the researchers concluded that while Measure 110 did impact certain law enforcement metrics, the decline in proactive policing and arrests for drug-related offenses was more significantly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in Oregon’s criminal justice system prior to the passage of Measure 110.
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