Multnomah County’s two jails are nearing capacity – possibly leading to forced releases just a week before potential presidential election unrest, the sheriff warned this week. If the jails reach 95% capacity, a jail emergency triggers releases of prisoners, based on their risk assessment score, said Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell. The jail system hasn’t been at capacity since before the pandemic. Forced jail releases “are not an acceptable outcome for our public safety system,” Morrisey O’Donnell said, and represent a “failure of our systems of accountability and our rehabilitative goals.” Oregon’s U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight pressed the county to explain how it will avoid what she called “an emergency, as far as I’m concerned,” especially given the possibility of protests and ensuing arrests during a volatile election season. Read more at the link in our bio. #portland #portlandoregon #overpopulation #election2024 #2024election #theoregonian #multnomahcounty