Deflection plan in Portland includes jail for people caught with drugs after 8 p.m. and on weekends

Multnomah County
Portland police Chief Bob Day said Monday he will direct officers to take people suspected of minor drug possession to jail during the hours when a peer response is not available. The approach is a stopgap as Multnomah County officials continue to work on a plan to have people suspected of low-level drug possession avoid jail.Courtesy of Multnomah County

Starting next week, people caught with small amounts of street drugs outside the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends will be arrested and taken to jail, Portland Police Chief Bob Day said Monday.

The approach is a stopgap as Multnomah County officials continue to work on a plan to have people suspected of low-level drug possession avoid jail.

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