Deflection Program

What is Deflection?

Deflection is the result of the passage of House Bill (HB) 4002 during the 2024 Legislative Session. HB 4002 repealed the Class E violation that was applied to possession of small amounts of controlled substances under Measure 110, a voter initiative passed in 2020. HB 4002 replaced the Class E violation with a new misdemeanor crime of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. As a part of the re-criminalization of controlled substances under this house bill, the legislature encouraged County’s to develop and implement a deflection program.

Deflection is defined as a collaborative program between law enforcement agencies and behavioral health entities that assists individuals who may have substance use disorder, another behavioral health disorder or co-occurring disorders, to create community-based pathways to treatment, recovery support services, housing, case management and other services.

Polk County Deflection Program

Polk County’s Deflection Program was developed in partnership with the following agencies:

Polk County Health Services (Mental Health/Substance Use treatment provider)
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Police Department
Dallas Police Department
Independence Police Department
Monmouth Police Department
Salem Police Department
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Polk County District Attorney’s Office
Polk Community Corrections

The Polk County Deflection Program was designed to provide an opportunity for individuals who receive a citation for Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) to engage in treatment services in lieu of the citation being filed in court.

What resources are available under the Deflection Program?

Individuals determined to be eligible for Polk County’s Deflection program will be referred to a Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) for a needs determination and service eligibility. These services may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Immediate screening to determine needs of the individual (ex. housing, treatment, transportation, etc.)
Assistance with same day alcohol and drug assessment
Support in accessing and engaging in treatment (ex. recovery support groups, outpatient treatment, residential referrals, OHP, detox, and other harm reduction support)
Help with navigating transportation and housing resources
Assist with skill building, i.e. resume writing and identifying low barrier employment opportunities

Additional services and resources can be found on the Polk County Behavioral Health Resource Network (BHRN) website.

Questions/Answers (Q&A)

What do I do if I receive a PCS citation and a referral to the Polk County Deflection Program?

You will need to contact the Polk County Deflection Coordinator within 7 days from the date of your citation. The Coordinator will determine program eligibility and provide treatment referral.

Polk County Deflection Coordinator

Phone Number: (503) 623-5226 ext. 2845

Email Address: PolkDeflection@co.polk.or.us

What if I’m not eligible for the program?

The Coordinator will refer you to court, as identified on your citation. Failure to attend court as directed by your citation and the Coordinator will result in a Failure to Appear warrant being issued for your arrest.

Though you are not eligible for the Deflection Program, the Coordinator will still provide a referral to the Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) for needs determination and treatment access. Again, you will still be required to attend court as identified on your citation.

What if I’m accepted into the Deflection Program?

If the Coordinator determines you are eligible for the Deflection Program, you will be connected to a Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) and provided same day access to an alcohol and drug assessment. Based on the results of the assessment, you will be required to follow any recommended treatment. Failure to adhere to the treatment requirements, as identified by the treatment provider, may result in removal from the Deflection Program and your citation filed in court.

How long is the program?

The Program Coordinator will monitor your progress for a minimum of 180 days or until you provide sufficient and successful engagement in treatment services. Upon successful engagement in services, your underlying citation will be set aside/dismissed.