Corrections deputies working in Multnomah County jails and courthouses would get formal written rules governing when they can make arrests — including limited circumstances outside those facilities — under a proposed policy now open for public comment.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office on July 13 launched a 30-day review period for six draft policies. The most notable, Policy 315.00, spells out the statutory arrest authority of sworn corrections deputies: when they can arrest someone inside county detention and court facilities, and when they can make warrantless arrests outside those walls to prevent unlawful physical force against themselves or a third person.
Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell's office has not said whether the policy codifies existing practice or expands it. The MCSO announcement describes it as a proposed new policy.
Why it matters
The policy arrives amid well-documented staffing strain. A January 2026 Corrections Grand Jury report found MCSO had 43 vacancies across 373 funded corrections deputy positions as of October 2025. The report called it a shortage stretching more than five years.
Deputies collectively logged 472 overtime hours per day in fiscal year 2025, costing $11.4 million. Booking at the county's jail entry point closed 48 times in two years, according to the grand jury's findings.
Clarifying arrest authority for a corrections workforce under that kind of pressure matters for both deputies and the people in their custody.
The other five policies
The remaining proposals cover internal operations and administration:
- Policy 200.00 — Requirements for preparing agenda placement requests to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners.
- Policy 205.00 — Fiscal management procedures for purchasing, accounting, budgets, and contracts.
- Policy 260.00 — How MCSO reviews and updates its fee schedule in line with county and state regulations.
- Policy 335.00 — Supervisor duties, including intervening in misconduct and handling conflicting directives.
- Policy 1715.00 — A structured return-to-work process for members coming back from extended leave.
How to weigh in
The comment window closes Wednesday, August 12. Residents, community organizations, and MCSO staff can read the full draft policies and submit feedback at mcso.us/about-mcso/policy. All comments become part of the public record.
After the comment period closes, MCSO will finalize and adopt the policies.
