Public FAQs

No. There is no minimum time a person must stay at the hospital nor do all GEI defendants have to go to the hospital.

The period that individual PSRB clients stay at OSH is based on a clinical assessment of the individual's mental status and progress in treatment at the hospital and a risk assessment as to their dangerousness as well as the availability of the appropriate resources in the community. If the Board determines that a person can be safely managed and treated in a community setting, the PSRB attempts to find an appropriate placement.

Because of additional funding from the Oregon Legislature since 2005, an increased number of PSRB clients have been moved into a variety of community placements, including Secure Residential Treatment Facilities (SRTFs). Since more of these facilities have opened, there has not been any increase in the recidivism rate.

State law prohibits the Board from putting anyone on Conditional Release who is determined to be presently dangerous to others. Additionally, individuals the Board places on conditional release go through a comprehensive screening process including four levels of review.

Conditional release is not a new policy. Most states in the US have some type of conditional release program. The PSRB has supervised clients in the community on conditional release since its inception in 1978. Over the past 15 years, over 1500 conditional releases have been granted to individuals who have transitioned into community placements throughout the state of Oregon. Some of these clients remain under supervision for decades or even life.

By law, the district attorney from the committing county is notified, as well as the victim(s), if they requested such notification. Board staff also notifies the Attorney General's office, the client's attorney, and the client's proposed case manager. Once a person leaves the state hospital on a conditional release, the PSRB also notifies law enforcement. With some exceptions, Fair Housing and Disability Laws prevent the Board from sharing information about patients with neighbors or members of the public

Please visit our Administrative Meetings page for the dates of upcoming board meetings.

The Governor appoints the Psychiatric Security Review Board's members, and they serve at her pleasure.

Discharge (or “jurisdictional discharge") means a person is not on any PSRB supervision. ORS 161.346(a) and ORS 161.351(1) require that the PSRB discharge a person from its jurisdiction if it finds that, by a preponderance of the evidence, at a full and fair hearing, a patient no longer has a qualifying mental disorder—even if the person is at high risk to reoffend. Additionally, the Oregon State Hospital is mandated by ORS 161.341(a) to request an early discharge hearing if the hospital does not believe a patient has a mental illness. Note that pursuant to ORS 161.295(2) and Oregon appellate court case law, personality disorder, sexual conduct disorders and voluntary substance-related intoxication are not qualifying mental disorders.

Victims and the District Attorney of the GEI county receive notification of all PSRB hearings. The District Attorney or the Assistant Attorney General representing the State has the right to request its own independent psychiatric examination and to present the results to the Board if they so choose. See ORS 161.341(2).

The current statutory structure does not allow PSRB to keep jurisdiction of persons without a mental illness—even if they are at risk to reoffend. We also cannot transfer jurisdiction to the Department of Corrections (DOC) or Community Corrections because there is no current statutory authority to do so.

In 2011, the Legislature made improvements to the judicial system by creating a certified evaluator requirement for all GEI cases. This requirement was implemented to improve the quality of forensic evaluations and minimize the risk that a defendant is inappropriately found guilty except for insanity and placed under the PSRB. Additionally, hospital staff and PSRB regularly travel to every county and region in Oregon educating attorneys, judges, and law enforcement about the GEI laws.

Hearings are held at either the PSRB Office in Portland or at the Oregon State Hospital. For more information, including driving and parking instructions for both locations, please visit our client hearings page.

Public FAQs

Are people who have been found GEI ever sentenced to the Oregon State Hospital?

How is the length of time at the Oregon State Hospital established?

Is the state trying to move PSRB clients out of the state hospital and into the community and what kind of impact will that have on public safety?

Is it safe to move people who have committed violent crimes into the community?

Who is notified when someone is being considered for conditional release?

When is the Next Board Meeting?

To Whom Does the Board Report?

What is an Early Discharge?

Where Does the Board Hold Hearings?