Conditional Release Impact on Public Safety

Due to a 2005 increase in funding from the Oregon legislature, an increased number of PSRB clients have been moved into a variety of new community placements, including Secure Residential Treatment Facilities (SRTFs). Since these facilities opened, increasing the number of PSRB clients in the community, there has been no corresponding increase in the recidivism rate of clients under Board jurisdiction.

State law prohibits the Board from placing anyone on Conditional Release who is determined to be presently dangerous to others. Before the Board approves a conditional release, the client's file goes through a comprehensive screening process that includes four levels of review.

Conditional Release is not a new policy. Most states have some type of conditional release program, and the PSRB has supervised clients in the community on conditional release since its inception in 1978. Over the past 15 years, the Board has granted 1643 conditional releases to individuals who have transitioned into community placements throughout Oregon. Some of these clients remain under supervision for decades or even life.

The law requires the Board to notify the originating district attorney and any victims who have requested such notification. The Board also notifies the attorney general’s office, the client’s attorney, and the client’s 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.