Effective March 19th, 2020, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office will be temporarily making additional modifications to our public safety services:
All Sheriff’s Office Facilities:
• Enhanced cleaning efforts in high traffic areas.
• To reduce preventable foot traffic in our facilities, we’re requesting community members who are conducting business with the Sheriff’s Office to avoid bringing unnecessary companions with them into the building.
Law Enforcement:
• Patrol deputies are being asked to take social distancing measures if possible when handling calls for service; some non-emergency calls will be handled by phone only.
• Over the next month, there will be an enhanced law enforcement presence within our county including our Enhanced Service District and contract cities.
• Local agencies have been asked to exercise their discretion and consider issuing citations in lieu of taking persons into custody for crimes which are not A or B felonies, Measure 11, require a mandatory arrest, or constitute a significant risk to our community.
Marion County Jail:
• All general visits with adults in custody at Marion County Jail are canceled; professional visits will be limited to non-contact attorney booths.
• Increased medical screening for custodies being brought to Marion County Jail prior to being admitted into the facility.
Community Corrections:
• Community Corrections deputies are continuing to complete client meetings and check-ins, relying on technology and the lobby of our Public Safety Building. Additional contacts with clients will be performed out in the community when feasible.
These updated modifications to services are in addition to those previously announced on March 13th. Those temporary changes included postponement of community meetings, events, volunteer programs at the jail, citizen ride-a-longs, and tours of Sheriff’s Office facilities.
As we work together as a community and take measures to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak, your team at the Sheriff’s Office appreciates the stressful time this is for our friends, family, and community as a whole. The women and men of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office encourage all of our community members to stay up to date on the latest public health information related to COVID-19 by visiting the Marion County Health & Human Services website at: https://www.co.marion.or.us/HLT/Pages/COVID-19.aspx
