PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — There’s only one jail in Oregon using police dogs to control inmates – and Disability Rights Oregon wants them to stop.
In a new report released Tuesday, the advocacy group announced it will ask legislators to ban the use of dogs for “intimidation, control, or punishment” of inmates. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office uses police canines in its jail, as seen in a widespread video from 2017, in which a Belgian Malinois bites and drags an inmate from his cell.
Disability Rights Oregon legal director Emily Cooper, who authored the report, said that the inmate, Christopher Bartlett, was experiencing hallucinations as a result of his mental illness. Cooper said mentally ill inmates are more likely to have the police dog used against them and suffer injury as a result.
“The problem with the dog bite is once the teeth enter the skin, if you struggle or resist because you don’t understand, you’re going to cause yourself more damage,” Cooper said.
A grand jury ruled that the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office use of the police dog against Bartlett was a justified use of force, but advised the sheriff’s office to look into other de-escalation techniques. The sheriff’s office recently reached a settlement with Bartlett for $251,000 after he filed suit in federal court.
Cooper said she’s had several conversations with the sheriff’s office and does not believe they’ve followed that suggestion.
“It’s frustrating. In multiple meetings and multiple conversations, I’ve been unable to convince the county to abandon this practice. Experts have been unable to convince them to abandon this practice,” Cooper said.
The non-profit’s report includes testimony from Steve J. Martin, who is described as a career corrections professional with over 45 years’ experience.
In his testimony, Martin said that force should be used as a last resort, should minimize injuries to inmates and staff, should cease when control has been established, and should never be used to punish or inflict pain.
“The use of K-9s in a cell extraction violates each and every one of these core principles,” Martin is quoted as saying. He added that he was not aware of K-9s being used in this way in other jails.
Disability Rights Oregon’s report recognizes that Oregon state law is not explicit on the use of canines in a correctional setting. Cooper said she hopes the report will move Columbia County to change its practices; if not, they will be seeking legislative solutions in the 2019 session.
Columbia County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to multiple requests for an interview about its use of police dogs to control inmates.