I’d caution taking too many lessons from what’s happened in Oregon so far.
Measure 110 was advanced by ballot initiative, and there was little planning around how supportive services/infrastructure would be built. As a result, the rollout has gone extremely poorly.
Add to that, despite what people will viciously argue to the contrary, the distribution caused to society by COVID. Across the entire US there was a significant increase in crime, followed by a subsequent reduction. Further, significant numbers of people were let out of the jail system and shelters to reduce crowding.
There are realistically several currents that are leading to people’s anecdotal experiences, which are challenging to disentangle. All I would argue is that it is folly to think that just throwing the doors open without careful planning and consideration is a bad idea (shocking, I know).
Measure 110 was advanced by ballot initiative, and there was little planning around how supportive services/infrastructure would be built. As a result, the rollout has gone extremely poorly.
Add to that, despite what people will viciously argue to the contrary, the distribution caused to society by COVID. Across the entire US there was a significant increase in crime, followed by a subsequent reduction. Further, significant numbers of people were let out of the jail system and shelters to reduce crowding.
There are realistically several currents that are leading to people’s anecdotal experiences, which are challenging to disentangle. All I would argue is that it is folly to think that just throwing the doors open without careful planning and consideration is a bad idea (shocking, I know).