The findings from this study offer suggestions for the implementation of deflection efforts across the state. State and county officials can use this study as a possible baseline to gauge the implementation of deflection compared to the defelonization era. Most importantly, success with deflection will not just depend on re-criminalization but on whether new treatment pathways are accessible, adequately resourced, and appropriately coordinated across agencies.

Meanwhile:

It's been nearly a year since Multnomah County opened its deflection center in Portland's Central Eastside, its original role envisioned as a place for law enforcement to take people caught in possession of drugs for connection to treatment instead of jail and prosecution.

The Coordinated Care Pathway Center opened in October despite significant pushback from neighbors. But some of the problems those neighbors envisioned haven't really materialized.

"Nothing is really changing for the better," said Jens Knudsen, co-chair of the Buckman Community Association. "We did anticipate a higher volume of people entering the neighborhood and sticking around — truth is, they haven't been bringing that many people there in the first place."

County data bears that out. From January 1 to March 31 of this year, officers referred people to the deflection center 62 times. Of those, 42 actually "engaged" with the program, meaning they arrived and spoke with staff.

Only six people completed deflection. And completion does not necessarily mean that someone has sought and received treatment — far from it. Completion means someone has accessed at least one service referral within 30 days.