Grand Jury Finds Oregon State Hospital Bed Shortage Is Forcing Patients Out Before Treatment

A Marion County grand jury has said that Oregon State Hospital doesn’t have enough beds to meet the needs of patients needing hospitalization for psychiatric treatment, criminal restoration, or civil commitment.

Grand Jury Finds Insufficient Capacity in Salem and Public-Safety Consequences

The grand jury spent about six months examining conditions and management at the Salem campus, holding 13 sessions, hearing more than 47 hours of testimony from about 40 witnesses and reviewing hundreds of pages of documents. Its report contains 19 findings.

The principal finding was that limited capacity has reduced patient restoration and rehabilitation. It said patients are being discharged into Oregon communities before receiving meaningful treatment, which the report said has public-safety consequences.

The report also identified staffing and leadership concerns, finding that overall staffing levels were too low, and that inadequate staffing created unsafe conditions for patients and employees. The grand jury noted that the Salem campus did not have a 24/7 medical provider on site.

Early Releases, Staffing Failures and Prolonged Seclusion at Salem Campus

During the hearings, the grand jury reviewed the case of Kenneth Hass, who died at the Salem hospital in March 2025 after spending about seven months in seclusion. Documents reviewed showed 1,538 seclusion events at the Salem campus during 2025.

Oregon State Hospital, operated by the Oregon Health Authority, has campuses in Salem and Junction City. The Salem campus has 558 beds, while Junction City has 145. The grand jury’s report also indicates that hiring requirements for mental health technicians did not match the demands of the job.

Applicants currently need six months of customer-service experience but no specific prior mental-health training or experience. Raising concerns about the use of seclusion, the report said it was being used too frequently and for too long.

25 recommendations by the grand jury included increasing hospital capacity and staffing, requiring relevant mental-health or medical experience for some hires, ensuring a doctor is available around the clock, and improving the tracking of seclusion.