Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County decided Tuesday to delay the opening of the mothballed Wapato jail.

Commissioners had planned to open it for offenders wrestling with alcohol and drug addiction. But they’re now backing off the idea, saying two measures on the November ballot will substantially increase the demand for jail beds.

Chis Bouneff of the DePaul Treatment Centers, says he’s very disappointed.

Chris Bouneff:  “Here you have us talking about expanding treatment opportunities, and instead our conversation is changing to: how are we going to house people who otherwise would have benefited from treatment.”

He says DePaul can treat addicts for a little more than $100 a day -- a fraction of the cost it takes to keep someone in jail.

Studies suggest that Oregon spends a bigger percentage of its state budget to lock up criminals than any other state in the union.