Assaults on Oregon Mental Health Workers Rise

In Oregon, the workers at the state-run mental health facilities for criminals are concerned about their safety. At the Oregon State Hospital, 208 injuries were recorded through October, up from 185 in 2003. The reason is mostly due from assaults from clients. One issue that is commonly raised by employees is that the patients are not charged for their crimes unless they are of the most serious felony assaults, causing severe injury. All others are handled through the hospital’s administration and not the judicial system. Additionally, while it is a crime for inmates to throw bodily fluids on corrections officers, this same behavior is not considered to be criminal if committed against a hospital worker. In 2 recent cases whereas an employee was seriously injured after being struck with a toilet seat and after a nurse was beaten by an inmate, new security measures have been put in place such as video surveillance. However, more staff, less crowding of inmates and other precautions are requested by the union of hospital workers.