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Bill banning use of dogs to remove inmates from cells signed by Gov. Brown

It still allows dogs to be used for tracking or preventing the escape of an inmate and controlling inmate disturbances.

In a high profile case, Columbia County jailers sicced a dog on a jail inmate in August 2017 and a bill calling for an end to the practice has been signed into law by Gov. Brown.

Senate Bill 495 prohibits using dogs to extract an inmate in adult and youth correctional facilities. It passed easily and was assigned Tuesday to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

It still allows dogs to be used for tracking or preventing the escape of an inmate and controlling inmate disturbances. Dogs also may still be used for vocational education and inmate rehabilitation.

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At a public hearing, the ACLU, Disability Rights Oregon  and the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association testified in favor of the bill, as did Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers representing the Oregon State Sheriff's Association.

"Your Oregon Sheriffs believe in the humane treatment of those committed to our care and custody in our jails. While there are times that compliance must be gained to maintain the safety and security in a correctional setting, we do not believe it should be done with a police protection canine," he testified.

Then-sheriff Jeff Dickerson supported using a dog to extract inmate Christopher Bartlett.

He said Bartlett was not complying with instructions from jailers to come out of the cell and and was throwing objects at the cell door. Rather than charging at him or shocking him, they were hoping the presence of the dog would convince him to comply.

“The bottom line for us always is safety and security at the facility,” said Dickerson at the time. “When we have inmates who refuse to comply with orders we have to go in and enforce those orders otherwise we lose control.”

Bartlett sued Columbia County for cruel and unusual punishment. He was awarded a $251,000 settlement in October, 2018.

His attorney Jacob Johnstun said Bartlett was no stranger to the jail, and the staff knew he had mental health issues. Though Bartlett did not resist, he was mauled by the dog for about 20 seconds, Johnstun said.

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