Oregon Prisons Fail Language Access | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 30, 2026 · 1m

Oregon’s correctional system is facing serious criticism for ignoring language barriers that hurt inmates’ health, safety, and legal rights. A new audit reveals that while juvenile facilities at least ask about language at intake, adult prisons do nothing to identify language needs — despite nearly 1 in 6 Oregonians speaking a language other than English at home. This gap means staff can’t properly communicate rules, medical needs, or legal rights. Officials are now rolling out fixes like multilingual signage and staff training, with both adult and youth facilities agreeing to implement…