Concern raised over Portland PD collecting mental health data

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland police have been collecting information about the mental state of arrestees since spring, but some lawyers say the practice raises privacy concerns.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports (http://bit.ly/2e4QVDB ) that officers began recording the information in response to the city’s 2014 settlement with the federal government aimed at improving police treatment of mentally ill suspects.

Portland defense lawyers have said they appreciate the police department’s effort to improve its interaction with people with mental illness, but they worry the practice could breach suspects’ privacy and could be used against criminal defendants.

Metropolitan Public Defender Services Executive Director Lane Borg compared the information to that recorded by police body cameras. He said such information can shed light on police encounters, but could also be misused.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com