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Persons found GEI are not sentenced, but rather committed to a period of jurisdiction under the PSRB that is not to exceed the maximum sentence of the their charges. The law does not permit a court to require a person to remain at the Oregon State Hospital for the entirity of this period.  Rather, when the hospital determines that a person can be safely managed in the community setting with proper care, medication, supervision and treatment if conditionally released, they must request a hearing before the PSRB. In determining whether a person should be conditionally released, the PSRB's primary concern is the protection of society. When a person is conditionally released, the person is subject to those supervisory orders of the PSRB as are in the best interests of justice, the protection of society and the welfare of the person.​

The period that individual PSRB clients stay at OSH is based on a clinical assessment of the individual's mental status and progress in treatment at the hospital and a risk assessment as to their dangerousness as well as the availability of the appropriate resources in the community. If the Board determines that a person can be safely managed and treated in a community setting, the PSRB attempts to find an appropriate placement.​
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Following a 2005 increase in funding from the Oregon legislature, an increased number of PSRB clients have been moved into a variety of new community placements, including Secure Residential Treatment Facilities (SRTFs). Since these facilities opened, increasing the number of PSRB clients in the community, there has been no corresponding increase in the recidivism rate of clients under Board jurisdiction.
State law prohibits the Board from placing anyone on Conditional Release who is determined to be presently dangerous to others. Before the Board approves a conditional release, the client's file goes through a comprehensive screening process that includes four levels of review.
Conditional Release is not a new policy. Most states have some type of conditional release program, and the PSRB has supervised clients in the community on conditional release since its inception in 1978. Over the past 15 years, the Board has granted 1643 conditional releases to individuals who have transitioned into community placements throughout Oregon. Some of these clients remain under supervision for decades or even life.
The law requires the Board to notify the originating district attorney and any victims who have requested such notification. The Board also notifies the attorney general’s office, the client’s attorney, and the client’s case manager. Once a person leaves the state hospital on a conditional release, the PSRB also notifies law enforcement. With some exceptions, Fair Housing and Disability Laws prevent the Board from sharing information about patients with neighbors or members of the public.​

By law, the district attorney from the committing county is notified, as well as the victim(s), if they requested such notification. Board staff also notifies the Attorney General's office, the client's attorney, and the client's proposed case manager. Once a person leaves the state hospital on a conditional release, the PSRB also notifies law enforcement. With some exceptions, Fair Housing and Disability Laws prevent the Board from sh​aring information about patients with neighbors or members of the public​​

Please visit our ​Administrative Meetings page​ for the dates of upcoming board meetings. ​

The Governor appoints the Psychiatric Security Review Board's members, and they serve at her pleasure.​


Discharge (or “jurisdictional discharge") means a person is not on any PSRB supervision. ORS 161.346(a) and ORS 161.351(1) require that the PSRB discharge a person from its jurisdiction if it finds that, by a preponderance of the evidence, at a full and fair hearing, a patient no longer has a qualifying mental disorder—even if the person is at high risk to reoffend. Additionally, the Oregon State Hospital is mandated by ORS 161.341(a) to request an early discharge hearing if the hospital does not believe a patient has a mental illness. Note that pursuant to ORS 161.295(2) and Oregon appellate court case law, personality disorder, sexual conduct disorders and voluntary substance-related intoxication are not qualifying mental disorders.​

Victims and the District Attorney of the GEI county receive notification of all PSRB hearings. The District Attorney or the Assistant Attorney General representing the State has the right to request its own independent psychiatric examination and to present the results to the Board if they so choose. See ORS 161.341(2).

The current statutory structure does not allow PSRB to keep jurisdiction of persons without a mental illness—even if they are at risk to reoffend. We also cannot transfer jurisdiction to the Department of Corrections (DOC) or Community Corrections because there is no current statutory authority to do so.

In 2011, the Legislature made improvements to the judicial system by creating a certified evaluator requirement for all GEI cases. This requirement was implemented to improve the quality of forensic evaluations and minimize the risk that a defendant is inappropriately found guilty except for insanity and placed under the PSRB. Additionally, hospital staff and PSRB regularly travel to every county and region in Oregon educating attorneys, judges, and law enforcement about the GEI laws.


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Hearings are held remotely via Microsoft TEAMS.  Please visit our client hearings page​. ​
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