Latest News
September 1st, 2026
Local Repeat Offender Not Held Accountable
It's story time! A middle-aged Lebanon woman has had significant contact with our local officers -- spanning 12 years of contact with a whopping 71 page rap sheet and 1,433 documented activity entries from 2014 to 2026. And that's just here in Lebanon.
This individual has had *REPEATED* contact with officers and charges ranging from offensive littering, criminal trespass II, disorderly conduct II, probation violations, warrants, and much, much more.
During the time the jail was operational, this individual had 24 separate arrest cycles and 31 documented cases. She spent time in the jail -- there were consequences for her actions. Following the closure, those totals increased to 49 arrest cycles and 54 cases.
This is exactly why accountability matters. She needs to stand in front of our judge, sentenced to something other than a fine she'll never pay, and held accountable for her actions. Our officers need the tools to enforce the law, our courts need meaningful options, and our community deserves a system where repeated offenses have real consequences. Please vote YES on the levy this November and help Reopen the Lebanon Jail. Accountability shouldn't be optional
August 16th, 2026
Inability to Hold Offenders Results in Increased Failure to Appear Charges
Happy Sunday, Lebanon, and you know what that means!? #SundayStats, of course! And here's a number worth paying attention to: Failure to Appear (FTA) charges in Lebanon have increased 156 percent since 2020 to 2024. In 2020, our Lebanon Municipal Court had 95 FTAs, and fast forward to 2024 and we're up to 243 FTAs for that year. (Remember, the jail closed in 2023.)
That's an increase of 148 charges, and it's important to remember these happen when someone is ticketed for a crime and does not show up to their court date. And when the court is in session weekly, that's quite a jump.
This is why it's important to hold people accountable. A municipal jail isn't about being punitive for the sake of being punitive. It's about having a local tool to help enforce that accountability, and make sure charges have consequences. Help us pass the levy to Reopen the Lebanon Jail this November by voting yes.
July 26, 2026
Misdemeanor Thefts Have Increased from 2020 to 2024
Every Sunday for the next few weeks we will share some #SundayStats -- statistics requested from the Lebanon Police Department, Lebanon Oregon to help keep the community informed about public safety and how the closure of the jail has impacted the city. This levy is more than about funding our jail -- it's about keeping people accountable. When someone commits a crime and knows there isn't a jail available, it can reduce accountability and it absolutely will embolden repeat criminal behavior.
Up first, misdemeanor thefts. From 2020-2024, we've seen a 68 percent increase in these thefts. This charge can range from stealing a kid's bike from your porch to shoplifting at Walmart. The jail closed in 2023, and in that year there were 50 charges of misdemeanor theft. It nearly doubled in 2024, with 99 charges of misdemeanor theft. Every one of these charges represents a crime that affected a business, a family, or a neighbor in our community. Help pass the jail levy and let's encourage a Safe Community and a Strong Future for Lebanon.
July 21, 2026
Cost Associated with the 2026 Levy
We know this is top of mind, so let's talk numbers first.
The current bond that built the Lebanon Public Library and Justice Center (which includes the jail) cost $1.29 per $1,000 of assessed value on properties last year. This year -- 2026 -- is the last year we'll see the bond (named "Lebanon City Bnd") on property tax statements. The proposed levy to reopen the jail will cost $1.06 per $1,000 and begin in 2027 if approved by voters this November. It will fully fund the jail operations for five years.
With the bond coming off and the jail levy coming on, Lebanon residents will still experience a **tax reduction of 23 cents per $1,000** and have a fully operational municipal jail!
A Safe Community is the foundation of a Strong Future. Over the coming months, we'll share more about why a fully operational jail matters, how it supports public safety, and what it means for Lebanon. Follow along, ask questions, and learn more as we continue the conversation about building a Safe Community, Strong Future.
OUR MESSAGE
