Marion County Inmate Hospitalized After Assault

Officials at this point are withholding the names of the inmates, and they will not elaborate at this time as to where the victim was stabbed.

Marion County Jail in Salem - co.marion.or.us

(SALEM) - One inmate is hospitalized and another is being questioned following an assault that took place in the Marion County Jail yesterday afternoon.

Marion County detectives say they are continuing their investigation into the assault which occurred at about 2:00 p.m. The victim inmate was transported by helicopter to the Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland.

They have confirmed that the injured male inmate was stabbed by another male inmate. The type and source of the weapon used is not being released at this time, nor are they releasing where on his body the victim was injured.

A spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff's Office says the failure to release the names of those involved came as the request of the District Attorney's Office. No current information is available on the condition of the injured inmate, but he remains hospitalized.

The investigation is ongoing.

The spokesman for Marion County does admit that the victim's injuries were serious. A press release states, "He is being treated and his condition at the time of this release is unknown."

The investigation is ongoing. The motive for the assault is not known at this time, the press release states.

Marion County, Oregon's jail has one of the largest inmate death rates of any jail in America. It is interesting that they are concealing the names of inmates that taxpayers are supporting, perhaps we know exactly why they aren't releasing that information yet.

When Salem-News.com attempted to learn the details of the death of an inmate named Robert Haws who claimed deputies stole money from his wallet during the booking process, we were totally stonewalled by the Sheriff and his spokesman after being told they would investigate. Robert Haws's death was the third in four and a half months' time in the Marion County Jail.

It is one of the most disturbing examples...

Aug-16-2010: Missing Money and the Suspicious Jail Death of Robert Haws - Tim King Salem-News.com

Also see... Salem-News.com search under 'Marion County Jail Death'