January 15, 2025
In an internal office-wide email sent to staff and prosecutors on Wednesday, DA Nathan Vasquez announced that his administration will now require all managers and supervisors of both staff and attorneys to work on site full time, effective February 3, 2025. On-site locations include the Multnomah County Courthouse and Justice Center downtown, the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center, and the East County Courthouse in Gresham. His full directive to the office states:
Folks-
One of the first decisions I have made in my new administration was to require my management team and the SDDAs at MCDA to report to the office five days a week. This change will be effective February 3, 2025.
I think an organization like ours works best with human interaction and collaboration. And while that is sometimes possible using a hybrid or ad hoc work-from-home model, it is not ideal. There is so much more energy when we are all together, working together, laughing in the hallways, asking quick questions when we bump into each other than we could ever get over a Zoom call or some other piece of technology. We face big challenges and we have an obligation to the people of Multnomah County to do the very best we can every single day. I believe that can best be accomplished by working together, in person.
I also want you to know that I have received the message you sent in the 2023 equity survey: MCDA employees want their managers to be present and available in the office. The work of prosecution requires our lawyers to be present, in court, every day. I want the lawyers and the administrative staff to have access to their managers and feel supported in their work.
Lastly, the work we do here has a direct impact on our community in many ways. That not only includes maintaining public safety and working for crime victims’ rights, but also stimulating the downtown economy by bringing our employees into the city center every day.
For these reasons, I have made the decision to have the managers in the office.
Thank you-
