Oregon hospital gives sex toys to criminal psych patients at taxpayer expense

The report from KGW found that the state-run hospital dispersed 65 sex toys to patients in 2024 at the cost of $2,900, while 42 sex toys were provided to patients the year prior.

Oregon State Hospital predominantly houses criminal mentally ill patients who were deemed unfit to stand trial or found guilty except for insanity on charges ranging from misdemeanors to serious violent crimes such as murder and sex offenses.

Patients are able to access a wide variety of sex toys with brand names such as Throttle Stroker, Her Pocket Bullet, The Vortex, Vibrating Helping Hand Pro, Vibrating Shower Stroker, Double Dancer, and Waterproof Prostate Massager, according to a 10-page catalog obtained through a public records request. A hospital spokesperson, Amber Shoebridge, told the network that these sex toys are paid for with public tax dollars, which range in price from $14.78 to $84.99.

"The need for sexual expression doesn't disappear in institutional settings," Shoebridge told KGW in a statement. "Oregon State Hospital provides access to sexual aids as a way to offer patients an ethical, therapeutic, and private form alternative for a lack of sexual expression."

According to the report, Oregon State Hospital's sex toy policy appears to be rare, as psychiatric hospital officials in other parts of the country said they were unaware of similar programs when reached for comment.

"I'm at a loss for words," said Tiffany Edens, a crime victims advocate and rape survivor. "It's like you are going into the sex toy store. They're not appropriate for people who are in a state hospital," she said, commenting on the catalog.

"You are feeding into people's fantasies - people that have no business to have these types of toys," Edens added.

The sexual aid policy is part of the hospital's treatment services, and is handled by a joint team involving occupational therapists. Patients must give their permission and a required to understand how to use the toys properly and keep them clean. Sexual aids are checked once a month for three months, and patients can keep them for as long as needed, according to the report.

A 2024 investigation found that Oregon State Hospital has limited ability to protect patients from one another, with serious incidents such as sexual assaults and physical attacks going underreported.