State budget cuts may force Multnomah County to end a key pretrial release program that keeps those accused of a crime out of jail until their trial and frees up jail beds.

The program, dubbed Close Street, monitors people who might not normally qualify for standard pretrial release through phone check-ins, home visits and electronic monitoring. It also provides a direct contact for crime victims to give input and raise concerns. Ending the program could put strain on a jail system that’s already struggling.

“If we hold many more people in custody, that puts pressure on the system in ways that we’re already feeling under pressure,” Chief Criminal Court Judge Michael Greenlick told the county Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

Sheriff Nicole Morissey O’Donnell told the board that a $1.4

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