A recent Oregon Court of Appeals ruling has upended criminal cases lodged against parents whose young children tested positive for hard drugs, according to a top prosecutor.

Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton said this week that his office has been forced to fully dismiss 17 cases following the appellate ruling.

The ruling bans the use of felony first-degree criminal mistreatment charges in cases where a child is found with drug-poisoned blood and a parent’s drug use is to blame

“We’re seeing this dramatic increase in these kids that are exposed to these horrible environments where they can get infected with dangerous drugs,” Barton said in an interview Wednesday. “The Court of Appeals missed the mark.”

The Sept. 10 ruling authored by Judge Darleen Ortega overtur

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