Ross law has fought to obtain justice and compensation for adjudicated youth in the care of the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) or the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Protective Services (CPS). While pursuing civil claims for children, youth and families it becomes apparent that OYA and DHS have a lack of follow up on claims of abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect, or civil rights violations. This can result in the abuse continuing because there is no accountability for the abusers.

Recently Oregonlive reported that Oregon’s County Juvenile Directors are demanding the release of information regarding the abuse of OYA adjudicated youth who were physically or sexually abused or neglected by OYA Staff or other youth while in OYA custody. This is important because the County Juvenile Directors are currently blind as to which youth were abused, and when and where they were abused once they left the County Juvenile system and went into OYA custody which includes incarceration or parole.

Hopefully, OYA will release this information and it will help the County Juvenile Directors better understand the challenges that an adjudicated youth faced in OYA custody, as well as identifying systemic flaws that allowed the abuse to happen in the first place.

If you or someone you know has suffered from sexual abuse, physical abuse or violence, neglect, or a depravation of your civil rights while in OYA physical or legal custody please call Ross Law at 503.224.1658. Jeremiah Ross has experience obtaining compensation for victims of abuse that were OYA’s or DHS’s legal custody. Please remember certain time limitations may affect your ability to pursue a claim against DHS or OYA so it is best to call an attorney, such as Jeremai Ross, sooner rather than later.