4 Million RECOVERY Highlights Inhumane Treatment iN OYA’s Maclaren Youth Facility
Earlier this year Ross Law and Jeremiah Ross recovered a record $4 million from the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) on behalf of the Estate of a young man tragically died by suicide following his confinement in MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility’s infamous Intervention Unit—a 1950s-era isolation building long referred to as the “dungeon.”
Through the thousands of records and witness testimony it was discovered that that instead of receiving the mental health care he desperately needed, the young man was repeatedly placed in filthy, degrading isolation cells. These inhumane conditions worsened his mental health, and shortly after his release, he tragically took his own life. His family hired Jeremiah Ross to hold OYA accountable—and the state paid a record settlement.
A Pattern of Abuse and Neglect
Unfortunately, this tragic case is not an isolated incident. For decades, courts, lawmakers, and youth advocates have criticized Oregon’s use of solitary confinement against children. In fact, a federal judge ruled back in 1985 that the state’s isolation practices amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.
Yet even today, OYA continues to use the old Intervention Unit when its new, rebranded “Safety Intervention Unit” fills up. Despite this rebrainding- according to Oregonlive, youth spend far more time in isolation than children in other states, and Latino and Black youth are often confined for longer periods.
Why This Matters for Oregon Families
Isolation and inhumane treatment can devastate young people, especially those already struggling with trauma or mental health challenges. Acute mental health symptoms from bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, depression, and anxiety are often amplified. Instead of being rehabilitated, these children often leave custody worse off than when they entered.
At Ross Law LLC, we know the harm OYA’s practices can cause. We have represented children and families whose lives have been shattered by unlawful restraint, isolation, and abuse in state facilities. We fight to hold the state accountable when it violates the rights of the very youth it is supposed to protect.
Protecting Your Child’s Rights
If your child has suffered abuse, neglect, or harmful isolation while in OYA custody, you don’t have to face the system alone. Legal action can not only bring justice for your family but also push Oregon to finally make meaningful reforms. Proof of this push for meaningful reform is from Oregonlive’s recent article, which again mentions Ross Law’s record recovery from OYA.
<div style="border: 2px solid #2c3e50; padding: 20px; border-radius: 12px; background-color: #f8f9fa; margin-top: 20px;"> <h3 style="margin-top:0; color:#2c3e50;">📞 Contact Ross Law LLC Today</h3> <p>If your child has been harmed while in OYA custody, call <strong>(503) 224-1658</strong> or reach out through our <a href="/contact" style="color:#0056b3; font-weight:bold;">contact page</a> to schedule a free, confidential consultation.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:0;"><strong>We are here to fight for your child’s rights and your family’s future.</strong></p> </div>