Ross Law's $4 million Recovery is a powerful reminder: when the state fails to protect children, it can and must be held responsible.

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>

More Survivors of OYA Abuse Come Forward and File Lawsuits Against The State of Oregon

Three newly filed lawsuits are shedding more light on a horrifying pattern of sexual abuse committed against children in Oregon’s youth correctional facilities. Filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, the lawsuits accuse three former Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) employees of sexually abusing incarcerated youth at Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility in Salem and Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility in Albany.

These cases are the latest in a growing number of lawsuits that reveal how the State of Oregon repeatedly failed to protect the children in its custody.

The Allegations

• Scott J. Scrabeck, a corrections officer, is accused of sexually abusing three teenage girls between 1999 and 2008. The abuse allegedly included groping, forcing the girls to touch him, and masturbating while watching them shower. One survivor reported that the abuse occurred “dozens” of times. Despite multiple incidents, Scrabeck remained employed until 2023.

• Alex Blevins, a group life coordinator at Oak Creek, allegedly sexually abused a 16-year-old girl approximately ten times between 2009 and 2011. Although the victim reported the abuse to the Oregon State Police in 2011, there is no record of meaningful action being taken. Blevins was not fired until 2014 after additional complaints from coworkers.

• Robert L. Blacksmith, a former staffer at Hillcrest, is accused of groping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in a blind spot near the isolation room between 2001 and 2002. The suit claims Blacksmith used his authority to intimidate the victim into silence. Blacksmith was later convicted in a separate child sex abuse case and sentenced to over 15 years in prison.

The lawsuits allege sexual battery, civil rights violations, and negligence and seek over $25 million in damages.

A Pattern of Abuse and Institutional Failure

These new filings come alongside a fifth lawsuit against the state involving Dr. Edward Gary Edwards, the former chief medical officer at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility. Edwards is accused of sexually abusing at least 51 boys during his decades-long tenure. The total claims in those lawsuits now exceed $250 million.

These cases show a devastating pattern: repeated abuse by state employees, ignored or concealed reports, and a failure to remove predators from positions of authority. Even when complaints were raised, the institutions responsible for protecting these children often looked the other way.

The growing number of lawsuits has prompted the Marion County District Attorney to convene a grand jury to investigate the conditions at MacLaren and how complaints of abuse have been handled.

Our Commitment to Survivors

At Ross Law, we believe every child has the right to safety, dignity, and justice—especially those in state custody. These brave survivors stepping forward are exposing not just individual predators but also the systemic negligence of the institutions that protected them.

Attorney Jeremiah Ross is committed to holding state agencies and public officials accountable when they fail to protect vulnerable children. We stand with survivors, and we will continue to fight for justice on their behalf.

If you or someone you know experienced sexual abuse in state custody, contact Ross Law at 503.224.1658 for a confidential, no-cost consultation. We are here to listen. We are here to help.