Oregon Youth Authority Abuse Claims Prompt Change

Ross Law has fought to achieve civil justice for youth and their families that the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) has failed. The OYA has been plagued with mismanagement for decades that has resulted in claims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect of incarcerated youth. To compound the issue, OYA failed to promptly investigate those claims and grievances of incarcerated youth which helped perpetuate the abuse. It appears the Governor is attempting to make change to break the cycle of abuse and mismanaged claims.

According to the Statesman Journal, Katherine O. Berger has been appointed as the new Youth and Family Advocate for the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), starting May 1—a role created in response to growing concerns about systemic failures within OYA, including lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of youth and a large backlog of unresolved complaints. The position, designed to be independent and overseen by the governor’s office, aims to support youth and their families in navigating the system, raising concerns, and understanding their rights.

The need for stronger oversight became urgent after a January audit revealed that Raymond Byrd, former chief investigator of OYA’s Professional Standards Office (PSO), had failed to review thousands of complaints. His resignation, alongside the firing of former OYA Director Joe O’Leary, underscored the agency’s accountability crisis. Interim Director Jana McLellan proposed the advocate role as part of several reforms following this internal review.

Berger, a longtime youth defense attorney, will regularly visit correctional facilities, meet with youth and families, and report on systemic safety issues. She will deliver a comprehensive report by May 2026 recommending how to establish a permanent advocate role and improve protections for youth reporting abuse. Her appointment signals a shift toward addressing deeply rooted issues in OYA’s handling of youth safety and misconduct complaints.

This is a step in the right direction, and here at Ross Law we hope it will make positive change. However, it will not help those that are already endured sexual abuse, assault, a lack of medical or mental health care while incarcerated at McClaren, OYA Group homes, or other while in the custody of OYA.

If you or someone you know have questions about whether or not you or your family have a claim against OYA please reach out to Ross Law and Jeremiah Ross at 503.224.1658. Please remember that certain time limitations may affect your ability to pursue a claim against the Oregon Youth Authority, so it is best to contact a lawyer sooner rather than later.

How Do You Figure Out if Your Child's Day-Care or Pre-School is Safe?

Getting your kids in Daycare can be an overwhelming en-devour.  Site visits, phone calls, interviews, and the always popular, "wait lists" are all new experiences for almost every new parent.  During this process every parent is concerned with one thing, Safety.  However, it is not always easy to determine if a place is safe for your kids.  Daycare providers are like other businesses in that they put their best foot forward in an effort to get your child enrolled and the tuition money.   So how do you determine if your kid's daycare or preschool is safe? Here are some tips:

• Is the Daycare or Preschool Licensed by the State?  You should determine if the provider is licensed by the State of Oregon.   If not, that is a big red flag, and the provider maybe breaking the law by operating a unlicensed daycare.  Calling Office of Child Care - Central Office
  503-947-1400, 1-800-556-6616 may help you determine if the daycare or childcare provider is licensed.  In the alternative, you can simply ask the provider to see the license. 
• Does the Daycare or Preschool have prior complaints?    The State of Oregon has an office that is dedicated to licensing and overseeing daycare facilities.  This office keeps a data-base that allows the public to search for violations committed by Oregon preschools, daycare, and licensed child care providers.   The data base is not too user friendly, and doesn't provide details regarding the complaints but it provides the rules or laws that were violated and the date of the violations.   Click here to learn if the State of Oregon has a public record of a complaint against a childcare provider, daycare, or preschool.  Another place to look for prior complaints is the Better Business Bureau.  Click here for a link to the Better Business Bureau. 
• What should you Look For When Visiting a Prospective DayCare or Preschool?  If you are a new parent it is overwhelming trying to figure out all of the potential dangerous surrounding your child.   However, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has authored checklists to assist parents in determining if their child's daycare is safe..  
  • If you are looking to determine if your INFANT's childcare provider is safe Click Here.
  • If you are looking to determine if your TODDLER's childcare provider is safe Click Here.
  • If you are looking to determine if your PRESCHOOLER's childcare provider is safe Click Here.

If your child, or someone you know, has been injured at a daycare or by a childcare provider call Portland Personal Injury Attorney Jeremiah Ross at 503.224.1658. Call Ross Law for your free case evaluation.  Ross Law takes most personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis.  LEGAL STUFF,  PLEASE READ:  Please note the tips above are not an exhaustive list and you must do your own due intelligence in trying to determine if a daycare provider is a good fit for your child. Also, Ross Law does not have a relationship or affiliation with the agencies or entities noted in this article.  Please contact them directly if you have any questions or concerns about their web-site(s) or, policies, or procedures.