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Oregon Youth Authority briefs committees on rising youth acuity, racial disparities and legislative priorities
Summary
Joe O'Leary, director of the Oregon Youth Authority, briefed the joint Judiciary committees on OYA’s facilities, rising behavioral-health acuity among committed youth, racial disproportionality and a legislative agenda that includes workforce stabilization, expanded community placements and infrastructure investments under OYA’s 10-year plan.
Joe O'Leary, director of the Oregon Youth Authority, told the joint Senate and House Judiciary committees that the agency is managing a small but complex portion of state systems serving juveniles and described rising acuity among youth in custody, persistent racial disparities and a legislative agenda to bolster capacity and workforce.
O'Leary summarized OYA operations—five youth correctional facilities, four transitional camps, about 375 young people in custody and approximately 515 youth supervised in community custody by OYA—and said most juvenile cases begin in county juvenile departments. He described OYA’s approach as “positive human development” grounded in adolescent brain research, and he emphasized family engagement, culturally specific programming and education and treatment curricula such as Power Source.
“For the…
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