Deschutes County sheriff reports growth in youth mentoring program

Bend, Ore. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office released annual report highlights today for the Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth program, showing continued growth in mentoring relationships for children with justice-involved family members.

Based in Bend, Ore., the COPY program formed 16 new mentor matches and supported 34 total active matches during the 2025–2026 reporting period.

COPY is a community-based mentoring initiative established by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office to assist youth whose parents or caregivers are involved in the criminal justice system. The program pairs youth with trained volunteer mentors who offer guidance, encouragement and consistent positive relationships.

During the reporting period, volunteer mentors provided more than 2,700 hours of contact with participating youth. Additionally, 29 participants attended program training sessions. Out of the 16 new mentor matches established during the year, 14 remain active.

Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert emphasized the community impact of the program's volunteers. “Every day, our COPY volunteers make a real difference in the lives of young people in Deschutes County,” Rupert said. “Their commitment is an investment in stronger families and a stronger community.”

Bob Moore serves as the project coordinator for the COPY program. Moore noted the importance of volunteer commitment in supporting youth. “This work simply wouldn't be possible without the dedication of our volunteers,” Moore said. “Their time, energy and compassion directly impact the confidence and resilience these kids carry forward.”

The COPY program will host its next fall mentor training on Saturday, Sept. 26.