Civil rights lawsuits name current, former Oregon Youth authority workers, allege abuse, failure to report or prevent it

PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW) — New civil rights lawsuits filed this week bring the total number of claims against current and former staffers of the Oregon Youth Authority to six, KGW reported Friday.

The suits were filed on behalf of people who were incarcerated in an OYA facility between 2018 and 2022. Four of the named defendants are accused of sexually abusing at least one of the plaintiffs, if not more. The other 11 defendants were named for allegedly either failing to report or prevent the abuse.

Youth convicted of serious crimes before turning 18 typically serve their sentences at OYA facilities. The agency can incarcerate children as young as 12 and can hold them until they turn 24.

"It's taken tremendous courage for each of these plaintiffs to come forward with their story and to try to hold OYA to account," said Norah Van Dusen, an attorney with Levi Merrithew Horst.

Van Dusen talked to KGW on Friday. She said in each case her firm investigated, it started with a staff member grooming the victim.

"By giving them contraband, by singling them out for special attention, isolating them and by making them feel special in some way," Van Dusen said. "Grooming then progressed to physical sexual abuse."

The ages of the victims at the time ranged from 15 to 21. However, Van Dusen explained that sexual contact of any kind between youth and staff is considered sexual abuse.

"Staff are inherently in a position of power over the youth," Van Dusen said. "Youth have nowhere to go. They are at the facility. They are vulnerable. The youth that are at OYA facilities are some of the most vulnerable people in our population."

While the earliest case in this batch of lawsuits dates to 2018, Van Dusen and her firm believe there is a culture that has developed over decades that continues to allow the abuse.

"Based on our investigation, we believe that the abuse was known by staff, it was known by line staff and it was known by supervisors," Van Dusen said. "And that OYA turned a blind eye to the abuse as it was occurring, thus enabling the abuse to continue to occur."

Van Dusen said all these cases have been referred to law enforcement. The Oregonian reported on Wednesday that two of the plaintiffs named have been arrested.

An OYA spokesperson told The Oregonian then that the alleged conduct is "completely against our values and commitments" to youth in custody.

If you or someone you know have experienced sexual assault and need support, help is available.

You can contact the Sexual Assault Resource Center, (503) 626-9100. They are located at 4900 SW Griffith Drive Ste. 135, Beaverton, OR 97005.

The Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline can be reached at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or rainn.org. It is available 24/7.