Gov. Tina Kotek places Oregon Youth Authority director on administrative leave
By Amy-Xiaoshi DePaola, KGW
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek has placed the director of the Oregon Youth Authority on administrative leave, effective immediately.
Kotek's office announced Friday that Jana McLellan, who currently serves as the interim deputy director, will replace Joseph O'Leary. OYA is the state's juvenile justice agency, and the governor stressed that its role is to identify and correct conditions that harm youth in the state's correction facilities.
“Complaints that come to the PSO must be taken seriously and addressed expeditiously. A backlog is unacceptable,” Kotek said in a statement. “Oregon youth in the state’s care rely on us to keep them safe and get this right.”
Kotek's office added that an investigation is pending in regards to "issues" in OYA's Professional Standards Office, but did not elaborate.
This comes after OYA's chief investigator resigned during an ongoing review of his handling of misconduct complaints, according to The Oregonian. Last September, a new batch of civil rights lawsuits were filed against current and former staffers of OYA, alleging sexual abuse and failure to report or prevent said abuse. Those suits were filed by on behalf of people who were incarcerated in an OYA facility between 2018 and 2022.
KGW has reached out to OYA for a response but has not heard back yet.
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Friday's news release from Gov. Kotek's office:
Governor Kotek Places Director of Oregon Youth Authority on Administrative Leave
Salem, OR – Effective immediately, pending the completion of an investigation into issues being reviewed in Oregon Youth Authority’s (OYA) Professional Standards Office (PSO), Governor Tina Kotek announced today she is placing OYA Director Joe O’Leary on administrative leave. The Governor has appointed Jana McLellan, who currently serves as the interim deputy director, as acting director of the agency.
“Complaints that come to the PSO must be taken seriously and addressed expeditiously. A backlog is unacceptable,” Governor Kotek said. “Oregon youth in the state’s care rely on us to keep them safe and get this right.”
The PSO’s role within OYA is to identify and correct conditions that could endanger Oregon youth in Oregon’s correctional facilities. PSO administers the OYA Hotline and youth surveys, coordinates OYA’s complaint process, investigates allegations of staff misconduct, trains staff, provides reports, and ensures OYA's continued compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
