NCJ Number
125549
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This bulletin describes the steps Oregon has taken to improve its juvenile justice system at the local level.
Abstract
Ten years ago, Oregon faced serious problems in its management of juvenile offenders. The State's training school population was increasing rapidly, and officials were considering additional facilities. Juveniles were routinely jailed with adults, especially in rural sections of the State. Oregon had few alternatives for juvenile offenders, and those that did exist were plagued with long waiting lists and inadequate funding. Services were fragmented, with little communication among the various agencies and programs that offered services to children and families. By 1989, however, the situation had turned around due to a series of legislative actions and innovative local efforts. The State combined legislation, coordination, and volunteer efforts to reform its system to meet the needs of youth at the community level. The program has been effective in building a continuum of services from the least restrictive to the most restrictive, so that each community has the resources to respond legally and appropriately to the needs of each juvenile. Volunteer-based commissions now work in each of the State's 36 counties to plan community-based programs that target their own high-risk youth. Public agencies, private organizations, and businesses cooperate to work with juveniles in a variety of activities and services. Information is provided on how the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention helps States.