History

Youth, Rights & Justice, formerly the Juvenile Rights Project, began as part of Multnomah County Legal Aid in 1975.  Attorneys and law students represented youth in delinquency cases in Multnomah County Juvenile Court and in a class action against the MacLaren Training School, a state juvenile correctional facility.

In 1980, Juvenile Rights Project became part of Oregon Legal Services, continuing its advocacy for children and young people through a series of lawsuits aimed at preventing the incarceration of minors in adult jails and in a suit over the conditions suffered by a young boy in state foster care. 

The office also worked with administrative agencies and the legislature to improve conditions for children and youth in the state.  In 1985, the Juvenile Rights Project became an independent non-profit corporation, in part because of restrictions imposed by the Legal Services Corporation on the kind of work which could be undertaken on behalf of poor children and youth.

The Juvenile Rights Project was awarded the Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award from the National Association of Counsel for Children in 1997.

Legal Precedent and Class Action Victories

D.B. v. Tewksbury (1982) Federal litigation resulting in a landmark constitutional decision holding that the confinement of juveniles who have not been tried as adults in adult jails is unconstitutional.  The decision has been credited as a major factor in an 80% national decline in juvenile jailings.

Robyn A. v. McCoy (Consent Decree, 1992) Federal litigation regarding the conditions at the juvenile detention center in Multnomah County, resulting in a consent decree requiring the county to build a new juvenile detention facility and to upgrade conditions and practices in the existing facility. 

Gary H. v. Hegestrom (1987) Federal litigation regarding the conditions at the MacLaren School for Boys, which houses children as young as twelve. After 10 years of investigation and litigation, the Federal District Court of Oregon found that the conditions at the MacLaren School for Boys violated the United States Constitution.

System of Care Settlement Agreement (1995)  Settlement agreement in effect from 1995 - 2008 with the Oregon Department of Human Resources. The settlement agreement established flexible funding to better meet the needs of children and families and led to improved training, increased qualifications for case workers and other improvements in Oregon's foster care system.