We protect the public and keep communities safe.

As part of Oregon’s juvenile justice system, we hold youth accountable and provide them with opportunities for reformation, either on parole or probation in the community, or inside secure facilities. 

We are responsible for youth ages 12 to 24 who commit crimes before age 18. We serve youth who are unsuccessful at the county level, who need more services than the county can provide, or who commit very serious crimes.

We believe youth can change, and we provide them the means to do so. Research shows the human brain continues developing until at least our mid-20s, impacting judgment and decision-making for adolescents.

We provide youth with treatment, education, and other guidance to help them take responsibility for their behavior and learn how to act differently in the future. We do this in safe, supportive environments that will help them become responsible, community-minded citizens.

Ways We Serve Youth

Community Supervision
The majority of our youth are in community settings. Supervised by juvenile parole and probation officers, these youth live at home or in a variety of placements, including:

• Residential treatment programs: OYA contracts with them for services.
• Foster or proctor homes: OYA runs its own foster care program.

Close-Custody Facilities
OYA runs five youth correctional facilities and four youth transitional facilities statewide. Learn more about our facilities.

Services for Rehabilitation
We provide or connect youth with the services and support they need, including:

• Education and vocational training
• Treatment for negative or harmful behaviors
• Treatment for substance use disorders
• Medical and psychiatric care
• Mental health counseling and services
• Culturally responsive services
• Teaching positive social behaviors
• Teaching life skills and preparing for transition back to the community
• Recreational and enrichment activities

Mission

The agency's mission is to protect the public and reduce crime by holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for reformation in safe environments.

Vision

The Oregon Youth Authority's vision is that youth who leave OYA go on to lead productive, crime-free lives.

Values

OYA's core values provide the foundation for the decisions, actions and practices that make up the agency's daily work. These core values guide and inform all that agency staff do to protect public safety, reduce crime, hold youth accountable, aid in their reformation, and keep them safe.
 

• Professionalism - We practice unwavering adherence to professional standards and perform our work competently and responsibly.
• Accountability - We conduct our jobs in an open and inclusive manner, and take responsibility for the outcomes of our performance.
• Integrity - As stewards of the public trust, we display ethical and honest behavior in all that we do.
• Respect - We treat others with fairness, dignity and compassion, and we are responsive to their needs.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Why is DEI Important?
OYA is part of a juvenile system rife with longstanding and persistent racial and ethnic disparities. We acknowledge the disproportionate number of youth of color and youth who identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, or intersex) in our system. We also recognize the need to diversify our staff and to improve support for youth and staff of color.

The goal is to foster a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our agency, and to ensure the diverse communities we employ and serve feel safe and supported to reach their highest potential.

Jobs at OYA

We help youth change, which in turn helps keep communities safe. And our staff feel like they’re making a meaningful difference.

“Rewarding,” “make a difference,” and “meaningful” are phrases you’ll often hear from our employees. We seek people who want challenging work where they will learn, grow, and feel good about what they are doing.

Many OYA employees provide direct care for youth, while others serve in support roles in our administrative offices. All are united by a belief in the positive, developmental approach to rehabilitation, and by our culture of creating safe, supportive environments, where we all are held accountable, and where we are connected to our community.

Research shows that the brain continues developing until at least our mid-20s. That means we have rich opportunities for helping the youth in our care learn how to take responsibility for their behavior and how to act differently in the future. We do this by providing safe, positive, supportive environments where youth can become responsible citizens.

OYA strives to be an inclusive environment where we honor, value, and welcome those that bring different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds to the workplace. If you are looking to join a team that not only contributes to youth reformation but also values individual and cultural differences, we want to hear from you!