The Juvenile Justice Process

When police respond to an incident in which a juvenile is suspected of committing a crime, the investigation report is forwarded to the Clackamas County Juvenile Department.

Depending on the circumstance, the juvenile in question may be detained by police. The juvenile justice system concentrates on holding youth accountable for their actions. The juvenile justice system works to coordinate counseling, community service, restitution, and parental involvement to encourage youth to better consider the consequences of their actions.

If a juvenile has been detained by a law enforcement officer for a criminal offense, or a status offense (such as non-criminal curfew violations) the juvenile may be transported to the Clackamas County Juvenile Reception Center (JRC).

This is a temporary holding facility where the youth is held while the incident is assessed by intake staff. Upon arrival at JRC the staff will ask the youth some basic questions, and then immediately notify the parent or legal guardian that the youth has been detained.

If the youth is suspected of committing a criminal act, he/she is held in locked quarters while waiting for the arrival of a legal guardian. In criminal cases that don’t involve serious violence, the juvenile is often released to the parent or legal guardian. The legal guardian is later notified when the juvenile must appear in court to answer for the offense.

In some situations staff may determine the youth should be held in a secure detention center until his/her court appearance. In this case, the youth is transported by police to the secure Donald E. Long Detention Center in Multnomah County. The legal guardian is notified of the youth’s detention and transfer.

The Donald E. Long Detention Center, often referred to as ‘detention’, is a secure facility for youth under the age of 18. The facility provides shelter, food, medical care and school for youth that are housed there. This facility supervises juveniles in a secure environment until the scheduled juvenile court hearing.

The court hearing is typically held within 36 hours of being placed in detention. As in any criminal court proceeding, legal guardians and the youth have the right to have an attorney represent them, at their expense, during any point in the process. Once the youth’s case has been assigned to a counselor, the possibility of a court appointed (or reduced cost) attorney may be discussed.

The parent or guardian plays a vital role in the juvenile justice process. Unlike adults, youth are usually dependent on family members (adult guardians) who have a responsibility to oversee the youth’s choices.

The juvenile department feels the best approach to helping youths who have made poor choices is to create a working partnership between parents, juvenile counselors, school representatives, the police, and the individual youth.

For more information, or to access the information website, contact the:

Clackamas County Juvenile Department
2121 Kaen Road
Oregon City, OR 97045
PH: 503-655-8342 (General information)
PH: 503-650-3180 (Intake and Assessment Center)