Astoria, OR – Governor Tina Kotek has placed Joe O’Leary, the director of the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), on administrative leave effective immediately. The decision comes as an investigation is underway regarding complaints under review by the agency’s Professional Standards Office (PSO). The governor emphasized the importance of taking all complaints seriously and addressing them without delay.
Kotek appointed Jana McLellan, the current interim deputy director of the OYA, as the acting director while the investigation continues. “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.”
The move follows the filing of six lawsuits in late 2024, alleging sexual abuse at Oregon youth correctional facilities. These lawsuits have raised significant concerns about the handling of allegations within the OYA system, and legal experts suggest that the problem may be widespread, extending beyond individual staff members to higher levels of the agency. Norah Van Dusen, a lawyer with Levi Merrithew Horst PC, the firm representing the plaintiffs, indicated that the issue could be much more pervasive. “What we believe is that this problem is widespread, that it is not just isolated to the staff who are alleged to have sexually abused these youth, but that it goes up the chain,” Van Dusen said.
The OYA, established as an independent state agency in 1996, operates five youth correctional facilities and four transitional facilities across Oregon. Its mission is to protect the public, reduce crime, and provide youth offenders with opportunities for rehabilitation in safe environments. However, the recent lawsuits and ongoing investigations cast a shadow over the agency’s effectiveness in meeting those goals.
The PSO plays a central role in overseeing conditions at OYA facilities. It is responsible for identifying and correcting issues that could endanger youth, administering the OYA Hotline and youth surveys, coordinating the complaint process, investigating allegations of staff misconduct, and ensuring compliance with the national 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
Concerns about sexual abuse at OYA facilities are not new. A 2019 federal survey revealed that the Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility, which houses only female residents, had twice the national average of reported sexual abuse. The agency called the results “puzzling,” but it has continued to face scrutiny over the years.
A 2023 report on OYA’s compliance with PREA showed that out of 79 cases of sexual misconduct and harassment, 35 reports were substantiated, meaning they were investigated and found to be valid based on evidence. Among the cases reported, there were 9 incidents of staff-to-youth sexual misconduct, as well as numerous youth-to-youth incidents. The agency also noted a concerning 75% increase in reports of sexual abuse from 2021 to 2022.
Despite efforts to address the issue, the situation remains troubling. The OYA operates two all-women facilities, while the remaining institutions are male-dominated. Since 2014, the two female facilities have recorded a total of nine reports of sexual abuse, a number that stands in contrast to the higher rates observed in male-dominated facilities.
As the investigation continues and new leadership steps in at the OYA, all eyes are on the state’s commitment to improving conditions for youth in its care. Governor Kotek’s decision to act swiftly underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the need for thorough, unbiased examination to ensure that Oregon’s youth are protected and that the OYA fulfills its mission with integrity.
