Juvenile Law

Youth, Rights & Justice attorneys are appointed by the court to represent children, youth, and parents involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. We believe in client-centered representation, and that the individuals we serve deserve to have their voices heard and their rights protected. We bring a trauma-informed lens to all of our work; seeking to promote resilience, dignity, and respect.

YRJ is court-appointed to delinquency and dependency cases and we cannot accept outside referrals for those cases. If you are in Multnomah County and are under child welfare investigation but a petition has not been filed with the court yet, you may qualify for assistance from YRJ’s Family Defense Project.

More information on retaining a lawyer

 

Expunction Clinic

As public defenders, we understand the value of a second chance. In 2021, YRJ launched our Expunction Clinic for individuals with juvenile records. Expungement is the process of sealing or destroying court records. In Oregon, when youth have contact with law enforcement or the juvenile court, paper and electronic records are created. Information in these records is publicly available. Juvenile court records are treated the same as adult criminal court records for most collateral consequences, creating barriers that keep youth from becoming successful adults. Expunction is vital for people who have juvenile records and are looking for a clean slate and a fresh start.

YRJ’s online Expunction Clinic focuses on increasing access to expungement for individuals with juvenile records. This is a free service for individuals with records in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas Counties.

Get more information about our clinic and submit your application to request assistance.

SchoolWorks

SchoolWorks ensures that foster children have an opportunity for educational success. By advocating for our clients within the school system, SchoolWorks attorneys make sure at-risk students are enrolled in school and receiving supports to address academic, emotional, and behavioral needs. By doing so, our clients can achieve improved attendance, academic achievement, and social/behavioral performance, which improve the chances for high school completion for foster children.

The relationship between the student and their lawyer is at the core of the SchoolWorks program. In every case, the young person guides the lawyer’s advocacy. Client-driven advocacy is a hallmark of the program and distinguishes SchoolWorks from private legal practice, where a lawyer represents the student’s parents. The result: SchoolWorks WORKS!

  • 97% of children not attending school are re-enrolled or reinstated in school.
  • 86% of children with behavior challenges have fewer disciplinary referrals and/or behavior interventions.
  • 87% of children who were academically behind demonstrate academic improvement.
  • 89% of children struggling with chronic absenteeism show reduced absence rates.
  • 96% of children who needed special education/support services now have services in place.

In addition to our work with foster youth, we also provide school advocacy for young people in the juvenile justice system who are most at risk– those facing school exclusion and those with a significant unmet need for special education services. One of the best ways to ensure young people who have made mistakes do not repeat those behaviors is to help them stay in school.

System Reform

Policy Advocacy

Because of YRJ’s unique position handling court-appointed cases, we see the same problems affecting family after family and child after child. Systemic injustice motivates us to take our advocacy to the legislature in support of statewide system reform. Significant legislative achievements include:

  • Reforming the juvenile records expunction process and creating a system-initiated process for expunging juvenile records in Oregon. (SB 575 – 2021, SB 519 – 2023, HB 2677 – 2025)
    Eliminating court fines and fees for juveniles. (SB 817 – 2021).
  • Requiring court authorization or exigent circumstances before DHS can remove a child from parents. This brings Oregon in line with constitutional standard for removal. (HB 2843 – 2019)
  • Landmark juvenile justice reform, which eliminates automatically treating youth ages 15-17 as adults (YRJ was part of stakeholder coalition). (SB 1008 – 2019)
  • Allowing families to be reunified though reinstatement of parental rights. (HB 4009 – 2017)
  • Requiring DHS to consider both relatives and those with long-term supportive relationships to adopt children from foster care. (SB 741 – 2015)
  • Limiting the use of suspension and expulsion in elementary school. (SB 553 – 2015)
  • Eliminating automatic lifetime sex offender registration for youth. (HB 2320 – 2015)
  • Eliminating Oregon’s zero tolerance school expulsion policies. (SB 2192 – 2013)
  • Creating a pathway for youth to obtain relief from Oregon’s lifetime sex offender registry. (SB 408 – 2011)
  • Requiring DHS to prioritize placing foster children with their siblings and relatives. (HB 414 – 2007)
  • Enabling relatives serving as foster parents to obtain financial assistance. (SB 282 – 2007)
  • Promoting school stability for foster children. (HB 3075 – 2005)

Impact Litigation

By leveraging the power of the courts, YRJ has been successful in enacting system-wide change in Oregon. Our victories are wide reaching, some include; improving the health and safety of youth living in detention facilities, giving foster children the chance to live with relatives instead of stranger foster care, ensuring that students with disabilities receive education services they are entitled to, and imposing limits on the placement of foster children into hotels.