After reviewing a case, a District Attorney can decide if a case can be handled informally. When a case is handled through the informal juvenile process, the youth does not have traditional court hearings. Instead, they work with a juvenile court counselor and agree to meet specific requirements over a period of time.
At the beginning of an informal case, the youth and their family meet with a juvenile court counselor to create and sign a document called a Formal Accountability Agreement (FAA). This agreement includes the requirements that the youth must meet in order to successfully complete the process. Common requirements can include the youth attending school, participating in services that could help them avoid similar behavior, completing reading or writing assignments, and taking reasonable steps to repair the harm they have caused. Often, the youth is also required to write a Letter of Accountability where they reflect and take responsibility for the harm that they caused. If the youth writes a letter and takes responsibility in a way that is appropriate, you have the option to receive a copy of this letter. Please let your advocate know if you would like to receive this by calling Victim and Survivor Services at 503-988-7606.
Informal supervision is designed to be short-term and often lasts less than six months. The goal is for the youth to complete the requirements in their Formal Accountability Agreement successfully and reduce the risk of the youth causing harm in the future while still upholding victims’ rights. If the youth does not complete the requirements of their agreement, the District Attorney’s Office will be notified and the case will be reviewed to see if the case will be handled through a court process.
Victim rights and support during the informal process
While a youth is involved in an informal case, they are supervised by a juvenile court counselor from the Department of Community Justice (DCJ). DCJ has a Victim and Survivor Services Unit. The advocates on this team are available to you throughout the process of an informal case.
When an informal case starts, an advocate from Victim and Survivor Services will call you to provide information about the informal process, your rights, resources that are available to you, and to provide emotional support. They will also send information to you in the mail. Please make sure to keep your contact information updated so an advocate can reach you. If you have questions about an informal case or want to update your rights requests, please call the Victim and Survivor Services Unit at 503-988-7606.
During this process, you have victims’ rights. They include notification of your rights as soon as possible, being treated with dignity and respect, having a meaningful role in the juvenile justice process, and requesting information regarding your case. You have the right to know if the youth offender is released after being in custody and to be reasonably protected from them. If you would like the youth to avoid having any contact with you while going through this process, this condition could be included in the Formal Accountability Agreement. Please let your advocate know if you would like this to be part of the agreement.
Financial harm
If the youth caused financial harm, you have the right to request that they pay it back as part of their Formal Accountability Agreement. This is called restitution. If you would like to request restitution, an advocate can help you identify what documents will be needed to do so. Common documents needed to make a request include receipts, estimates of costs, or copies of bills. You will receive a form in the mail about restitution. Because informal cases are processed quickly, it’s important to notify your advocate as soon as possible if you plan to request restitution, and to gather the documents needed.
The juvenile court counselor will help the youth create a plan to pay restitution. There is an optional program called Project Payback where youth can earn money to go toward restitution by doing community service work. In some situations, the youth will need to focus on other conditions, like drug or alcohol treatment or other stabilizing services, before participating in Project Payback. The youth may make small payments towards restitution over time, or could pay in a lump sum. The money that the youth pays will be paid to you via check from Multnomah County. It may take several months to process and send a check in the mail. In order to send checks to you, it’s very important that your mailing address is up to date. To confirm your address is up to date, please contact an advocate with the Department of Community Justice at 503-988-7606.
If the youth harmed more than one victim, and more than one victim requests restitution, the money that the youth pays will be divided evenly between the victims. If several youths caused harm to one victim, they will all be required to pay.
Restorative justice
The Juvenile Services Division partners with Lutheran Community Services NW to offer a Restorative Practices Program. This program is not religious and strives to be welcoming to all people. This program creates space for survivors of crime and other impacted people to share how the crime has impacted them and to explore how their needs can be met. The program also creates an opportunity for the young person that caused harm to work to repair that harm and take responsibility for their actions. Participation in this program is voluntary for all participants.
The Restorative Practices Program is designed to meet the unique needs of those involved in the program. As a result, participation in the program will be different in each case. Restorative practices can include many creative responses to the needs of participants, including but not limited to a Letter of Accountability, a conversation with a trained restorative practices facilitator about your experience, a family or group conference with a facilitator, and a meeting with the young person, support people, and facilitators. If you are interested in this program, please call the Victim and Survivor Services Unit at 503-988-7606.
Glossary of terms
A person under the age of 18 years old who has caused harm and the juvenile justice system is involved. Back to content.
A professional who provides case management and support for a youth while their case is processed in the juvenile justice system. Juvenile court counselors are not police officers or probation officers. Back to content.
A document that outlines the requirements a youth must meet. Back to content.
An opportunity for a young person who has caused harm to reflect and take accountability for their actions. Back to content.
A person who supports crime victims. Advocates can work with a justice system agency or with a community organization. Their job is to help you understand the justice system and your rights, to attend court with you, to offer emotional support, and to connect you with resources to meet your needs. Advocate services are always free. Visit our resource page for information about advocate services in Multnomah County. Back to content.
Oregon law defines a victim as any person the court or an attorney from the District Attorney’s Office finds has experienced financial, mental, or physical harm as a result of a crime. The victim of the crime may also be a witness in the case. If the victim is under the age of 18, the victim’s parent or legal guardian may also be considered a victim. If the victim lost their life as a result of the crime, the victim’s immediate family may also be considered victims. Back to content.
Opportunities to engage in activities that support the community. Back to content.
The Department of Community Justice works with adult and juvenile offenders. Staff in the juvenile division screen juvenile cases, prepare reports for the court, supervise youth on probation, and collaborate with community organizations to maximize effective services and positive outcomes. Back to content.
A nonprofit community partner that facilitates the Restorative Practices Program. This program is not religious and strives to be welcoming to all people. You can reach them at 503-231-7480. Back to content.
A professional who has been trained to facilitate difficult conversations in a trauma-informed way. They provide support to both survivors and youth who have caused harm. Back to content.
This page was produced by Multnomah County under grant number 15POVC-21-GK-01091-NONF, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.