Youth in Detention

Get details about juvenile intake and assessment, along with what you can expect when your child is in detention.


Looking for information about visiting youth in detention?


Detention services: Placement intake

The decision to detain a youth is a critical one that requires a rigorous analysis of many factors. Juveniles may be held because of the seriousness of their offense, a history of criminal offenses, the juvenile is a threat to others, or to ensure that the juvenile returns to court.

Detained youth are ones whose offenses are so serious that release would endanger public safety or the welfare of the child.

Programs offered to youth placed in detention

While detained at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Home (JDH), juveniles are supported through programs that offer spiritual support, health care, peer support groups, library services and recreation.

School in detention

At the Donald E. Long School, the Multnomah Education Service District supports our local school districts by providing a meaningful education in a positive climate, to the children of our communities, in an effort to provide them with skills necessary to avoid return to incarceration.

Safety and security

Security measures at the Donald E. Long facility include 24/7 monitoring of all areas of the building, high staff-to-youth ratios, escorts for youth en route to new locations, hourly inspections, and structured daily routines.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

PREA is a federal law that mandates standards for prevention, intervention and prosecution of sexual assault and sexual harassment within prisons, jails, and detention centers.

Visiting youth in detention

Please review rules and regulations for all visits.

Courtyard Cafe

The Courtyard Cafe is a nationally recognized program committed to providing healthy, high quality fresh and local, yet cost effective food to youth detained at the Donald E. Long Detention Facility.


Looking for information for youth who are not detained?

  • Learn about services for Youth on Probation, providing accountability, structure, and support to justice-involved youth who remain in the community.
Last reviewed November 26, 2024