Youth on Probation

Youth on probation in the community will be supervised by a Juvenile Court Counselor (JCC).

Beliefs that guide juvenile probation in Multnomah County

Our supervision programs and services maintain a focus on relationships and families rather than services focused for an individual youth. We meet with families right from the beginning, and continue these meetings throughout the course of supervision. Because probation is a temporary service, the family ultimately plays the most critical role in helping youths make lasting, positive changes.

We strive to:

• Engage and motivate youths and families to participate in probation and in services to which the family is referred
• Use proven assessment tools to identify the youth and family's greatest needs and most important areas for change
• Focus on the strengths of the youth and their family members
• Link youths and families to appropriate and effective services
• Support youth and families and monitor attendance and participation in services to which they've been referred
• When youth and family participation in referred services is complete, help youths and families maintain positive change for future success

Youth probation begins with the "adjudication" process

Adjudication is the legal process in which a judge decides on next steps that are in the best interest of a youth who has had formal charges filed. Juvenile Court Counselors who work on the Adjudication Unit provide written and oral reports to the court to provide background that helps guide decisions on the disposition (outcome) of the case. Your child's JCC is your primary resource for understanding the process and making sure your needs are met while court proceedings are underway.

When adjudication is complete

Youth are assigned to a supervision program that holds them accountable and helps them make positive change, taking into account their individual support systems, history and risks. In some cases, your child may be assigned to a supervision unit that specializes in a particular area of need, including:

• RISE. This unit provides probation supervision to medium- and high-risk males and gang-involved/impacted youth using strategies that are tailored to each youth's issues, strengths, needs, culture and environmental influence.
• Sex Offense Probation Services. This unit works as a team with partner agencies, therapists, families of youth on supervision for sex offenses. Our approach is strength-based and focuses on providing hope.
• Gender-Specific Services for Young Women. This unit works together with young women and their families throughout the court process, including case planning and treatment. We coordinate with partner agencies to provide specialized services addressing the specific needs of young women.
• Low risk. This unit serves youth who have court-ordered sanctions with the Juvenile Justice Division and are considered to be at low risk of future criminal offenses.
• Informal supervision. Youths on informal supervision meet with their Juvenile Court Counselor on a regular basis to assure positive changes.

All supervision units work in partnership with the youth, family, and the community to:

• Connect youth to interventions and services such as community service and project payback to hold youth accountable and support efforts to repair harm
• Assist youth in creating a healthy identity
• Reconnect to the community in ways that focus on strengths and avoid further involvement with the Justice system
• Form a path to future success

Additional, specialized service areas for youth on supervision include:

Accountability and Community Services

• Community Service: This court ordered program provides a balanced approach that enhances community safety by holding youth accountable, while helping them develop skills to succeed.
• Project Payback: Project Payback is a juvenile restorative justice program that provides opportunities for youth to earn money toward restitution to their victims and court fines/fees.

Community Healing Initiative (CHI)

• This community-centered, collaborative partnership between DCJ, Latino Network, and Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC) is designed to decrease youth violence by providing culturally appropriate community support to youth and families.

Multnomah County Assessment and Evaluation (A&E)

• This voluntary, short-term residential program provides temporary structure, stabilization and treatment readiness for youth who require a staff-secured, out-of-home placement.

Restorative Justice

• Restorative justice encourages constructive responses to harm. It brings the needs and voices of those who have harmed, those impacted, and the community into processes that repair harms and rebuild relationships.