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Additional claims of sexual abuse surface in the Oregon juvenile detention system


New allegations have surfaced against staff members at the Oregon Youth Authority, with federal civil rights lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court claiming sexual abuse of teens and young adults in custody. The lawsuits allege that the abuse occurred between 2019 and 2023 at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn and Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility in Albany. The lawsuits identify four former staff members accused of sexual abuse, as well as 11 others named for failing to prevent or report the abuse.

According to attorney Norah Van Dusen, who is representing the six plaintiffs, the cases indicate widespread sexual abuse that is not isolated. Two former Oregon Youth Authority employees facing criminal charges have been named in the lawsuits. The agency has stated that the alleged conduct goes against their values and commitments to youth in custody, and they are committed to investigating and taking appropriate action.

One of the cases involves former employee Travis Craft, who was arrested and is facing felony charges of custodial sexual misconduct. Another former staff member, Emily Echtenkamp, is also facing charges related to custodial sexual misconduct. The lawsuits also name two other former staff members accused of sexual abuse, as well as supervisors and colleagues who allegedly failed to act on their knowledge of the abusive situations.

One victim, identified in court documents as A.G., experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a former staff member after being groomed with inappropriate sexual conversations. She has emphasized the need to address the culture that normalizes close relationships between staff and youth in custody. The lawsuits aim to shed light on the broader issue of sexual abuse within the Oregon juvenile detention system and to hold accountable those responsible for these heinous acts.

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Photo credit www.opb.org

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