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Services

County juvenile departments provide services, including supervision and sanctions, to youth between the ages of 12-17 that are referred for law violations.  Juvenile departments conduct intake services and determine dispositions for the cases referred.  Decisions are made whether to handle cases informally, in lieu of court action, in the event of less serious law violations or to file petitions for formal court action on the more serious referrals.  Such decisions are made in conjunction with the local district attorney’s office and the policies of the local juvenile court.  Juvenile departments provide youth with the opportunity to be held accountable and achieve reform in their own communities.

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The Wheeler County Juvenile Department is also responsible for facilitating Juvenile Court processes related to child abuse and neglect cases brought by the Department of Human Services (DHS)—Child Welfare Division.  This involves such activities as the filing of dependency petitions, arranging for the appointment of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers, arranging for the appointment of attorneys, distributing discovery, and monitoring federal guidelines—Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Title IV-E/Adoption and Safe Families Act—to ensure that appropriate efforts are being made to reunify families and that any placement is in the best interest of the child.



The Juvenile Director works closely with a variety of agencies serving Wheeler County, including the District Attorney, the Sheriff’s Office, Local Public Safety Coordinating Council, Multi-Agency Team, the Department of Human Services—Child Welfare Division, the Oregon Youth Authority, and many other local and statewide agencies.