Teen Held in Isolation for Over a Month at Oregon Youth Facility, Lawsuit Alleges

PORTLAND, OR — A new federal lawsuit accuses the Oregon Youth Authority of violating state law and a teen’s civil rights by subjecting him to prolonged solitary confinement in a youth detention center. The suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Portland, centers on the experience of a now 18-year-old formerly held at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn.

Filed by the Oregon Justice Resource Center, the lawsuit claims that the youth, identified by his initials A.H., spent 32 days in a filthy isolation cell as punishment. According to the lawsuit, the cell smelled of urine and feces and lacked basic amenities.

Conditions and Impact on Mental Health

The lawsuit states that A.H. was held in isolation starting in December 2023 after an alleged assault, which he denied. During his time in solitary, A.H. was largely cut off from the outside world. He was not allowed to call his family, participate in educational programs, or engage in recreation, the complaint says.

Youth in isolation were reportedly given only chalk to write on the walls and one or two books, the lawsuit alleges. A.H. filed a grievance, but according to the complaint, the youth authority never responded. Another youth who also filed a grievance after being sent to isolation allegedly waited a year without receiving a response.

The suit claims the lack of interaction, the poor conditions, and the uncertainty over how long A.H. would remain in isolation harmed his mental and emotional health. During his time in solitary, A.H. was not disciplined for any behavior, the suit notes.

Second Isolation Incident

After the initial confinement, A.H. was reportedly sent back to isolation a second time. That incident occurred after he entered a restricted area and made physical contact with an employee while pushing past her. He was isolated for three more days following that event.

Legal Claims and State Response

The lawsuit argues that Oregon law prohibits the use of isolation as punishment. Under state regulations, isolation is supposed to be used only to manage imminent violence and should not exceed five days. The teen’s extended stay, the lawsuit claims, violated those rules.

It also alleges that the Oregon Youth Authority failed to train staff properly, ignored reports of abuse, and did not implement policies to prevent the misuse of solitary confinement.

The Oregon Youth Authority declined to comment directly on the case due to pending litigation. However, Interim Director Jana McClellan issued a statement noting that the agency has remodeled space and changed its procedures to better align with best practices. She added that further changes are planned to balance safety and emotional development.

A.H. was released from state custody last month. His attorney, Thaddeus Betz, who leads the youth justice project at the Oregon Justice Resource Center, described the confinement practices as “arbitrary.”

The lawsuit seeks accountability from top youth authority officials named as defendants and aims to challenge the state’s use of solitary confinement on incarcerated youth.