Juvenile Department had 41 referrals in December

ALBANY — There are 180 young people in the Linn County Juvenile Department’s Probation Unit, of which 33 are considered high-risk, Director Torri Lynn told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

Lynn said there were 41 referrals to his department in December, of which 14 were based on criminal charges.

There are 90 youth in the Community Programs Unit serving on informal probation and the Intervention Specialist is working with 49 youth, with 44 of the young people have had no involvement with law enforcement.

The Victim Advocate made 128 contacts in December, Lynn said.

In December, 27 Linn County youth were held for an average of 9.15 days. Two youth from Benton County averaged 6.50 days of stay; two Lincoln County young people were held an average of 16 days.

The average daily population was almost 12 youth for 9.41 says.

Lynn introduced new Community Services Program Manager Jose Reyes, who comes to Linn County after 12 years with the Marion County Juvenile Department. 

Lynn updated the Commissioners on bills introduced at the State Legislature that would affect the potential use of restraining systems of detained youth, as well as having complaints of abuse lodged against detention workers investigated by Department of Human Services staff members. Currently such complaints are investigated by law enforcement officials.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved a transfer within the Grants Fund of $531,486 for the District Attorney’s Deflection Program. County residents with substance use or mental health issues, may opt to enter a “deflection” programs to help deal with issues, instead of facing possible incarceration.
• Another $21,669 was allocated for the Health portion of the Deflection Grant to cover administration/personnel costs as well as training and funding for the new Crisis Center being developed by the Health Department.
• Approved a $40,000 transfer within the Health Fund to purchase furniture for the second floor of the Annex Building for Environmental Health.
• Approved a refund of $1,000 to Tony and Linda Silbernagel, who withdrew a permit application because a property status application on the same property.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.