The purpose of screening is to reduce the risk of sexual abuse by or upon a resident. At the time of admission or at least within 72 hours of admission, information is gathered from the youth and other sources about history and behavior relevant to sexual abuse. Staff trained in collecting such information use a screening assessment that, at a minimum, includes information on prior victimization and/or sexually abusive behavior; gender nonconforming appearance or manner; identification as LGBTI; current charges and offense history; age; emotional/cognitive level; diagnoses or self-perception of mental illness or disabilities.
Information will be gathered through multiple channels: conversation with the youth at intake, other assessments, court and legal documentation, conversation with professionals who are knowledgeable about the youth, and records of behavior from previous stays in the facility or other programs.
Information will be gathered through multiple channels: conversation with the youth at intake, other assessments, court and legal documentation, conversation with professionals who are knowledgeable about the youth, and records of behavior from previous stays in the facility or other programs.
Dissemination of information is limited to those who need to know for decision making and supervision of youth.
Decisions based on assessment information in include placement in housing and assignments to education, work, and other facility programs with the goal of promoting a safe environment free of sexual abuse. No assignment is based solely on LGBTI identification, the status of which is not related to the likeliness of being abusive. All decisions related to placement and program assignment based on the screening assessment are documented and reviewed at intervals that are explicitly stated in policy.
Note: Oregon juvenile detention centers began to survey youth in Oregon facilities toward the goal of developing an objective assessment tool. The survey designed for that purpose and a summary report on preliminary data gathered through the survey in 2014 are linked to this policy as a resource.
Resources:
Survey for Oregon Juvenile Detention Centers
Preliminary Data Gathered through Survey in 2014
PREA Standard 115.341
PREA Standard 115.342
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