Who are the youth
served by the
Department of Youth Services?
The Department of Youth Services is part of Lane County's public safety system. DYS staff work with juveniles referred by law enforcement, that is youth who have been cited or arrested for law violations.
During 2005:
- 2,443 juveniles in Lane County were referred to the juvenile justice system for criminal activity.
- There were 477 referrals for violent crime – primarily different levels of assault.
- Violent juvenile crime remained steady (three fewer referrals than in 1998).
- Property crime dropped 12% with a decrease of 30% in Burglaries and Robberies.
- Car theft dropped by 10%.
- Arson increased by 37%.
- Violent juvenile crime remains a serious concern. It has dropped slightly over the past five years, but is still at a level almost twice as high as the mid-1980s.
