Wasco County won’t be sending any more children to a juvenile detention facility in The Dalles — at least for now.
The decision comes after a report found “ psychologically harmful conditions” at the Northern Oregon Regional Corrections Facility.
The report by Disability Rights Oregon found children at NORCOR as young as 12 being locked in their cells for hours and not being allowed to read, write or draw.
Children from 17 rural counties are sent to NORCOR for crimes as varied as theft and sexual assault.
But now, Wasco County commissioners have sent NORCOR a letter demanding an independent investigation and transfer of control away from NORCOR.
NORCOR administrator Bryan Brandenburg declined to comment on the letter for this story.
Jail officials have organized an emergency meeting for Friday morning.
It’s unclear at this stage whether other counties will follow Wasco’s example.
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