New director of Washington County Juvenile Services

County Administrator Tanya Ange has appointed Dr. Jennifer Cearley to serve as the new director of the Washington County Juvenile Department. Dr. Cearley joined the County in 2017 as a research and evaluation analyst for the department and she was promoted to assistant director in 2020. For the past year, she has served as interim director.

“Dr. Cearley’s extensive experience working with justice-involved youth and their families, along with her proven ability to manage innovative and evidence-based programming that reduces recidivism and prevents juvenile crime, was critical to her selection for this important leadership role,” said Ange. “I’m grateful for her passionate, human-centered approach to juvenile justice and her strong and steady leadership.”

Prior to joining the Washington County team, Dr. Cearley served in Lane County in various roles in juvenile justice and youth services. These included working directly with youth in secure and residential settings and as a senior management analyst for the Lane County Department of Youth Services. She also spent nearly 15 years conducting prevention research with the Oregon Social Learning Center.

Dr. Cearley comes to juvenile justice with a Master's degree in counseling, and she earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a focus on Human Services from the University of Oregon. She has deep expertise in juvenile justice best practices and using data to make informed decisions about interventions that help prevent criminal behavior and build prosocial skills.

“I’m very grateful to be selected as the next director of juvenile services,” said Cearley. “It’s a real honor to continue serving the youth, families and victims of crime in Washington County and working alongside such amazing colleagues who are committed to recognizing the unique needs, risks and strengths of each individual young person to support healing and behavior change.”

Washington County Juvenile Department protects the public by reducing delinquency and restores victims and the community by holding youth accountable. They create opportunities for change through swift and decisive use of effective practices, building on the strengths of youth and families. For information on programs and services, please visit www.washingtoncountyor.gov/juvenile.