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Image credit: By OYA, Fair use, Wikipedia
Ten additional men have filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA), alleging they were sexually abused as boys by a state-employed doctor while in custody at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, Fox 12 Oregon reported. This marks the second group of former youth detainees to file suit in recent months, with the total number of known victims now at 20 and growing.
The plaintiffs say they were repeatedly abused by Dr. Edward Edwards under the guise of receiving medical treatment. According to the lawsuit, the abuse ranged from groping to more severe sexual acts. Some victims reported that even after refusing treatment or directly confronting Edwards about the misconduct, they were still forced to return to him for care—resulting in continued abuse.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say the state ignored clear warning signs and failed to protect children in its custody. With the addition of this latest case, the state’s potential financial liability is expected to exceed $100 million.
In March, another group of 10 men filed a $51 million lawsuit also alleging abuse by Dr. Edwards during their incarceration at MacLaren in the early 2000s. Many of the new plaintiffs are from the same time period, suggesting a long-standing pattern of misconduct and institutional failure.
Since the first lawsuit was filed, former OYA employees and other whistleblowers have come forward alleging that the abuse by Dr. Edwards was an open secret within the facility. Some staff members reportedly gave the doctor a nickname referencing the alleged abuse, further indicating a culture of complicity and silence.
The Oregon Youth Authority currently supervises about 900 young people between the ages of 12 and 24 across five correctional facilities and four transitional programs. MacLaren, the largest of these, houses approximately 180 boys and has been the center of mounting scrutiny as allegations continue to surface.
Survivors and advocates are now calling for an independent investigation and systemic reform of the OYA to ensure that no child in state custody is placed at risk of abuse.
If you want to learn more about sexual abuse in institutional facilities, visit our comprehensive page to learn your legal rights.
