Folks will see a new face around Oregon Youth Authority, someone who is here to elevate the voices of the people most directly impacted by its system: youth and their families. The Youth and Family Advocate position is designed to be independent and will be housed for at least the next year outside of the agency. The goal of the role is simple, but significant: help young people and their loved ones navigate OYA, raise concerns, and understand their rights and options. This role is part of OYA’s broader effort to improve transparency and ensure that youth and family experiences are heard and addressed at every level.
Filling this new role will be Katherine O. “K.O.” Berger, a longtime advocate for youth in the justice system. K.O. brings a unique combination of legal expertise, deep listening, and relationship-centered practice to her work at OYA. “This position is not going to work if I’m just sitting in an office in the central office and I’m not seeing,” she said. “You need to be present. They need to kind of see that you really are invested in what’s going on.”
K.O.’s career has been defined by her fierce commitment to youth charged with serious offenses. As a lawyer, she has spent decades defending kids, including teens facing the death penalty and life in prison. Her policy advocacy has shaped Oregon law, including reforms to second-look hearings, parole eligibility, and sentencing for youth tried in adult court. She served for fifteen years at the Juvenile Rights Project and later contracted with the state as one of the few defense lawyers with experience in waiver hearings. “I think I deal well with people, especially when they’re feeling not heard,” she said. “That’s something that’s important to me.”
As Youth and Family Advocate, K.O. aims to be a consistent, trustworthy presence for youth and families, and a partner for staff working to improve the system from within. “I don’t want people seeing me just as this amorphous person who’s going to come in and tell them this is everything you’re doing wrong,” she said. “But more of, let’s figure out where the problems are, and let’s figure out how to solve these problems together.” K.O. will spend dedicated time each week in facilities to be available for youth and staff, and plans to meet families during visitation sessions and at events to offer a direct connection. She also encourages families to actively reach out when they have any questions or concerns, especially about youth safety and well-being.
K.O. currently serves as resource counsel for the Oregon Public Defense Commission, where she trains lawyers in juvenile defense strategies and trial skills. She is a graduate and faculty member of the Trial Lawyers College, and the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association named her a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for her longstanding commitment to youth advocacy. Reflecting on what will make her successful in this new position, K.O. said, “The more you can treat people as if they’re actually people and not just, you know, names on files or on a spreadsheet, I think that goes a long way.”
K.O. will begin her work on May 1.