H.O.P.E. Drug Court Participant Helps The Douglas County Juvenile Programs (Photo) -07/09/25
ROSEBURG, OR – A H.O.P.E. Drug Court participant has chosen to help the Douglas County Juvenile Department Programs for the Detention Center, Rising Light and River Rock to seek recreational equipment, board and card games, walking/hiking shoes, and swimwear/goggles for youth utilizing the programs.
Robert Bryant, HOPE Drug Court participant, stated, “Legacy is not the sum of our achievements. Legacy is what our children will say about us when we are gone. My project is called Legacy of Hope, and the goal is to help children in the Juvenile Department programs. The need for a child to make and have connection within their community, my community, is without parallel. In my own childhood that lack of connection led me to seek it in other places, in drugs, but by giving kids the chance to make connections to the community before seeking it as I did, brings me hope. I want the need for connection to be fulfilled so they feel complete, worthy, and see value in themselves. Together, we can give the opportunity for these things, and our actions show them we see their value, worth, potential, and the situation they are in as a product of poor choices, not bad kids. Action is an idea in motion, and children will not remember what we thought or what we said as much as what we showed them. Please join me and help show these kids what it means to do the right thing when nobody may even see.”
The Juvenile Department plays a vital role in promoting public safety while ensuring that youth who commit law violations are held accountable for their actions. The department’s primary mission is to provide opportunities for restoration—not just for the youth, but also for their victims and the broader community.
Key functions of the department include:
- Accountability: Holding youth accountable for their delinquent behavior through a fair and constructive process.
- Restorative Justice: Offering opportunities for youth to make amends through restorative practices that focus on healing and repair.
- Reformation Services: Providing support and services to help youth become productive and responsible citizens, guiding them on a path toward personal growth and a positive future.
- Child Abuse and Neglect Cases: Assisting the District Attorney’s Office in the processing of child abuse and neglect cases through the court system, ensuring justice and protection for vulnerable children.
- Behavior Rehabilitative Services: Two residential programs for youth in foster care, ages 13-17, provide access to individualized treatment planning, mental health therapy, substance use counseling, education services, and opportunities for recreation while working towards stabilization with the goal of transitioning back to the care of a family member, community resource home, or independent living program.
Through these efforts, the Juvenile Department works tirelessly to help youth rebuild their lives, while fostering a safer and stronger community for everyone. “Giving back to the community in this way, is a complete WIN-WIN. Mr. Bryant is making huge strides in a life changing program that truly leaves a legacy. The youth he will impact by supplying prosocial sports and recreation equipment will last for years to come. By providing these items for our youth we can teach them, show them, play beside them and from that they will learn patience, sportsmanship, teamwork, skills, self-worth, and more. This is restorative Justice at its best.” says Juvenile Department Director Wendy Lang.
The Juvenile Detention and Residential Facility provides secure housing and residential programming for youth offenders. The Detention Unit has a capacity of 32 beds and includes a 30-day extended detention program. This unit serves as a critical resource for ensuring public safety and holding youth accountable for their actions. Youth are admitted to the Detention Unit through referrals from law enforcement agencies or by court order. The Residential Programs offers a less secure environment and can accommodate up to 16 youth from the foster care system. Jessica Epp, Juvenile Services Manager added, “The youth in our Residential programs come to us from all over the state of Oregon to receive intensive behavior rehabilitative services. Providing them with opportunities for recreation and activities is essential to their treatment and well-being. We are so grateful for Mr. Bryant choosing our department as the recipient of donations that will support our youth and allow them the chance to continue to engage in activities that they enjoy or learn about new sports and games that they have not been able to try yet.”
HOPE Drug Court Participant Launches Sports & Recreation Drive for Local Youth
Mr. Bryant, a Douglas County H.O.P.E. Drug Court participant, is leading a sports and recreation equipment drive to support youth in the local Douglas County Juvenile Department programs. His mission is rooted in the belief that staying physically and mentally active helps young people reduce stress, build positive habits, strengthen peer relationships, and learn skills that promote better choices and reduce recidivism.
Items being collected include:
- Footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs
- Badminton sets, disc golf discs, tennis racquets and balls
- Board games, UNO, playing cards, puzzles, chess, checkers
- Playground balls, softball gloves and balls
- Hiking shoes, yoga mats, swimming goggles
- Swimwear (boys and girls, pre-teen to teen sizes)
- And other sports and recreational supplies
Donation boxes are available at the following Community Partner locations:
- Douglas County Juvenile Department – 1st Floor, Courthouse, 1036 SE Douglas Ave. Room CH 105A, Roseburg
- Big O Tires – 2545 NW Stewart Parkway, Roseburg
- Chevron – 345 W Harvard Ave., Roseburg
Mr. Bryant is offering another way to support his Sports & Recreation Drive by hosting a community car wash during the Graffiti Cruise weekend.
Abby’s Legendary Pizza – 1661 NE Stephens Street
Saturday, July 12, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Bryant and volunteers will be washing vehicles for donations, with all proceeds going toward purchasing recreational and sports equipment for youth in the Juvenile Department programs. The event will also serve as a drop-off location for donated items during the carwash. Your donation helps promote healthy activity, teamwork, and resilience in youth. Thank you for supporting this meaningful community effort!
The Douglas County H.O.P.E. Drug Court program is preparing to celebrate its 110th graduation on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 5:15 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in the Cascade Hall building.
Presided over by the Honorable Judge Robert B. Johnson, H.O.P.E. Drug Court operates under the Douglas County Circuit Court. The program is designed to reduce recidivism, address substance use disorders, and encourage participants to reflect on their lives beyond their criminal actions. The court emphasizes personal transformation, responsibility, and a focus on future potential.
A hallmark of the program is the Graduate Community Project, completed during the final phase. These projects allow participants to demonstrate their personal growth, social development, and the internal motivation that drives them toward meaningful, lasting change.
Graduate flyers and additional information can be found on the Douglas County website through the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC) at: https://douglascountyor.gov/851/HOPE-Drug-Court.