Clackamas County's Deputy District Attorney Torrey McConnell has garnered recognition for her work in the juvenile court, snagging the 2025 Juvenile Prosecutor of the Year award from the Oregon District Attorneys Association, an accolade that speaks to her prowess in the field despite her relatively brief tenure of around two years focusing on such cases. McConnell, whose approach leans toward reformative justice, has developed an expertise for tackling challenging caseloads with a blend of optimism and dexterity. According to Clackamas County officials, her work has not only been acknowledged by her colleagues but also by her peers across Oregon's small counties.
Her journey with the district attorney's office began as a law clerk in May 2016 while she was still a law student at Lewis and Clark Law School, eventually being hired on as a Deputy District Attorney in October 2017. According to Clackamas County's official statement, McConnell has since prosecuted a spectrum of cases from simple misdemeanors to more heinous crimes such as sexual abuse of a child and even a murder case. Her experiences aren't restricted to the courtroom; she's also immersed herself in Clackamas County's specialty courts dealing with mental health, substance abuse, and low-level crimes, focusing on intervention over incarceration.
As described by the Clackamas County official website, McConnell's approach to juvenile cases involves holistically understanding the circumstances of each youth. District Attorney John Wentworth praised her work, stating, "Torrey is smart, energetic, and dedicated to both youth success and public safety." McConnell's dedication to exploring beyond the act itself to the underlying factors, be it family life or mental health issues, seems rooted in a belief that a fuller grasp of the 'why' can lead to interventions tailored for the youth's best chance at redirection.
In describing her work, McConnell emphasizes the importance of customized responses. "When you take into account all of the factors affecting the youth, it creates the highest likelihood for a positive outcome," she said, according to the Clackamas County announcement. Her caseload includes determining whether a youth is a candidate for electronic monitoring or identifying treatment programs that could serve as an alternative to incarceration, a facet of the justice system where McConnell has found her niche. Her recognition as Prosecutor of the Year underscores her commitment to the field of juvenile justice and reflects an investment in the futures of the young individuals she encounters within the legal system.
