LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Citing "continued deterioration" of conditions at the county's juvenile halls, the state Attorney General's Office and the county are calling Wednesday for a series of steps to boost staffing, revise internal policies and increase safety for detainees, and have filed a joint motion to amend an court-ordered oversight agreement.
The proposed amendments, which will need to be approved by a judge, target conditions at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey and the Barry J. Nidorf Secure Youth Treatment Facility in Sylmar. Los Padrinos generally houses youth detainees who are awaiting disposition of their court cases, while the Nidorf facility is for post-disposition youth.
Both facilities have regularly been the target of state regulators who have cited various concerns about operations, including short-staffing, and failures to ensure the safety of detainees and availability of adequate programming. The facilities have repeatedly been declared unsuitable to house detainees, leading to upgrades that have allowed them to continue operating.
But Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement Tuesday that conditions at both facilities have continued to deteriorate, leading to development of the proposed changes in a 2021 judgment requiring the county to make improvements in its housing of juvenile detainees.
"The county of Los Angeles is responsible for safeguarding the safety and well-being of the children at its juvenile halls -- and it has utterly failed in this responsibility to date," Bonta said. "These new terms will strengthen oversight and accountability, and lead to necessary and overdue improvement to conditions at these facilities. As the state's chief law enforcement officer, I take my responsibility seriously, and I know that we won't break the cycle of incarceration without ensuring the education, healing, and rehabilitation of those involved in the juvenile justice system. I am hopeful that this new, expanded agreement will address persistent problems at these juvenile halls, but my office will be watching closely and ready to take further action if needed."
The county Probation Department, which operates the juvenile halls, issued a statement saying, "The Los Angeles County Probation Department has jointly filed a motion with the State Attorney General regarding improvements at Los Padrinos and Barry J. Nidorf. This joint motion will require court approval to take effect. While that is pending, we have no immediate comment other than to underscore that our top priority remains the safety and well- being of the youth in our care. We are committed to transforming our juvenile facilities into secure, healthy, and rehabilitative environments and are determined to meet and surpass all required standards."
In October, the county Board of Supervisors called for the appointment of an internal compliance officer within 30 days to ensure that juvenile halls are in adherence with state regulations.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said in a statement Tuesday she supports the motion filed by the county and Attorney General's Office.
"I'm aware our Los Angeles County Probation Department has been working hard to course correct and meet its compliance obligations, but persistent shortcomings and big challenges persist within its system of care and rehabilitation for youth," Barger said. "The joint motion filed with the Attorney General will bring in additional monitoring and protections that will fortify and further help ensure the safety of youth and staff. I'm hopeful the court will approve these stricter monitoring and reporting requirements. I welcome the additional scrutiny and accountability. The more eyes, the better."
According to the Attorney General's Office, the motion filed jointly by the state and county calls for the existing judgment against the county to be amended with stricter monitoring and reporting requirements, including the appointment of a deputy monitor at each facility.
The proposal would also require the county to:
-- ensure timely review of use-of-force cases and address lapses in surveillance camera coverage;
-- implement an electronic data system to ensure youth access to recreation, visitation and religious services, and ensure they are taken to required medical appointments;
-- develop a plan to resolve persistent staffing issues;
-- establish an anti-retaliation policy and hire an ombudsman at each hall to "address youth grievances and prevent retaliation"; and
-- revise "inadequate" policies on reducing violence, including staff-instigated violence, and reporting child abuse.
Bonta last year filed a similar motion with the Los Angeles Superior Court calling on the county to immediately remedy "illegal and unsafe" conditions in the facilities.
"However, following some initial progress, the monitor again began to raise the alarm over multiple serious threats to youth safety including the county's failure to adequately staff the juvenile halls, to stem the flow of drugs, to prevent staff from instigating or encouraging youth-on-youth assaults; to deliver youth to medical appointments; to prevent retaliation against youth who file grievances; and to ensure cameras are installed in all areas and that video footage is reviewed, among other concerns," according to the A.G.'s Office.
It was unclear when a hearing on the proposed motion might happen.
In May 2023, the Board of State and Community Corrections ordered the closure of the county's Central Juvenile Hall in Lincoln Heights and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall after being found unsuitable to house juvenile detainees. That led to the reopening of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, where all detainees were transferred.
A portion of Nidorf Hall remained open as a Security Youth Treatment Facility for post-disposition youth.