FOR THE COMMUNITY

A mural painted by youth previously housed at the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.

On May 2nd, 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a bold new plan to reset Probation’s juvenile hall operations by transferring the majority of youth and staff to Los Padrinos.

The decision to close Central and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Halls for the housing of predisposition youth came after years of efforts by the County to bring the halls into compliance with state standards.

While approving the move to Los Padrinos, the Board also greenlighted Probation Department initiatives aimed at dramatically improving the numbers, training and safety of juvenile hall officers, as well as redefining their roles in the County’s “Care First” model of restorative juvenile justice.

 

HERE ARE THE FULL PLAN HIGHLIGHTS:

PHYSICAL

  • Repair, upgrade and reopen Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, which was closed in 2019 due to the declining population of predisposition youth.
    • Housing for up to 300 predisposition youth — those awaiting adjudication of their cases — in a facility with beds for 442.
    • LP has 158 “wet rooms,” i.e., sleeping quarters with a sink and commode.
  • Continue using Central as a medical hub for juvenile operations.
  • Barry J. Nidorf is now used for Secure Youth Treatment Facility individuals, typically over 18, convicted of serious offenses and need separate housing.
  • Initial allocation of $29 million for repairs, upgrades at all halls.
  • Creation of a Probation Department Operations Center that draws on all County departments for preparation of Los Padrinos.

CULTURAL

  • Continue the change from a detention approach to a therapeutic Behavior Health Model.
  • Hire consultants to work with staff, partners, youth and families on the Model.
    • One assessment tool, treatment plan and treatment team for each youth.
    • Teams to include all Juvenile Operations sworn and non-sworn personnel.
    • Teams shape behavior through real-time positive reinforcement and sanctions.
  • Hire consultants to track and improve overall Probation employee engagement and morale.

 

OPERATIONAL

  • Implement hiring and training initiatives.
    • A new mandate requiring all sworn personnel to serve two shifts per week in juvenile operations.
    • Part-time reserve officers, other county employees and graduate students deployed in the halls.
    • Reassignment of 100 field officers to the halls.
    • Recruit, hire and train 300+ new juvenile hall officers by 2024.
    • Streamlining the job application process for probation officers.
    • Greater control over call-outs and leaves of absence.
  • Centralize Human Resources Department functions to track and control leaves, absences.
  • Reorganize a permanent Regulatory Compliance, Quality Assurance and Research Unit reporting to the Chief.
  • Hire consultant for employment marketing and retention.
  • Accelerate contraband interdiction efforts.
    • Clear-bag policy.
    • Cellphone ban
    • Canine team searches

 

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