PROBATION DEPARTMENT LIFTS LOCKDOWN AT LOS PADRINOS JUVENILE HALL

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 29, 2023) — The LA County Probation Department on Saturday lifted its lockdown of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, allowing the pre-disposition youth facility to operate on a limited-program basis less than 24 hours after a major disturbance involving more than a dozen youth.

Interim Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa said the modified program at Los Padrinos allows for the limited movement of youth for meals, schooling and recreational activities.

Viera Rosa also said he will ask the County to accelerate the hiring of Safety and Security Specialists, a new job classification that will allow the Department to hire off-duty or retired peace officers for external security purposes.

“The safe operations of Los Padrinos ultimately comes down to having the appropriate level of officers and staff on every shift, day in and day out” said Viera Rosa. “This new classification will help us reach that level by using trained and experienced peace officers in support of our Probation staff. This will allow us to increase our overall staffing so that we can provide the programming that our youth deserve.”

Visiting hours were cancelled Saturday following the Friday night disturbance. Probation staff notified family and caregivers in advance of the cancellation, with those who showed up at the facility were allowed to call their loved ones from the Los Padrinos reception area.

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