STATEMENT FROM L.A. COUNTY PROBATION ON PHASING OUT USAGE OF OC SPRAY IN COUNTY JUVENILE FACILITIES

L.A. County Probation thanks the Board of Supervisors for its leadership and guidance in addressing the serious issue of OC spray use in our juvenile facilities.  Over the next 60 days, the Probation Department will develop a thoughtful plan with the input of labor partners, employees, advocates, service providers and the community designed with the goal of creating a safer environment for both the youth in our care and our employees.

We are committed to implementing new approaches to ensure our juvenile facilities are safe, trauma-informed environments, focused on positive transformation. We look forward to continuing to work with the Office of the Inspector General, the Probation Commission, the Probation Reform and Implementation Team, the Public Defender and other stakeholders, as we move forward in making this change.