Central Juvenile Hall Mural Project Central Juvenile Hall began a beautification project that soon turned therapeutic as well. A professional artist worked with the youth at the facility to create a mural that helped provide a healthy outlet to express their complex emotions. In a collaborative effort between the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory and Arts for Incarcerated Youth, the project lasted for about five months in CJH’s Girls’ Unit and the Boys’ Hope Center. Bringing color and light into their environments changed daily moods for the better. To ensure the youth took ownership of the space, the artist encouraged youth expressions that represented the uniqueness of each unit. The youth took pride in creating and executing the vision as it gave them a sense of purpose. The girls wanted to create a mural that represented feelings of positivity, dreams, beauty, loyalty, power, and high self- esteem. The boys suggested themes of hope, faith, respect, love, and acceptance. By the end of August 2018, the artist and youth collaborated with a design that incorporated everyone’s vision. The youth brought their vision to life with the beautiful painting of vibrant colors that consistently receives compliments from visitors. PREA Compliance The Federal Government implemented the standards for the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2012 to support the prevention of sexual assault and sexual harassment within the nation’s correctional systems. It mandates national data collection efforts, provides funding for program development and research, and creates a national commission to develop standards and accountability measures. The L.A. County Probation Department has established a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual assault and sexual harassment in its facilities. Compliance with PREA is part of the Department’s continuous effort to keep youth safe while in its care. Numerous juvenile facility upgrades were completed that promote a violence free environment, with the intent to protect youth in the halls and camps from sexual assaults and violence. Probation employees also complete yearly trainings on mandated policies and procedures. In 2019, Probation will continue to address any remaining issues in order to bring the Department into full PREA compliance. Probation operated nine juvenile residential treatment camps in 2018 where youth between 13 and 18 are ordered to go to by the Juvenile Delinquency Court. In 2018, the Department focused on continuing to grow partnerships with community-based organizations designed to both divert youth from camps and to increase the services, education, and opportunities provided to the youth overseen. Probation conducts a thorough and intensive individualized assessment process to ensure every youth is placed in the camp that will best address their needs. The number of youth ordered to Camp has significantly decreased over the last 10 years and 2018 saw the lowest annual camp population in decades. Although the number of youth ordered to camp has declined, the services required to assist these complex youth have dramatically risen. In 2015, 53 percent of youth in camps had open mental health cases compared to 83 percent in 2018. Every staff interaction that occurs in a juvenile residential treatment camp should be viewed as an opportunity to work with these high-need youth to foster long-term behavior change, decrease recidivism, and increase problem-solving skills. Residential Treatment Services Bureau “The Probation Department is part of the juvenile justice system and critical for the effective administration of justice and the rehabilitation of youth. Los Angeles County Probation is creating unique and innovative youth programing and educational opportunities to help them achieve positive outcomes and succeed in life.” — Hon. John C. Lawson II, Supervising Judge of the Los Angeles Juvenile Justice Court L.A. County Probation Department | 2018 Annual Report 29 28 L.A. County Probation Department | 2018 Annual Report