Youth Justice Coalition Continues to Demand Closure of L.A Juvenile Halls

PublishedFebruary 21, 2024

The Youth Justice Coalition and dedicated community members remain steadfast in their commitment in advocating for the closure of Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls, deeming them as unsuitable for housing system-impacted young people in L.A.

Last week, YJC members attended the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) meeting held February 15, 2024 to provide public comment.

Following YJC voicing their concerns, the California Board of State and Community Corrections finally deemed Barry J. Nidorf and Los Padrinos Juvinile Halls “unsuitable for the confinement of youth” and out of compliance with the minimum standards for youth confinement facilities.

BSCC provides inspections of L.A county jails and juvenile detention facilities, technical assistance on local issues, training standards for local correctional staff, and public safety, re-entry, violence reduction, and rehabilitative grants to state and local governments and community-based organizations.

The urgency of the situation is fueled by the alarming conditions inside facilities such as Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.

It has been a staggering 157 days since these establishments were last in compliance, prompting concerns for the safety and well-being of the 298 youth currently incarcerated within Los Angeles County Halls.

From September 2022 to September 2023, statistics reveal that out of 510 young people in L.A. facilities, including halls and camps, a staggering 45% (228 individuals) were on psychotropic medication.

Such alarming figures underscore the pressing need for intervention and reform.

Among the alarming issues raised by advocates are the addition of 36 new charges to youth for behavior exhibited while incarcerated, leading to prolonged confinement and an increased risk of transitioning to adult facilities.

Despite a budget exceeding $12 million allocated to security measures aimed at preventing drugs and ensuring the surveillance of young individuals, disturbing reports indicate ongoing drug overdoses within the facilities.

On February 8, 2024, the L.A. Probation Oversight Commission passed a motion to issue a subpoena for a probation staffing analysis. This move seeks to address the structural shortcomings contributing to the deplorable conditions inside L.A juvenile halls.

Of particular concern is the California B.S.C.C’s failure to address numerous reports of sexual abuse within Probation-run facilities. This oversight raises questions about the safety and security of the youth within these establishments.

The Youth Justice Coalition (YJC), at the forefront of this movement, is dedicated to building an abolitionist stance against mass incarceration, deportation, and police terror.

As advocates and community members unite in their plea for change, the fate of L.A. County Juvenile Halls hangs in the balance, with the hope that the California Board of State and Community Corrections will heed the call for justice and intervention.