In a significant move to address chronic mismanagement and unsafe conditions in Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention system, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a request for receivership of the county’s juvenile halls. This intervention would strip the county of its operational control and place a court-appointed officer fully in charge, as reported by KTLA on Wednesday. Bonta's office described the decision as a "last resort," following years of substandard progress and a lack of sufficient action from local authorities to rectify the situation.
During a news conference, Bonta expressed frustration over the county's sluggish response to judicial attempts to enforce change, saying, "Enough is enough. These young people deserve better, and my office will not stop until they get it." This desire to significantly shake up the system aligns with concerns over a grand jury's indictment of 30 probation staff members earlier this year on charges including child endangerment. These staff members allegedly allowed or even encouraged fights amongst young detainees, as KTLA reported. Additionally, several drug overdoses at Los Padrinos hall have occurred, an issue that persists despite court orders aimed at improving contraband control.
Backing the call for receivership, LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Los Padrinos, said in a statement obtained by NBC Los Angeles, "We have spent years trying to improve conditions, exhausted every tool at the County level, and still, we are failing these young people." Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath similarly emphasized the need for structural change for the benefit of the youth in care, echoing the growing support for Bonta's proposal within the county leadership.
In a move to also to secure justice for those harmed, Bonta has asked the court to create a compensation fund for youth who have suffered because of the county’s negligence. This request highlights the persistent challenges regarding staffing, drug control, violence prevention, and access to medical services. Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, responded to the push for state intervention by recognizing the department's dysfunction, which she attributed in part to the Board of Supervisors' micromanagement. "If a state receivership is what it takes to finally deliver those reforms and bring long overdue stability, then I welcome this intervention," Barger said, as per a report from NBC Los Angeles.
A grim history of staff-facilitated violence and repeated occurrences of unsuitable conditions reported by state regulators justify the Attorney General's unusual plea for receivership. According to a filing by Bonta’s office, with ongoing noncompliance at a staggering 75%, the action has been deemed both critical and unavoidable. The full details of the receivership request can be found in a press release from the California Attorney General's Office. The court will now deliberate whether to grant the receivership, a decision that could profoundly impact the future management and rehabilitation opportunities for youth in LA County's justice system.
