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Supervisors press probation on juvenile population moves, staffing and safety at Los Padrinos and other sites
Summary
Board members pressed Probation Department and partner agencies about recent transfers, staff shortages, use of OC spray, and continuity of services after moves of youth among juvenile halls and camps.
Supervisors spent extended time Tuesday questioning Probation Department leaders about recent youth transfers, staffing shortages and safety in juvenile detention facilities. The department described transfers of predisposition youth from Los Padrinos to Neidorff Juvenile Hall after a court‑ordered depopulation plan. Probation said the transfer took place in phased moves and that facilities were inspected, but supervisors and public commenters raised concerns about an incident during the move and the larger problem of staff callouts. Probation and Human Resources confirmed chronic vacancies and a high attrition rate; the county is running targeted recruitments, smaller academy cohorts and field‑training pilots to improve retention and onboarding. Board members and advocates also discussed the availability of programming, credible‑messenger services and education. Department of Youth Development (DYD) and Los Angeles Unified officials described expanded credible‑messenger contracts, school activities and targeted supports; DYD said several requests for new contracts were in process to cover additional sites. Supervisors pressed the department about several operational issues: whether Pine Grove referrals are conducted before disposition (county staff said initial prescreening was done once and that continuing screening is tied to SYTF placements); whether OC spray would be available on the Kilpatrick campus (Probation said any OC would be stored in a secured armory and not deployed routinely in living units); and how medical, behavioral‑health and reentry services would carry forward during moves. Public testimony included family members and advocates urging immediate reforms, and a range of landlord and tenant advocates who had spoken earlier on eviction and rent relief items. The board did not adopt immediate new policy on juvenile facilities at Tuesday’s meeting, but asked Probation and partner departments to return with additional information and follow‑up.
