Board asks probation chief to assess advisory commission's depopulation recommendations for Los Padrinos

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a motion asking the chief probation officer to assess the Probation Oversight Commission's recommendations to depopulate Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and to explain publicly which recommendations can be implemented, which have already been implemented, and which the department disagrees with and why.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who brought the motion, said the commission's unanimous eight‑point package followed a special meeting after a judge ordered a plan to reduce the Los Padrinos population in light of safety and conditions concerns. Horvath and supporters said the commission's recommendations included rapid reassessment and community reentry options, reforms to intake to stem inflow, and stronger cross‑department coordination — measures the commission voted on publicly and with stakeholder input.

Supporters of the commission told the board they had studied possible housing and placement options and urged the probation department to engage the advisory body and community organizations in next steps. The probation department previously submitted a court‑directed depopulation plan that supervisors and speakers said relied heavily on transfers among county facilities and raised concerns about communication with stakeholders, readiness of receiving facilities and whether support services were in place.

After public comment — which included testimony from defense, community‑based providers and people with lived experience — the board voted 5-0 to require the chief probation officer to respond to the commission's recommendations. The motion does not itself order facility closures or transfers; supervisors said it was meant to create transparent responses from probation and to encourage collaboration with other county departments, the courts and community partners in seeking safety and compliance with court oversight.