California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a joint motion with Los Angeles County to amend a court judgment addressing conditions in the county's juvenile halls. This action follows the county's failure to improve conditions and provide adequate staffing as required by an earlier settlement and court order.
Reports from an independent monitor highlighted ongoing issues at Barry J. Nidorf Secure Youth Treatment Facility and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, prompting Attorney General Bonta to seek additional monitoring and strengthened protections for youth. The amended judgment, pending court approval, mandates changes in policy, practice, staffing, and training to address illegal and unsafe conditions. It also extends monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure compliance.
"The County of Los Angeles is responsible for safeguarding the safety and well-being of the children at its juvenile halls – and it has utterly failed in this responsibility to date," said Attorney General Bonta. "These new terms will strengthen oversight and accountability, and lead to necessary and overdue improvement to conditions at these facilities."
Last year, Bonta secured a motion enforcing provisions of the judgment but reports indicated persistent threats to youth safety such as inadequate staffing, drug flow issues, staff-instigated assaults, failure to deliver medical appointments, retaliation against grievances filers, and insufficient camera coverage.
The amended judgment requires semi-annual comprehensive monitoring reports now publicly filed with the court. Monthly reports on critical health and safety issues are also mandated. If non-compliance continues, deputy monitors may be appointed at each facility.
Additional terms include ensuring timely review of force use incidents, improving camera coverage protocols, implementing electronic data systems for service access like recreation or religious services, resolving staffing crises through revised plans addressing minimum levels based on population needs along with recruitment strategies; establishing anti-retaliation policies; hiring ombudspersons for grievance handling; revising violence reduction policies including investigations into staff-instigated violence; reporting child abuse more effectively.
Attorney General Bonta remains committed to protecting youth rights statewide while fostering safe school environments defending LGBTQ rights promoting inclusive curriculums preventing discrimination harassment abuses within school districts notably securing recent judgments against Redlands Unified School District over mishandling sexual misconduct allegations among students encouraging public reporting suspected legal violations involving children via California Department Justice online complaint form.
A copy of the proposed order amending stipulated judgment is available online.