July 1, 2025

Los Angeles, CA – Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Probation Department announced the arrest of a civilian contract worker for allegedly attempting to smuggle narcotics into Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. Alejandro Lopez, an employee of the non-profit organization Student Nest, was in possession of more than 170 white pills. He was taken into custody and will be booked with possession of a controlled substance in a juvenile institution as well as child endangerment.

Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents Downey, released the following statement:

“To say I’m horrified and disappointed is an understatement. We have an incredible duty and opportunity with the young people in our custody at Los Padrinos, to care for them and provide the environment they need to thrive. If someone hired to provide services to our incarcerated youth is able to allegedly smuggle hundreds of illicit pills into this facility and endanger their health and chance at rehabilitation, we are failing miserably.

We need answers about how this was allowed to happen. Yet again, it’s clear that something in the culture at Los Padrinos is not working.”