Supervisors Orders New CCTV Monitoring Policy for Probation Youth Facilities

Los Angeles, CA — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today directed the Probation Department to report back to the board with a comprehensive Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring policy to increase accountability and protect young people in juvenile detention facilities.

“CCTV cameras are one of the best tools that we have for accountability and to protect both our youth and staff in our juvenile detention facilities,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “But the cameras are only effective if they are monitored around the clock and if every incident is reported immediately and it is time our Probation Department has a new CCTV monitoring policy on the books.”

The action comes shortly after the Board approved a $2.7 million settlement for a youth who was repeatedly assaulted while incarcerated at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall while. This egregious act of abuse was caught on CCTV camera, but because no one was monitoring the footage at the time, it took weeks before the footage was discovered. The CCTV footage has led to the indictment of multiple Probation Officers by the California Attorney General.

“We can’t allow harm to go unchecked—especially when it comes to the safety of young people in our care. Strengthening Probation’s CCTV policy ensures that bad actors are held accountable the moment they put a young person at risk,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “As we confront the deep failures within the Probation Department, we must use every tool available to protect the youth entrusted to us—and demand a system that puts their safety first.”

The motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, instructs the Chief Probation Officer to report back to the Board in writing within 30 days with a CCTV Review Protocol which the department will submit to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). The plan must:
• Establish a protocol for 24/7 CCTV monitoring
• Incorporate best practices from other jurisdictions related to CCTV use in juvenile facilities
• Include a system of internal random audits of footage to ensure accurate documentation of incidents, such as use-of-force events
• Require review of footage after any injury sustained by youth, staff, or service providers, to ensure procedures were properly followed and documented
• Provide a timeline and implementation plan, including employee training once the protocol is approved by the DOJ

The policy stems from a directive issued by the California Department of Justice as part of a stipulated judgment requiring the Probation Department to establish a formal CCTV Review Protocol. Though originally due in December 2024, the protocol has yet to be finalized.