October 22, 2024

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath to appoint a compliance officer to oversee and monitor the LA County Probation Department’s efforts to comply with state regulations that have threatened to close the county’s juvenile hall.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure that our Probation Department comes into compliance with state standards at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall,” said Supervisor Hahn. “We are on the clock now and it is necessary to have a dedicated compliance officer from outside the department who can oversee their work and has the ability to convene multiple departments who can help.”

Over the past two years, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) has issued multiple notices of noncompliance to the LA County Probation Department regarding their juvenile halls. Most recently, on August 12, 2024, BSCC issued a notice that Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall was out of compliance with state regulations. Probation had until October 11, 2024, to submit a corrective action plan that would then be reviewed and either approved or denied by the BSCC.

While the BSCC has historically provided technical assistance to Probation to help the Department develop a CAP that would be approved, Probation failed to request and receive this assistance during the months leading up to the due date. Probation submitted their CAP to the BSCC on October 11, 2024, and that same day, received notice from the BSCC that the CAP was denied. Subsequently, on October 14, 2024, the BSCC sent a formal notice of unsuitability regarding Los Padrinos, giving Probation until December 12, 2024 to either come into compliance or vacate the facility.

“Appointing a compliance officer to support the Probation Department will align all County departments in the important work of getting and keeping facilities in compliance with state standards,” said Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “With the many issues the department faces, this additional support will help ensure plans result in action at all levels of the County. Accountability is critical, especially when the wellbeing of our young people is at stake. This is a critical step necessary for lasting change.”

Today, the Board unanimously approved a motion by Hahn and Horvath to direct the County’s CEO to identify and appoint an internal compliance officer to oversee the Probation Department’s compliance with BSCC regulations and the California DOJ settlement agreement at Los Padrinos. The compliance officer will be appointed within 30 days and will have the authority to coordinate the administration of involved departments. The Board also directed the Chief Probation Officer to submit all current and future corrective action plan drafts and any related documents to the compliance officer no later than 20 days before their due date to allow them to provide meaningful input.