On Thursday, Attorney General Becerra, Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Office of Education entered into settlements to improve the conditions and services within the County’s juvenile halls after an investigation revealed serious deficiencies. 

In 2018, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation as a response to a complaint that looked into the conditions of confinement at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall and Central Juvenile Hall were in compliance with state and federal laws. 

Additionally, the investigation examined use-of-force policies and incidents, solitary confinement practices, rehabilitation programming, education and medical and mental health services, ultimately determining the County provided insufficient services and endangered youth safety.    

In an effort to address the results of the 2018 DOJ  investigation the L.A. County Office of Education has agreed to take a wide range of corrective actions. The Office of Education is joined by the L.A. County’s Probation Department, Department of Mental Health and Department of Health Services in these efforts. 

“One of our core duties as a society is to lay the foundation for our children to build a better future,” said Attorney General Becerra. “That has to be at the center of what we do as government when youth are entrusted to our care. Our institutions must strive to build up the most vulnerable among us. Regardless of what got them there, our youth deserve a chance to prepare themselves to launch a better life.” 

“It is too bad it took a lawsuit, but I think these reforms are long overdue and will mean the young people in our care will truly be given the second chance that they deserve,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn.

The DOJ and County officials have established a four-year plan that provide for a number of corrective actions including, ensuring youth are housed in homelike living units, limiting use of force and requiring de-escalation, and improving safeguards to ensure youth are not unlawfully confined to rooms, provision of basic hygienic necessities  

In regards to programs regarding mental health, medical care and education, the plan outlines the need for ensuring timely medical and mental healthcare and providing youth with appropriate education time as well as improving the transitioning process to school in the community. Compensatory services for youth are also included, helping to educate those who were improperly denied education during their detention. 

“The need to shift the County’s youth justice system towards a developmentally appropriate rehabilitative paradigm and away from a punitive approach is needed more than ever,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell.“This settlement agreement presents an opportunity to strengthen accountability and bolster the work of transforming and reimagining youth justice.”

Already, L.A. County has worked to decrease the population of incarcerated youth, create a more health-focused system, is expected to eliminate the use of pepper spray in juvenile halls, and has enhanced oversight of the Probation Department. 

To find out more about the settlement with the L.A. County, click here.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.