California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday that he is asking the Los Angeles County Superior Court to place Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls into a receivership amid the County’s “persistent failure” to comply with several court judgments dating back to 2021.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rob Bonta (@agrobbonta)

;

“This drastic step to divest Los Angeles County of control over its juvenile halls is a last resort — and the only option left to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the youth currently in its care,” Bonta said in a statement Wednesday. “For four-and-a-half years, we’ve moved aggressively to bring the County into compliance with our judgment — and we’ve been met with glacial progress that has too often looked like one step forward and two steps back.

During a press conference Wednesday, Bonta stated that he planned to ask the courts to appoint a third-party receiver to manage L.A.’s juvenile detention system, overseeing budgets, staffing, and all other necessary decisions to bring the juvenile halls into compliance.

The decision was made after years of concern over the ongoing safety of not only the public, but the children and youth who are incarcerated. Many of the complaints centered around the management of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.

“For four-and-a-half years, we’ve moved aggressively to bring the County into compliance with our judgment — and we’ve been met with glacial progress that has too often looked like one step forward and two steps back. Enough is enough. These young people deserve better, and my office will not stop until they get it. A receivership is the best and only option to turn Los Angeles County juvenile halls around, and we believe the court will agree.’ Bonta said.

Bonta cited repeated operational failures at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar that he said “put lives at risk,” including overdoses, youth-on-youth violence facilitated by staff, and significant unmet medical needs.

State regulators have also deemed both Los Padrinos and the Barry J. Nidorf Secure Youth Treatment Facility unsuitable for housing youth, and the juvenile court has ordered the depopulation of Los Padrinos after multiple scandals.

In March, 30 Los Angeles County detention officers were charged for their alleged role in facilitating “gladiator fights” among youth inmates at Los Padrinos between July and December of 2023, involving 143 victims between the ages of 12 and 18

As recently as June 30, a nonprofit tutor at Los Padrinos was arrested for allegedly smuggling Xanax into Los Padrinos. Just a few days later, on July 3, eight staff members and one youth were hospitalized due to possible drug exposure.

“Enough is enough. These young people deserve better, and my office will not stop until they get it. A receivership is the best and only option to turn Los Angeles County juvenile halls around, and we believe the court will agree.”

Bonta’s push for receivership has resulted in responses from L.A. County Supervisors, including Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes Barry J. Nidorf in Sylmar as well as the nearby Santa Clarita Valley.

I am not surprised by @AGRobBonta‘s request to place @LACProbation under state receivership. In truth, this moment has been a long time coming. For years, I have voiced my concerns about the deepening dysfunction within the department—some of it fueled by the @LACountyBOS‘… pic.twitter.com/Aw0Ze9hZqP

— Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) July 23, 2025

“I am not surprised by (Attorney General Rob Bonta’s) request to place (Los Angeles County Probation Department) under state receivership. In truth, this moment has been a long time coming. For years, I have voiced my concerns about the deepening dysfunction within the department—some of it fueled by the (Los Angeles County Probation Department) micromanagement. Today’s action is a direct repudiation of our Board’s ability to effectively oversee this department.

While this request carries weight and must not be taken lightly, my focus remains unchanged: protecting and supporting the youth in our care. They deserve safe facilities, meaningful rehabilitative programs, and a system that offers them a path to growth and accountability.

If a state receivership is what it takes to finally deliver those reforms and bring long overdue stability, then I welcome this intervention. The well-being of these young people must always come first.”

A copy of the filing, which is subject to approval by the court, is available 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.