The Los Angeles County Probation Department began implementing its plan to address persistent problems at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, officials announced Thursday.
The department is relocating youth and staff from Camp Joseph Paige in La Verne to nearby Camp Afflerbaugh and Camp Glenn Rockey in San Dimas as part of the Los Padrinos Depopulation Plan.
“This move will enable critical infrastructure improvements at Camp Paige while ensuring continuity of care,” according to a Probation Department statement.
Staff will be temporarily reassigned to the Afflerbaugh and Rockey.
Currently 15 youth are housed at the facility.
Officials said visiting schedules will remain the same, and facility staffers will notify parents and guardians individually.
On May 16, an LA County Superior Court judge approved the department’s Los Padrinos Depopulation Plan, which aims to move detainees to existing youth facilities more appropriate for their individual needs, officials said.
“The (Probation) Department remains focused on safety, service continuity, and long-term system reform, and is working with partners to operationalize and implement the plan,” according to the agency’s statement.
Los Padrinos has steadily had problems since the department had to reopen the facility in 2023 after state regulators ordered the closure of Central Juvenile Hall in Boyle Heights and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar.
In addition to short-staffing, escape attempts and allegations of violence among detainees — sometimes while probation officers allegedly stood by without intervening — led the California Board of Community Corrections in December to declare Los Padrinos declared Los Padrinos unsuitable to house youth.
In March, 30 county probation officers faced criminal charges in connection with alleged cases of “youth-on-youth violence” at the facility. Prosecutors said probation officers arranged “gladiator fights” involving detainees. According to state Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, 69 youth fights took place at Los Padrinos from July to December 2023.
