Judge Delays Ruling on Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Closure Again

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Miguel Espinoza Delays Decision on Closure

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has, once again, delayed ruling on whether to shut down Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, the county’s largest youth detention facility, as it continues to operate in violation of state law.

Judge’s Decision

Judge Miguel Espinoza, who has weighed the possible closure of Los Padrinos since Dec. 23, questioned representatives and attorneys from the Probation Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Public Defender’s Office for roughly two hours on January 24, before deciding to hold off on a decision until February 14.

Staffing Crisis

The delay came after Probation’s Chief Deputy Kimberly Epps announced that the state agency that previously found Los Padrinos out of compliance has agreed to a reinspection to determine whether staffing at the Downey-based facility has improved. If Los Padrinos manages to pass that inspection, it would potentially render any decision moot, as the facility would no longer be “unsuitable” or subject to closure under California law.

Reinspection

It’s unclear when the Board of State and Community Corrections, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing California’s jails and juvenile halls, will carry out the reinspection, but, according to Epps, inspectors already have requested a laundry list of documents.

Population Reduction and New Hires

During the hearing, Epps told the judge her department has reduced the population at Los Padrinos down to a low of 231 and is in the process of sorting through more than 1,000 applications from prospective new probation recruits. Another two dozen lateral transfers from other probation departments, drawn by a $24,000 signing bonus, are going through background checks. It could take up to three months to bring on the already trained transfers, or up to nine months for the new recruits, Epps said.

Conclusion

The delay in the decision leaves the fate of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall uncertain, with the judge’s next decision potentially hinging on the outcome of the reinspection. The Probation Department’s efforts to address the staffing crisis and improve conditions at the facility will be closely watched in the coming weeks.

FAQs

• What is the current status of the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall?
• The facility is operating in violation of state law and has been declared “unsuitable” by the Board of State and Community Corrections.
• Why is the Probation Department refusing to close the facility?
• The department claims there is nowhere else to send the youth, all of whom are “preadjudicated,” meaning their court cases are still pending.
• What is the current population at Los Padrinos?
• The population has been reduced to a low of 231, with the department working to hire new staff and bring in lateral transfers.
• When is the reinspection scheduled to take place?
• The date of the reinspection is unclear, but the Probation Department has already provided a laundry list of documents to the Board of State and Community Corrections.