Juveniles Moved to New LA County Detention Facilities with Limited Medical Care, Recreation

The Probation Department’s rush to reduce the population at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has left dozens of juvenile offenders at a Sylmar facility without adequate recreational programs and others in Malibu facility without overnight medical care, according to members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Reaction from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

The supervisors lambasted Probation Department officials at Tuesday’s meeting in response, with Chair Kathryn Barger calling for the removal of the leadership at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall over what she personally witnessed during unannounced visits.
“I see kids watching TV on a beautiful day, when they should be outside,” said Barger, typically the department’s strongest ally on the board. “When I ask why not, it is because there is no programming in place. It makes my blood boil.”

Lack of Recreational Activities

Recreational activities listed as occurring at Nidorf, which reopened in September, are not actually happening, Barger said. Her comments echoed similar criticism from state regulators last year after inspectors found that surveillance footage at Los Padrinos did not match what was listed on the department’s schedules and activity logs.
“What is being put on paper is a lie,” Barger said Tuesday.

Consequences of Idleness and Boredom

Critics say idleness and boredom in juvenile facilities, combined with the county’s chronic staffing shortages, can lead to increased violence and drug use within the facilities.
“We’ve heard there’s been fights and inconsistent staffing in the unit,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said in reference to the newly reopened juvenile hall side of Nidorf. “And I have concerns with inconsistent staffing on a lot of levels, but we do know it leads to poor rapport with the young, which probably can lead to more fighting.”

Staffing Shortages

Chief Deputy Sheila Williams was unable to provide current numbers on the staffing at Nidorf.
During visits, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath’s staff discovered that one unit holding youth with severe developmental disabilities had programming available only two days a week.
“We have a robust list of programs that are available to the youth,” Williams said in response. “I’m saddened to hear that appears to not be occurring when you actually go out on site, so I will have to get back to you with further information on that.”
“I think the list is robust, the activity is not,” Horvath shot back.

Medical Care for Pregnant Teens

Separately, Horvath brought forward a motion requiring the department to report back verbally at the next meeting and in writing at each subsequent meeting on how it is handling pregnant teens in the department’s custody. Horvath renewed concerns she had previously raised in June after learning that Campus Kilpatrick, which is set to house all girls and gender-expansive youth in the department’s custody, does not yet have overnight medical care available.
The nearest emergency medical center to the juvenile facility located in the Santa Monica Mountains is 15 miles away in Ventura County, or 24 miles away in Los Angeles County, she said. Prenatal and postnatal care for pregnant teens in the county’s custody takes place at L.A. General Medical Center, 45 miles away.
“It feels to me like we’re rushing this move weeks before the necessary staffing will be in place,” Horvath said.

Depopulation Plan

The Probation Department has moved about 39 boys from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall to Barry J. Nidorf and about 10 girls to Campus Kilpatrick so far. The moves are part of a court-approved depopulation plan that aims to drop the population at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey to a more manageable level by relocating about 100 youth to the county’s other facilities and camps.
Los Padrinos has been in the crosshairs of the state since it reopened in 2023 and was ordered to close last December.

Staffing Challenges

The Probation Department has been struggling to stabilize its staffing for years now. At Tuesday’s meeting, Williams, the chief deputy, presented statistics on the department’s efforts to recruit new officers. Probation received 4,353 applications so far in 2025 and has offered jobs to 1,161 people.
Only about 9.5% passed background checks, down from 25.9% in 2023 and 17.3% in 2024. So far, there have been 53 total hires in 2025, about half of the previous year.

Conclusion

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has expressed concerns over the lack of recreational activities and medical care for juveniles moved to new detention facilities. The Probation Department’s rush to reduce the population at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has led to inadequate programming and staffing shortages. The department is working to recruit new officers, but the process has been slow, and the county may not be able to “staff our way into compliance.”

FAQs

• Q: What is the current population at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall?
  A: The facility held about 260 youth as of Oct. 29.
• Q: How many youth have been moved to Barry J. Nidorf and Campus Kilpatrick?
  A: About 39 boys have been moved to Barry J. Nidorf and about 10 girls to Campus Kilpatrick.
• Q: What is the main concern with the new facilities?
  A: The lack of recreational activities and medical care, particularly for pregnant teens.
• Q: What is the goal of the depopulation plan?
  A: To drop the population at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall to a more manageable level by relocating about 100 youth to the county’s other facilities and camps.
• Q: What is the current status of the court battle over the county’s juvenile system?
  A: The next hearing is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7.