LA County Leaves Thousands of Probationers Unsupervised

Introduction to the Crisis

Thousands of probationers in Los Angeles County have lacked supervision since the Probation Department redeployed most of its field officers, supervisors, and directors to the troubled Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall after 40% of the facility’s staff called out on Easter Sunday.
Multiple sources in the department, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, told the Southern California News Group that some area offices now only have one or two sworn officers on duty at a time. The largest office in the system, located in South Los Angeles, handles about 1,600 clients and has two officers, meaning that each is now responsible for 800 clients, the sources said.

The Scope of the Problem

“You walk through any area office, it’s desolate,” one source said. “They’re all gone.” The American Probation and Parole Association recommends a case-to-staff ratio of 20 to 200 per officer, depending on the risk score of the clients involved. Officers overseeing the highest risk probationers are recommended to have the lowest amount of cases.

Need for a Realistic Plan

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is now calling on the Probation Department’s leadership to “implement an immediate, realistic plan that both triages the crisis at Los Padrinos and sets us back on track to stabilize the entire system.” The decision to direct resources to Los Padrinos reflects the urgency of that facility’s situation, she said, but “it must not come at the expense of broader community safety and oversight.”

Impact on Community Safety

“We need creative, accountable solutions to manage caseloads and ensure effective supervision — because having some officers responsible for 800 cases is simply unacceptable,” Barger said. “That includes a serious look at whether current staffing policies are making the best use of available personnel, including those on limited duty.” In a statement, Supervisor Janice Hahn said the situation is not sustainable.

Redeployment Without Warning

The latest redeployment order triggered alarm bells throughout the department, as officers were suddenly diverted last week without warning. Many considered the existing caseloads too high. In February, the Probation Department had 121 officers overseeing 23,641 adult cases and 47 officers supervising 2,032 juveniles, according to data presented to the Probation Oversight Commission in March.

Deepening Staff Crisis

The offices handling adults released early under AB 109 — the state’s prison realignment law of 2011 — had a total case-to-staff ratio of 150 to 1 at the time. Cases involving sex registrants, one of the highest risk categories, had an estimated ratio of 131 to 1, according to discussion at the POC’s March 13 meeting. In the past, the department typically would have had two to four times as many officers working those cases, said Alex Nieto, acting deputy director for adult probation, at the meeting.

Public Safety Concerns

Sources say those numbers have only gotten worse. While Los Padrinos houses about 300 juveniles total, roughly 4,000 adults and 2,000 juveniles overseen by the now depleted field offices are considered “high risk,” according to the Los Angeles County Deputy Probation Officers’ Union. “We are extremely concerned about the Chief’s orders to deploy probation officers to Los Padrinos, leaving over 6,000 high-risk probationers unsupervised in our neighborhoods,” said Dwight Thompson, a deputy probation officer and field vice president for Local 685.

Response from the Probation Department

Vicky Waters, a spokesperson for the Probation Department, denied that only two officers remained at the South L.A. office, saying the staffing is a “bit higher than what you were told.” She did not respond to a request to provide updated caseload figures, or the exact number of officers assigned to the South L.A. office. “I guess it’s very confusing to hear some sworn officers tell you they don’t agree with deployments where they are needed,” Waters wrote in an email.

Confusion Among Probationers

Members of the Probation Oversight Commission have repeatedly described receiving complaints that probation officers are not available to clients, or that probationers do not know who their probation officer is at any given moment due to the constant shuffling. The Deputy Probation Officers’ Union in its statement said the redeployment is depriving the courts of testimony from field officers that is used when determining probation or placement for a defendant.

Conclusion

The crisis in the Los Angeles County Probation Department has raised serious concerns about public safety and the supervision of high-risk probationers. The redeployment of officers to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has left thousands of probationers without adequate supervision, and the situation is unsustainable. The department needs to implement a realistic plan to address the crisis and ensure that community safety is not compromised.

FAQs

1. What is the current situation with the Los Angeles County Probation Department?
   The department has redeployed most of its field officers, supervisors, and directors to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, leaving thousands of probationers without adequate supervision.
2. What are the recommended case-to-staff ratios for probation officers?
   The American Probation and Parole Association recommends a case-to-staff ratio of 20 to 200 per officer, depending on the risk score of the clients involved.
3. How many high-risk probationers are currently unsupervised in Los Angeles County?
   Roughly 4,000 adults and 2,000 juveniles overseen by the now depleted field offices are considered “high risk,” according to the Los Angeles County Deputy Probation Officers’ Union.
4. What is the response from the Probation Department to the crisis?
   The department spokesperson denied that only two officers remained at the South L.A. office and stated that the department is utilizing its resources and partnerships to ensure public safety both at the juvenile facilities and the community.
5. What are the concerns about the redeployment of officers to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall?
   The redeployment has left thousands of high-risk probationers unsupervised in neighborhoods, compromising public safety and depriving the courts of expert testimony needed to make informed decisions about offenders.