Judge Orders Relocation From Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ordered the Probation Department to develop a plan to relocate approximately 270 to 300 youth from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, after the county failed to meet a state-mandated December 2024 closure deadline. The California Board of State and Community Corrections had declared the facility unsuitable due to chronic understaffing and safety issues. The order follows reports of neglect, mismanagement, and abuse at the hall, and comes amid new allegations, with several corrections officers pleading not guilty to charges of enabling violent 'gladiator fights' among detainees. The judge called the situation 'untenable' and instructed the department to submit a detailed depopulation plan by early next month. County officials support the move and stress the need for safe, alternative placements for affected youth. Advocates and state officials consider the ruling a pivotal step in reforming juvenile detention in LA County.