The PJLC Wins Agreement from State Board to Hold Juvenile Halls Accountable

The Children’s Defense Fund, Youth Law Center, and the PJLC won a concession today from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) that ensures the BSCC will enforce minimum standards for California’s juvenile halls. The BSCC is tasked with setting and enforcing minimum standards but has repeatedly skirted its duties when it comes to the ultimate step of ordering a facility closed. Most recently, the BSCC failed to close Los Angeles’ juvenile halls when a staffing shortage resulted in skyrocketing violence and a flood of fentanyl and other contraband.

The PJLC and its partners threatened to bring a lawsuit that would force the BSCC to fulfill its duties. In response, the BSCC staff entered negotiations with us and agreed to recommend that the Board must (1) find Los Angeles’ juvenile halls unsuitable, which will lead to their closure, and (2) engage with us in a process to adopt new policies for enforcing minimum standards in the future. In exchange the PJLC and partners agreed to postpone the lawsuit. Based on this agreement, we expect the juvenile halls to be closed down by July 23rd.

Update 5/9/2023: Sadly, a young person overdosed and died at one of the juvenile halls last night. The staffing shortage has made it impossible to keep out fentanyl and other drugs. This death would not have happened if the juvenile halls had been closed as they should have been. Considering the increasing drug use and violence, we fear for the safety of everyone in these facilities. The young man's family and friends, and the staff who responded, all have our deepest sympathies. But we know hopes and prayers are not enough and so we are doing everything in our power to shut down these unsafe juvenile halls as quickly as possible.

Update 5/23/2023: Despite a request from the County of Los Angeles for a nearly 6-month extension, the BSCC honored their commitment to us and voted today to give Los Angeles 60 days to stop confining youth in unsuitable facilities. Both of Los Angeles' juvenile halls must now close by July 23rd.

LA County Juvenile Halls Could Be Forced To Close Down. NBC 4 Los Angeles.

State Could Shut Down L.A. County Juvenile Halls by July 23. Los Angeles Daily News.