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"Authorities have mandated the shutdown of Los Padrinos because of unsatisfactory conditions"

On October 16, 2024, a state authority ordered the shutdown of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey within 60 days due to hazardous circumstances resulting from staffing insufficiencies. Known as the largest juvenile facility in Los Angeles County, Los Padrinos accommodates approximately 300...

Local establishment Los Padrinos has been directed to shut down due to substandard conditions.
Local establishment Los Padrinos has been directed to shut down due to substandard conditions.

"Authorities have mandated the shutdown of Los Padrinos because of unsatisfactory conditions"

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California, has been ordered to close within 60 days due to unsafe conditions caused by staffing shortages. However, the facility continues to operate, as the Los Angeles County Probation Department is working to address the issues found in the state regulator's action plan.

The Probation Department has taken several measures to boost staffing levels at the facility. This includes actively recruiting new personnel, conducting training academies, reallocating officers from field assignments, and utilizing overtime. These efforts have allowed Los Padrinos to maintain its operations, despite the order to close.

Understaffing has allegedly been an ongoing issue at the facility. In February, Los Padrinos was ordered to close, along with the Barry J. Nidorf Secure Treatment Facility in Sylmar. The order was due to noncompliance in staffing levels, among other issues.

In a significant move, 14 managers and 13 Chief Deputies of the LA County Court Services Division were dismissed in late August 2025. This major reorganization was aimed at addressing longstanding issues within the department, including misconduct and operational failures. The action was connected to efforts to reform and improve the integrity and functioning of the court services and sheriff’s department overseen by Sheriff Robert Luna.

Los Padrinos houses pre-disposition youth detainees awaiting resolution of their court cases. The facility is the largest juvenile hall in Los Angeles County and houses approximately 300 young people.

It's worth noting that the article does not provide any new information about the state regulator's order to close Los Padrinos within 60 days, or any connection between the issues at Los Padrinos and other incidents, such as a burglary in Cerritos reported in the same period.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to proclaim a local emergency over Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey on December 17, 2024. Despite the challenges, the Probation Department remains committed to resolving the issues found in the state regulator's action plan and ensuring the safety and well-being of the young people in their care.

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