California Attorney General Rob Bonta has requested that the Los Angeles County Superior Court place the county’s juvenile halls under receivership. This action follows persistent noncompliance with a stipulated judgment, enforcement order, and two amendments secured by the Attorney General’s Office since 2021. The proposal seeks to address ongoing harm to youth at these facilities due to chronic illegal and unsafe conditions.
Attorney General Bonta explained, “Today, for the first time in my office’s history, we are asking a court to place the subject of a pattern-and-practice investigation into receivership.” He described this step as necessary due to slow progress in addressing these issues over four-and-a-half years.
The California Department of Justice had previously conducted an extensive investigation into conditions at the county’s juvenile halls. In January 2021, they secured a comprehensive stipulated judgment aimed at remedying unsafe and illegal conditions. Despite efforts including motions approved by the court and engagement with the county regarding areas of noncompliance, conditions have deteriorated.
Failures include inadequate staffing, drug control issues, instigation of youth-on-youth assaults by staff, missed medical appointments for youth, retaliation against those who file grievances, and lack of camera installations. Notably, in March 2025, a grand jury indicted 30 probation staff for child endangerment and abuse.
Given these concerns and other outlined in today’s filing with the court, Attorney General Bonta is seeking receivership for Los Angeles County juvenile halls. The filing suggests that previous interventions have not been effective.
Additionally, Attorney General Bonta requests that the court order Los Angeles County to establish a compensation fund for affected youth to cover medical and educational expenses incurred due to noncompliance with the judgment.
A copy of this filing is available for review pending court approval.
