According to a Los Angeles Times report, many of California’s active and closed juvenile camps are accused of sexual and physical abuse of minors by guards in their facilities.

In fact, more than 10 California juvenile probation guards have been convicted of crimes for inappropriate conduct involving current or former child probationers – including several cases of molesting or beating children in their care.

California  Juvenile Halls Affected

Los Angeles County Juvenile Hall Facilities

Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall (BJNJH)

Members of the California board that oversees conditions inside adult and juvenile detention facilities statewide voted to sanction the county after inspections revealed persistent problems at the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar. A memo released on the oversight agency’s website stated that L.A. County was out of compliance with basic safety standards—as recently as two days prior. Staff were found to be improperly deploying physical restraints. 

Central Juvenile Hall (aka Eastlake Juvenile Hall, “Central”)

After inspections earlier this year revealed persistent problems at the Central Juvenile Hall in Boyle Heights.the California board that oversees conditions inside adult and juvenile detention facilities statewide voted to sanction the county. Problems included failing to ensure that young people receive adequate health care, failing to monitor psychotropic medications and failing to follow rules about how long to confine teenagers alone in their rooms.

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has. plagued by security issues, low morale among staff, and falling population levels. Opened in 1957, Los Padrinos houses hundreds of boys and girls at any given time with most of the juvenile defendants awaiting court action or transfer to another facility. Los Padrinos has been extensively criticized in the past, including for high incidents of depression among the population and youth suicides. More recently, six detention officers were for assaulting teenage girls with pepper spray. 

San Diego Juvenile Hall Facilities

Juvenile Ranch Facility (JRF)

With two primary drug facilities including Rancho del Campo and Rancho del Rayo, the Juvenile Ranch Facility (JRF) features dorms that resemble army barracks in a forest-type setting.

Girl's Rehabilitation Facility (GRF)

Located next to Juvenile Hall and Juvenile Court, the Girls Rehabilitation Facility (GRF) provides services for girls ages 13-18 targeting medium to high-risk girls with clear delinquent offenses.

Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (KMJDF)

Located in San Diego’s Birdland suburbs, Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (KMJDF) has housed youths since 1954 and features a maximum capacity of 359.

East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF)

Located north of Brown Field in Otay Mesa, the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF) opened for operation in June 2004 and features a maximum capacity of 290.

Urban Camp (UC)

Located in San Diego’s Birdland suburbs, the Urban Camp (UC) residents fulfill a commitment of between 85 and 120 days within four distinct programs to learn the training and skills necessary for successful rehabilitation.

Court documents filed disclose that supervisors at these active and closed juvenile camps ignored unchecked assault, rape, and sexual harassment of child inmates by probation officers in what should have been safe environments.

"Vulnerable children often enter the system because of abuse they have suffered at home or on the streets," said one prosecuting attorney.

"The probation system should offer these youthful offenders restorative justice instead of perpetuating their cycle of abuse.

“The criminal conduct of those who used their positions of authority to sexually assault these children must be exposed.

“These despicable people and those who enabled them must be held accountable."

News stories–plus state and county reports–outline over 20 years of criminal acts that include:

-Sexual contact between officers and minor inmates;

-Officers accused of criminal acts such as theft;

-Probation officers encouraging fights among juveniles;

-A variety of other offenses committed while on duty. 

There have been accusations of sexual assault have been reported by victims against their supposed mentors, as well as criminal charges in connection with guards’ improper use of pepper spray.

Filed in December of 2022, a  359-page lawsuit details allegations of systemic failures and horrific scenes of sexual abuse that lawyers say went unchecked by the L.A. County Probation Department, which operates the camps and halls.

The team at Shield Justice Team believes sexual abuse victims from active and closed juvenile hall detention facilities in California should receive justice and compensation for losses.