LOS ANGELES, CA – Thirty Los Angeles County probation officers assigned to a juvenile detention facility are facing criminal charges after allegedly orchestrating dozens of fights between incarcerated youth, in what California’s attorney general described as a pattern of deliberate and coordinated abuse.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the charges Monday, detailing a wide-ranging criminal case that includes allegations of child endangerment, abuse, conspiracy, and battery. The incidents took place at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, a facility that has been at the center of mounting controversy since its reopening in 2023.
“These were not isolated incidents,” Bonta said at a press conference. “These were planned and staged fights—referred to by many as ‘gladiator-style’ combat—facilitated by probation officers whose duty was to protect, not harm.”
According to Bonta, the California Department of Justice launched its investigation in January 2024 after receiving leaked surveillance footage showing one youth being repeatedly assaulted by several others inside the facility, while uniformed officers stood by and watched. In some cases, officers were seen laughing and shaking hands with the youths involved.
Investigators concluded that from July 1 to December 31, 2023, officers created opportunities for fights to occur by identifying specific times and locations inside the facility where they would not intervene. A total of 69 fights involving up to 140 detained minors—aged 12 to 18—were documented over that six-month period.
“The officers look more like referees or audience members at a prize fight,” Bonta said. “They allowed these fights to occur and failed to intervene. Their intent was not to prevent harm—it was to manifest it.”
Twenty-two of the 30 defendants were arraigned Monday; the remaining eight are expected to be arraigned in the coming days. The indictment also includes aggravating factors, such as abuse of trust and the vulnerability of the victims.
The Los Angeles County Probation Department, which oversees the operation of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, issued a statement applauding the attorney general’s action. “Our department sought the assistance of law enforcement authorities when misconduct was discovered, which eventually led to the AG’s office investigation,” the department said. “The current staff named in today’s indictments have all been placed on leave without pay.”
The department added that it has been conducting internal investigations parallel to the DOJ probe. “Accountability is a cornerstone of our mission,” the statement continued, “and we have zero tolerance for misconduct of any peace officers, especially those dealing with young people in our system.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who has previously raised concerns about the management of juvenile detention centers, also issued a statement condemning the officers’ actions. “The young people in Los Padrinos are not only in our custody, they are in our care,” Hahn said. “It is unacceptable that probation officers who were entrusted with this responsibility would use their power to abuse these kids.”
Hahn said she supports the termination of any employee found guilty in the case, and called for a broader cultural shift within the county’s probation system. “This is only further proof that the culture of our probation department needs to change dramatically,” she said.
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall reopened in mid-2023 as a replacement facility after the state ordered the closure of Central Juvenile Hall in Boyle Heights and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, both of which had been cited for poor conditions and safety violations. But since reopening, Los Padrinos has faced its own series of crises, including chronic staffing shortages, reports of detainee violence, and multiple escape attempts.
In December 2024, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency after the state ordered Los Padrinos closed as well, citing ongoing operational failures.
The attorney general said his office would continue investigating the case and encouraged any other victims or witnesses to come forward. “This case is a stark reminder of what happens when those charged with protecting our youth betray that trust,” Bonta said. “The justice system must work for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.”
