The Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall appears to be inching towards state receivership as the safety of juveniles under the County’s care continues to come into question.
The latest drama surrounds three juveniles who overdosed inside their classroom on April 10. They were hospitalized and a sweep of the Downey facility turned up a large quantity of Xanax.
Chief Probation Officer Guillermo Vierra Rosa doesn’t appear to be able to keep drugs out of the facility that houses nearly 300 detainees.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said the embattled facility is headed toward the “end of the line.”
“The current situation at Los Angeles County juvenile halls — and particularly at Los Padrinos — is unacceptable,” Bonta said. “Los Angeles County continues to fail to implement the court-ordered reforms necessary to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the kids under their care.”
A.G. Bonta considers stripping county control of L.A.’s chaotic juvenile halls
Bonta’s possible intervention comes after he decided in February to not run for governor after his name was mentioned in connection with a corruption probe of former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao.
An Oakland based news site reported Bonta received $155,100 from The Duongs, owners of Oakland’s curbside recycling contractor California Waste Solutions. It is being alleged that the Duongs paid thousands of dollars in bribes to Thao to secure her 2022 election.
According to campaign finance records, Bonta received contributions for his campaigns from the Duongs, but his team said they’re giving it all to charities “out of an abundance of caution,” according to ABC7. State Assemblymember Mia Bonta, who is married to Rob Bonta, has also taken money from the Duong family; her campaign plans to turn it over to nonprofit groups.
Read the full L.A. Times article on the state’s possible takeover of Los Padrinos here.
