Thirty Los Angeles County probation officers face criminal indictments for orchestrating “gladiator fights” between detained youths, raising serious questions about the systemic failures within juvenile detention facilities.
Quick Takes
- Thirty probation officers have been indicted on 69 counts of child abuse, one count of conspiracy, and one count of misdemeanor battery for orchestrating fights among juvenile detainees.
- Video evidence showed officers standing by, laughing, and even encouraging assaults on minors, with one officer seen shaking hands with an assailant during an attack.
- The “gladiator fights” occurred at least 69 times between July and December 2023, involving up to 140 youths aged 12 to 18.
- Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has previously been deemed “unsuitable” to house youth by state authorities but continues to operate despite closure orders.
- The case highlights severe management and staffing problems within the Los Angeles County Probation Department that have created unsafe conditions for detained youth.
Criminal Charges Unveiled Against Los Angeles County Officers
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has brought serious criminal charges against thirty Los Angeles County probation officers accused of organizing and facilitating fights between detained juveniles. The indictments include 69 counts of child abuse, one count of conspiracy to commit a crime, and one count of misdemeanor battery. Twenty-two defendants were arraigned on Monday, with the remaining eight scheduled for arraignment soon. The investigation focused on disturbing activities at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, where officers allegedly created specific times and spaces for youth-on-youth violence.
The Department of Justice launched its investigation in January after receiving leaked security footage showing a 17-year-old being attacked by multiple youths while probation officers observed without intervention. According to investigators, the fights occurred between July 1 and December 31, 2023, involving approximately 140 youths aged 12 to 18. Several officers have been suspended pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. The case has sent shockwaves through the juvenile justice system and prompted calls for comprehensive reform.
Video Evidence Reveals Disturbing Pattern of Behavior
Security footage from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall revealed officers not only failing to intervene in violent attacks but actively encouraging the confrontations. In one particularly troubling incident, an officer named Taneha Brooks allegedly instigated fights between youth, while another officer, Shawn Smyles, was captured on video shaking hands with an assailant during an attack on a 17-year-old detainee. The victim in this case suffered severe injuries and has filed a notice of claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit against the county.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta characterized the officers’ behavior as more like referees or audience members than caretakers entrusted with protecting vulnerable youth. According to Bonta’s statement, officers deliberately created conditions for these fights to occur: “They often wanted them to happen at the beginning of the day, in a certain time, in a certain place. A space and a time was created for the fights, and their plan was for the fights to happen and for them to stand by as they occurred and not intervene.”
Systemic Problems in Los Angeles County Probation Department
The indictments highlight deeper problems within the Los Angeles County Probation Department, which has faced a staffing crisis and accusations of mismanagement for years. Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall had previously been deemed “unsuitable” to house youth by the California Bureau of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), which ordered it closed. However, the Probation Department, with support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, has ignored this closure order, continuing to operate the facility despite documented concerns about safety and supervision.
“The probation system and its underlying culture are broken”
County Supervisor Janice Hahn has emphasized the need for cultural change within the department following these indictments. The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office is seeking to remove its clients from Los Padrinos, citing fundamental safety concerns. Public Defender Ricardo Garcia has stated that “accountability for those who have failed to protect our youth is long overdue,” calling for significant reforms to restore integrity to the juvenile justice system. The case underscores the critical importance of proper oversight and professional standards in facilities tasked with rehabilitating troubled youth.
