Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California, had its lockdown lifted on Saturday night following a riot that occurred at the facility. The facility had been reopened earlier this month after two other juvenile facilities in L.A. County were ordered to close due to unsuitable conditions.
The riot took place on Friday when seven juveniles assaulted staff members and managed to open an exterior door to their living area. They also allegedly broke a window in another unit and brought in six additional inmates into the same area. One 18-year-old inmate briefly escaped by climbing a wall and crossing onto a nearby golf course, but he was apprehended and has since been booked as an adult.
In response to the incident, the remaining 12 youths have been placed in individual rooms with one-on-one supervision at Los Padrinos. Bureau chiefs will now be present at the facility for every shift to supervise operations. Additionally, all staff members will carry pepper spray until the facility is stabilized.
Eyewitness News interviewed a mother who has a son at Los Padrinos, and she expressed her concerns about the conditions at the facility. She mentioned that there was no air conditioning and no outdoor activities for the youths. However, officials stated that the AC issue had been resolved a week ago and they are working on reconnecting the kids with their families. With the lifting of the lockdown, visitations are expected to resume at the facility.
Dalila Alcantara, a bureau chief at the L.A. County Probation Department, emphasized the importance of ensuring that families can see their youth. She stated that they recognize the need for kids to have contact with their families and aim to get visitations back on track as soon as possible.
Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported among the youth or staff during the riot.
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How are officials addressing the concerns raised by families and the community about the conditions and activities available for the youth held at Los Padrinos
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, California, is breathing a sigh of relief as its lockdown has finally been lifted following a wild riot that erupted within its walls. This facility had recently reopened after two other juvenile centers in L.A. County were shut down due to unsuitable conditions.
The chaos unfolded on Friday when a group of seven juveniles attacked staff members, resulting in a breach of security as they managed to open an exterior door to their living area. In an audacious move, it is alleged that they broke a window in another unit and even smuggled in six additional inmates into their newfound hideout. Talk about a jailbreak! To top it off, one daring 18-year-old managed to escape by scaling a wall and crossing onto a nearby golf course. However, authorities quickly apprehended him, booking him as an adult.
As a response to this troubling incident, the remaining 12 young offenders have been isolated in individual rooms, where they will be under one-on-one supervision. The Bureau chiefs have stepped up their game too, as they will now be present at Los Padrinos during each shift, aiming to restore stability and supervise operations. In an effort to ensure staff safety, all members will be equipped with pepper spray until the facility regains its stability.
Recently, Eyewitness News interviewed a concerned mother whose son is currently held at Los Padrinos. She voiced her worry about the conditions within the facility, mentioning the lack of air conditioning and outdoor activities for the youth. Officials, on the other hand, assured the public that the air conditioning issue had been resolved a week ago, and efforts are underway to reconnect the kids with their families. With the lifting of the lockdown, visitations are expected to resume at the facility, allowing families to reunite.
Dalila Alcantara, a bureau chief at the L.A. County Probation Department, stressed the importance of maintaining contact between the youth and their families. She recognizes this crucial need and aims to swiftly restore visitations, ensuring that families can see their loved ones as soon as possible.
Luckily, no serious injuries were reported among the inmates or staff during the riot, providing a silver lining amidst the chaos that unfolded.
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While it’s good news that the lockdown has been lifted at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall following the recent riot, it’s important to address the concerns surrounding the facility. Ensuring the safety and well-being of the young individuals should be the utmost priority as the facility reopens.
It’s a relief to see that the lockdown has been lifted at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall after the recent riot. However, it’s crucial to address the concerns raised and ensure that the facility remains a safe and secure environment for the young individuals involved.