Justice Department to Investigate Juvenile Facilities

LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Justice Department is preparing to investigate conditions at Los Angeles County probation camps for teens to determine if they are safe.

The probation department, which houses approximately 4,000 teenagers across the county, will be checked to make sure that the juveniles are receiving the services they need.

Although the details of the investigation are confidential, probation officials claim that the department is being scrutinized for dangerous conditions, including use of force and retraints on wards. The federal government has been investigating the county juvenile facilities for years, but this probe could lead to a lawsuit or consent decree, officials say.

According to a 2003 report by the Justice Department, juvenile facilities in the county lacked educational, social and religious opportunities, as well as effective ways for minors to speak out against violations. The report also found that there was poor sanitation, overuse of pepper spray on inmates, and inadequate medical and mental health care.

The juvenile probation department consists of three juvenile halls, where offenders await trial, and 19 rural camps, where convicted youths serve their sentences. The Justice Department required 66 changes to the juvenile facilities after the 2003 report, including a 20 percent increase in staff.

Facility directors continue to deal with violence, according to officials. There were approximately 2,630 fights among youths in camps in 2005, with a similar number projected for 2006, according to reports. Although no deaths resulted from the altercations, one youth was paralyzed and another lost an eye.

A 2006 study that compiled data on young inmates’ education and aid to teens’ families showed that the probation department was not providing efficient mental health support.

County officials are contemplating hiring an outside consultant who specializes in juvenile justice reform. The consultant would cost the county $865,000.