Latino youth is 57% of juvenile detention population in L.A. County, study finds

According to a report released by the Los Angeles County Probation Oversight Committee in April 2024, mass incarceration has had a negative impact on Latino youth, and it highlights the need for alternative solutions. 

The report, titled "A Demographic Snapshot of the Youth Detained in LA County Juvenile Hall," highlights that as of July 27, 2023, there were around 342 youth detained at two L.A. County Probation Department juvenile halls. 

The research study focused on a sample group of 280 young individuals who were awaiting adjudication or placement and were being housed at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, located in Downey. The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant overrepresentation of African American and Latino youth in this population. While a combined total of these two groups account for 94% of the detained juveniles, Latino youth make up 57% of the overall population. 

Additionally, out of the 280 detained youth, 24 were identified as female. The study indicated that approximately 46% of the incarcerated girls who were detained in juvenile hall identified themselves as "Hispanic."

The report also analyzed the zip codes of juvenile detainees, revealing that most of them came from low-income communities that had been disinvested and impoverished. The top five regions of L.A. County where incarcerated youth lived included South Los Angeles, Southeast Los Angeles County, Antelope Valley, the Harbor Area and Central Los Angeles. 

This information is significant because it suggests that there may be socio-economic factors at play in these areas that contribute to the high rates of youth incarceration. Most of the top-ranking communities found in the report have significant concentrations of Latino residents and median incomes that fall well below the average income for L.A. County. Many are economically disinvested communities that lack resources and face significant hurdles to achieving economic mobility. 

The report also highlights the need for targeted interventions and support programs in these communities to address the root causes of youth incarceration and prevent further harm to Latino youth. Los Angeles grassroots organizations like Los Angeles Youth Uprising (LAYUP) and Youth Justice Coalition (YJC) have long advocated for the diversion of resources away from punitive measures towards preventative approaches to mass incarceration. The findings from the report align with the ongoing work of these organizations, illustrating the strong correlation between poverty, race and the involvement of the criminal justice system. 

Recently, Los Angeles County narrowly avoided a shutdown of its two juvenile halls by increasing staffing at the last minute to temporarily appease state regulators. The county was originally given a deadline by the Board of State and Community Corrections of February, stating that department officials had a two-month window to improve the dire conditions inside the halls or evacuate everyone.

While officials have claimed that the main problem at these facilities is a shortage of qualified personnel, others have raised alarm about the hazardous environment for staff and juvenile detainees. In the previous year, at least four L.A. County probation officers were placed on leave after allegedly watching multiple incidents of “youth-on youth” violence and the fatal overdose of an 18-year-old. 

Amid the litany of ongoing scandals and at the heels of the recent snapshot report, dozens of advocates continue to urge for the closure of the juvenile detention halls. The Los Angeles County Probation Oversight Committee has put forward several recommendations, including taking concrete steps to address racial disparities and reduce reliance on incarceration. These suggestions are similar to those put forward by grassroots organizations that have been directly working with these juvenile populations.