L.A. County Struggles to Meet Juvenile Hall Depopulation Goal

Probation chief says Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall likely won't reach 175-youth target, as other facilities also face compliance issues.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Los Angeles County's plan to reduce the population at the embattled Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall is nearing completion, but officials now acknowledge they likely will not reach the original goal of 175 detainees. Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa testified that the facility is expected to end up with around 200 youths once renovations at another center are finished. Meanwhile, other juvenile facilities in the county have also failed recent state inspections, raising concerns about the broader juvenile justice system.

Why it matters

The depopulation efforts at Los Padrinos are part of a larger push to improve conditions at the troubled facility, which was ordered to close in 2024 for failing to maintain suitable conditions. However, the county's struggles to meet its own targets and the compliance issues at other juvenile halls highlight the ongoing challenges in the juvenile justice system and the need for comprehensive reforms.

The details

Under a court-approved depopulation plan, the county initially estimated it could reduce Los Padrinos' population from about 278 to 175 by August 2025. As of this week, the facility has about 223 youths left, even after transferring dozens of girls to Campus Kilpatrick and boys to Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. A higher-than-usual number of juvenile arrests last year offset the depopulation efforts. The next phase will shift about two dozen males with developmental disabilities from Los Padrinos to Dorothy Kirby Center.

  • In 2024, Los Padrinos was ordered to close by state regulators for its failure to maintain suitable conditions under state law.
  • In May 2025, a court approved the county's depopulation plan for Los Padrinos.
  • As of this week, Los Padrinos has about 223 youths, down from an initial population of about 278.

The players

Guillermo Viera Rosa

The Los Angeles County Probation Chief who testified about the county's efforts to reduce the population at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.

Judge Miguel Espinoza

The Superior Court judge who is overseeing the county's depopulation efforts and has expressed concerns about compliance issues at other juvenile facilities.

Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office

The office that challenged the continued operation of Los Padrinos, arguing that youth should not be sent to a facility that is operating unlawfully.

Kim Binion

The superintendent for Campus Kilpatrick, the facility that now houses all of the girls in the county's custody.

Luis Rodriguez

The juvenile division chief at the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office, who has raised concerns about the remoteness of Campus Kilpatrick and the challenges it poses for parents and guardians.

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What they’re saying

“We are here because of LP, but we are starting to see signs that the noncompliance is emerging in other places.”

— Judge Miguel Espinoza (presstelegram.com)

“It doesn't feel like a juvenile hall.”

— Kim Binion, Superintendent, Campus Kilpatrick (presstelegram.com)

“We continue to have these problems.”

— Luis Rodriguez, Juvenile Division Chief, Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office (presstelegram.com)

What’s next

Judge Espinoza ordered the county to develop a better system for issuing vouchers and handling community detention releases from Campus Kilpatrick. He also ordered the county to report back on its efforts to come back into compliance with the state regulatory agency at all of its juvenile facilities, and to provide a timeline for when Los Padrinos would be reinspected.

The takeaway

The ongoing challenges in depopulating and improving conditions at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, as well as the compliance issues at other juvenile facilities in Los Angeles County, highlight the need for comprehensive reform of the juvenile justice system. The county must address systemic problems to ensure the safety and well-being of the youth in its care.