Supervisors ask Probation Department to improve CCTV monitoring policies

The Board of Supervisors Tuesday called for stricter oversight of closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring in juvenile detention centers in Los Angeles County.

The board directed the chief probation officer to report back in 30 days with a strategy to implement 24/7 surveillance, random audits and staff training.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, follows the board's approval last week of a $2.6 million settlement to a victim who was physically assaulted as a minor by other detainees at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey while under probation staff supervision.

"This egregious act was caught on CCTV camera, but no one was monitoring the footage at the time, so it took weeks before the footage was discovered," Hahn said.

She added that similar incidents have occurred at other county facilities, prompting public outrage about juvenile safety.

"CCTV footage has led to the indictment of multiple probation officers by the California Attorney General," Hahn said.

The California Department of Justice had directed the county Probation Department to submit the protocol in December 2024, which has been long delayed, she added.

"Footage can be used to verify or disprove allegations to confirm that departmental policies are being followed and their presence can detour abuses of power in the first place," Hahn said.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who co-authored the motion, said the goal is to improve transparency and accountability.

"Our youth deserve safety, dignity and care, especially when they are in our custody," she said.