Los Angeles County (2018-2020 inspection cycle)

March 19, 2021 Adolfo Gonzales, Chief Probation Officer Los Angeles County Probation Department 9150 East Imperial Highway Downey, CA 90242 RE: 2018 - 2020 BIENNIAL INSPECTION OF LOS ANGELES PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTION 209; JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT Dear Chief Gonzales: As part of the inspection process, we reviewed your policy and procedures applicable to Title 15 Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities. As noted in the final report dated February 11, 2021, “we noted that several policies were missing information or were inconsistent with the revised requirements of the regulations in both DSB and RTSB manuals. These policies required various levels of improvement and corrective action.” Updates were confirmed to have been made and were to be provided to staff. Compliance determinations were based on this information known at that time. It has come to our attention that the following policy/procedure sections (see attachment) have yet to be distributed to line staff. In discussing this with Administrative Bureau Staff, we have been provided with draft policies and directives as of March 12, 2021 and have been notified that these policies will be provided to all facility staff on or before April 12, 2021. We have also been notified that 1350.5 Screening for Risk of Sexual Abuse, 1354 Separation and 1354.5 Room Confinement will be addressed through formal corrective action. These sections are non-compliant until provided to all staff. Should any of the policies identified below not be distributed to staff by April 11, 2021, these sections will need to be identified in your corrective action plan due to the BSCC no later than April 12, 2021. If you should have any questions, please contact me at (916) 838-9132 or email at lisa.southwell@bscc.ca.gov. Sincerely, Lisa Southwell Field Representative Facilities Standards and Operations Division Cc: Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court, Los Angeles County* Chair, Probation Commission, Los Angeles County* Chair, Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles County* County Administrator, Los Angeles County* 7420+ Los Angeles JH CAMP LTR 18-20 Chief Gonzales 2 Los Angeles County Probation Department * Complete copies of this inspection are available upon request and at www.bscc.ca.gov (RTSB) 1328 Safety Checks when youth are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, Pending Update confined in holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. 1329 Suicide (2) All youth supervision staff who perform intake Pending Update Prevention processes shall be trained in screening youth for risk of suicide. (f)(1): The intake process shall include communication 1329 Suicide Pending Update with the arresting officer and family guardians regarding Prevention the youth’s past or present suicidal ideations, behaviors or attempts. Provide that facility staff shall not separate youth from 1352 Classification Pending Update the general population or assign youth to a single occupancy room based solely on the youth's actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, mental or physical disability, or HIV status. This section does not prohibit staff from placing youth in a single occupancy room at the youth's specific request or in accordance with Title 15 regulations regarding separation. 1355 Institutional vocational, counseling, behavioral health, consideration Pending Update Assessment and Plan of known history of trauma, and family strengths and needs. 1356 Counseling and (B)Probation officer Pending Update Casework Services 1357 Use of Force (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed Pending Update reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section 1302 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others and the facility. 1358.5 Use of Several areas Pending Update Restraints (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a 1361 Grievance Pending Update grievance shall be heard by a person not directly procedure involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance. 7420+ Los Angeles JH CAMP LTR 18-20 Chief Gonzales 3 Los Angeles County Probation Department 1391 Due Process g. violations that result in a removal from camp or Pending Update commitment program, but not a return to court, will follow the due process provisions in subsection (e) above. DSB 1329 Suicide (1) Process for administrative review of the Pending Update Prevention circumstances and responses proceeding, during and after the critical incident. (2) Process for a debriefing event with affected staff. 1329 Suicide Pending Update Prevention (3) Process for a debriefing event with affected youth. 1329 Suicide Pending Update Prevention 1357 Use of Force (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed Pending Update reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section 1302 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others and the facility. 1358.5 Use of Several areas Pending Update Restraints There will be a written annual review of the programs, 1371 Programs, Pending Update recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to Recreation and ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant Exercise to the population. Addressed through Corrective Action Plan DSB and RTSB RTSB DSB 1350.5 Screening for Risk of Sexual Abuse Pending Full Update Pending Full Update 1354 Separation Pending Update Pending Update 1354.5 Room Confinement Pending Update Pending Update 7420+ Los Angeles JH CAMP LTR 18-20