At least 20 Los Angeles County probation officers face criminal prosecution after the California Attorney General’s office investigates the work of young people, two law enforcement sources told the New York Times Friday.
The union representing the popular probation officer confirmed in a statement that several of its members “had received a notice from the California Department of Justice (DOJ) asking them to appear in the criminal court.”
Defense attorney Tom Yu also said Friday that he was indicted on behalf of a director of the probation department.
“My understanding is that he is a co-defendant in the multiple plaintiff indictment about certain events that occurred in Los Padrinos,” Yu said.
It is not clear what fees are being sought. The prosecution was sealed until the defendant first appeared in court.
The California Department of Justice announced in April that it is investigating the battle between Los Padrinos youth. The announcement is The Times released a video This shows that several probation officials watched a teenager beating in Los Padrinos by other detainees.
The video shows a group of young people attacking the 17-year-old victim at one time, accusing him of punching and kicking, while officers watched, laughed, shook hands with the attacker in some places.
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Video obtained by the Los Angeles Times shows the December 2023 incident where at least six young people can be seen hitting and kicking a 17-year-old.
According to the claim notice, the 17-year-old suffered “internal injury, severe bruises and moderate brain trauma”, a pioneer in the lawsuit he filed last year.
Two sources told the Times Friday that the indictment stems from an investigation into the battle video of Los Padrinos. The sources spoke on anonymously to discuss the details of the crime investigation.
According to two other sources who are directly informed of the interview, investigators from the state attorney general’s office have accepted investigators from the victims in the Los Padrinos incident, and they also asked to discuss the matter anonymously.
In a civil request, the teenager accused officials involved in the incident of “organizing and encouraging a series of brutal battles and attacks.”
Los Angeles County public defender Sherrie Albin, who represented the victim in his criminal case, said in court that probation department director Taneha Brooks, by telling other 17-year-old victims It was based on his racists who “incited” the battle. Gang affiliation and his residence. All the attackers were black, while the 17-year-old was Latino.
“Every American is innocent until proven guilty,” Stacy Ford, chairman of the Probation Officials Alliance, said in a statement. “Our members deserve fair and due process treatment, Just like the people they offer to them. We do not tolerate any illegal acts and we will do our best to support our members when they drive this difficult situation.”
Vicky Waters, communications director for the probation department, referred all the questions to the Attorney General’s office, which said it would not confirm or deny any questions about “potential or ongoing investigations.”
“In our case, we have put several officials on leave due to the disturbing incidents and allegations of Los Padrinos. We have and will continue to work with and work with our law enforcement partners.” Waters explain. “Accountability is the cornerstone of our mission and we have zero tolerance for any misconduct by peace officials.”
According to Waters, 14 officers in the probation department related to videos of the Los Padrinos battle were suspended.
The news of the prosecution is the latest in a series of controversies in the probation department.
Late last year, the California Department of State and Community Corrections Ordered Los Padrinos Investigators found that the hall was routinely insufficient to safely house young people.
Similar rulings from the BSCC previously resulted in the closure of the Central Juvenile Hall and the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar. Los Padrinos closed in 2019 after too many charges of force against officers. But it reopened to accommodate young people from the Central and Nidolph.
The probation department faces Years of staffing crisis creates chaotic conditions In the county’s teenage hall, violence and unrest. Many probation officials say it is unsafe to go to work, and juvenile justice advocates often describe the hall as a crazy facility where young people are constantly at risk.
Los Padrinos It has almost been troubled since it reopened in July 2023. The facility suffered riots and escape attempts in its first month of operation, and tried to take a probation department supervisor to the lobby, which was illegal.
The BSCC believes Los Padrinos is “inappropriate” to accommodate youth just nine months after reopening in February 2024. Two months later, the battle video surfaced.
Ministry of Probation ignores BSCC order Los Padrinos, who refused to get support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The BSCC has not yet stated the steps to execute the shutdown command or the steps to be taken. A spokesperson for ATTY. General Rob Bonta previously refused to say whether he would take action to support the BSCC.
These prosecutions are disturbing. The young people in our juvenile facilities are not only in our detention centers, but also in our care. “What breaks my heart is that probation officials take this responsibility and that will use their power to abuse these children. It’s just further proof that the culture of our probation department needs to change dramatically.”
Times worker Rebecca Ellis contributed to the report.
