With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
LA County probation chief announces resignation
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey
(
Robert Garrova / LAist
)
Los Angeles County’s chief probation officer has announced he will leave the department by the end of the year.
The county did not provide a reason for Guillermo Viera Rosa's resignation, but it's notable that the news comes days before a Dec. 12 deadline to move more than 200 incarcerated youths out of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, where a state board found insufficient staffing.
The Probation Department runs the county’s juvenile halls.
The backstory
Viera Rosa told the L.A. County Board of Supervisors he would be leaving by the end of the year. Through a spokesperson, he declined to comment to LAist about the resignation.
Support for LAist comes from
Twice this year, a state board deemed Los Padrinos, which is in Downey, unsuitable to house youth. The facility houses more than 200 youth who have come in contact with the criminal justice system.
The Probation Department avoided having to shut down Los Padrinos in April after the Board of State and Community Corrections determined the county met minimum requirements on staffing levels and safety checks.
But in an Oct. 14 letter to Viera Rosa, the board said further inspections revealed Los Padrinos was still out of compliance on staffing.
“The continued lack of staffing continues to negatively impact delivery of required services and compliance with additional regulations, including education, outdoor recreation, youth being confined in rooms, and youth missing medical appointments,” the board’s letter read.
Ongoing inspections
A Probation spokesperson said in an email that the department formally requested a re-inspection of Los Padrinos by the state board, which the Board of State and Community Corrections started last week. A state board spokesperson said the department has made “positive changes” at Los Padrinos but was still out of compliance with staffing requirements as of Monday.
Support for LAist comes from
In an email to LAist, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Los Padrinos, thanked Viera Rosa for his service to the county.
"We have a lot of challenges in the Probation Department and I thank him for taking on this job during some difficult times," Hahn said Monday. "I wish him the best."
More scrutiny
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in November that his office filed a joint motion with L.A. County in Superior Court, seeking additional monitoring of two local juvenile hall facilities, including Los Padrinos.
Bonta’s office cited “serious ongoing deficiencies in the treatment and conditions of youth” at the Downey facility and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Secure Youth Treatment Facility in Sylmar.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol. -
Kevin Lee's Tokyo Noir has become one of the top spots for craft-inspired cocktails. -
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent.
Best of LAist