Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
L.A.'s Juvenile Hall Is As Bad As 'Third World Country Prison,' County Report Says
Photo by tarasov via Shutterstock
()
A new report put together by a member of the L.A. County Probation Commission compares conditions at Los Angeles' Juvenile Hall to those in a "third world country prison." Compiled by commissioner Azael Martinez, the new report reveals some truly harrowing insights into life behind bars for the 200 or so minors incarcerated at the Eastlake Detention Center, also known as Juvenile Hall, according to the L.A. Times.
Martinez's report is particularly damning for the troubled jail system, as it follows an audit from the County's Controller office revealing that, on average, Los Angeles County spends approximately $233,000 per person annually to incarcerate minors.
What exactly that enormous sum of money is being spent on is unclear, as Martinez's new report underscores the deplorable conditions inside Juvenile Hall.
Martinez's report was frank when it compared the jail to a "dungeon." Martinez wrote, per the Times, how "What can't be shaken is the stench emitting from the unit and rooms due to urinals broken, backed up, not cleaned and unsanitary." According to the commissioner, several cells lack running water.
Support for LAist comes from
"It appears that no one cares. Staff does not know who is in charge and are quick to push the blame elsewhere," the report reads.
Other highlights include gang-tags remaining painted on jail-walls for weeks, and abuse of solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure. As Martinez reports, children are sent to solitary confinement for minor issues like sharing food.
The fact that the more than 100-year-old facility is in bad shape isn't exactly a new revelation. Two years ago, when L.A. County announced a $2 billion plan to overhaul the Men's Central Jail, a grand jury criticized the county for failing to include Juvenile Hall in its plans.
As the grand jury pointed out in 2014, "Bath towels and duct tape were used in a futile attempt to repair broken pipes and prevent seepage," according to the L.A. Times.
County Supervisors voted last November to begin studying how to replace the facility, but for the time being Eastlake will remain open.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist