Morning Brief: Overcrowded Juvenile Hall, Adobe Punk, And The Rooftop Cinema Club

Good morning, L.A. It’s April 5.

Los Angeles County operates two juvenile halls: Central Juvenile Hall just east of downtown, and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar. In March, all incarcerated young people were moved to Nidorf so Central could be assessed by inspectors.

But since that move, staff say that conditions at the Sylmar facility are “a mess.”

My colleague Emily Elena Dugdale reports that the children at Nidorf aren’t receiving proper medical care, education or recreation. The result is chaos, including inadequate medication dispensation, fights and vandalism.

“The way our kids deal with stuff, change and anxiety and whatnot a lot of times is by acting out,” said a staff member who asked to remain anonymous.

The reason things have gone south so quickly is mainly due to inadequate staffing. The building is large enough to accommodate the children physically, but without enough employees, kids are languishing with not enough activities, structure and guidance.

One staff member told Emily that some children have received classroom instruction for just two days in the past three weeks. Others have had trouble getting in touch with their attorneys and family members.

The two detention centers have been under scrutiny recently, starting with a report in September that found both facilities were “not suitable for the confinement of minors.”

Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A., and stay safe out there.

What Else You Need To Know Today

• Police have made an arrest in connection with a Sacramento mass shooting on Sunday that left six people dead and 12 injured.
• The world still has time to avoid the most extreme dangers of climate change, but things look grim if we don’t act now. 
• Marc Bernardin, an L.A.-based writer, penned the graphic novelAdora And The Distance to explore the world of a person with autism — in his case, his daughter Sophie's. 
• Last night’s (very long) Grammy Awards in Las Vegas had lessons, storylines, triumphs and irritations.
• Adobe Punk is a play that tells the story of three young punk musicians squatting in a vacant adobe house in the working-class community of Bell Gardens.

Before You Go ... This Week's Event Pick: Rooftop Cinema Club

Rooftop Cinema Club reopens its downtown L.A. location this week.

(Courtesy of Rooftop Cinema Club)

The downtown location of the Rooftop Cinema Club reopens for the spring season this week with screenings of La La Land and West Side Story. Snacks are available, and of-age guests can bring adult libations.

Not in the movie mood? You could: Watch a group of all-star musicians pay tribute to Paul Simon’s music. Take in the magic of the Alvin Ailey dancers. Catch H.E.R. in concert. Laugh along to comics at the Popular Kids Club. And more.