Watch the livestream of our Town Hall on the Inspection of Campus Vernon Kilpatrick: www.youtube.com/live/OcZLahY...

🗓️ Join us Thursday, June 11th at 9am at St. Anne’s or online via WebEx or YouTube. 📲 Webex Registration: bit.ly/4x6naZh

At our 5/11/26 Probation Oversight Commission meeting, L.A. County Probation reported that data they provided about staff who “no show” at work was not being captured correctly. Accurate data is not optional, it is the foundation of transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making.

All of the Girls and Gender Expansive (GGE) youth in detention in L.A. County were transferred to Campus Kilpatrick in Malibu— loading four distinct populations with different needs into an open concept facility that was once known as the pilot site for the L.A. Model. 👉 Register: bit.ly/43xRz58

Commissioner Milinda Kakani has spent her career inside the systems most people never see. What she witnessed firsthand is a juvenile system that spoke the language of rehabilitation while too often acting on the logic and harm of the adult carceral system.

Watch Probation's presentation to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors from today's meeting: youtu.be/yE9IRTVAMIA?...

@lacountypoc.bsky.social is looking for leaders ready to make an impact. Help promote transparency, accountability, & better outcomes for youth & adults in the probation system through public engagement and policy review 🔗Apply by 6/1: bit.ly/4nqrq1r

🚨Apply to be a POC commissioner! bit.ly/4nqrq1r 📧 Submit Application Packet: All application packets must be emailed to [email protected]. ***Priority consideration will be given to applicants who apply by June 1, 2026.***

Watch the livestream of our commission meeting: www.youtube.com/live/YAIo2Lo...

At our 4/9/26 POC meeting, Laura Ridolfi from the Burns Institute highlighted that 63% of youth currently detained in LA County have low or medium LADS scores. These youth should be recommended for release, not detention.

🗓️ Join us Monday, May 11th at 9am at St. Anne’s or online via WebEx or YouTube. 📲 Click on the link in our bio to get to our Meetings page and register. #ProbationOversight #LACProbation

Dolores Canales leads with purpose and with perspective. As Chair of the Probation Oversight Commission and Community Outreach Director at The Bail Project, she brings years of organizing alongside families impacted by incarceration.

April is coming to a close, but the message of Second Chance Month continues. Lived experience isn’t just perspective, it’s expertise. And real reform depends on including those who know the system firsthand.

At our 4/9/26 Commission meeting, the Probation Department agreed to share youth’s L.A. Detention Screener (LADS) scores with the court and their defense attorney—information that was not previously disclosed.

From advocating for children in the foster system at CASA/LA to leading the nation's first and largest probation oversight effort, Wende Julien’s guiding belief has never wavered: communities know what they need. youtu.be/nW6Uuda5hZ0?...

Thank you to the presenters from our 3/12/26 commission meeting for showcasing the power of less restrictive, community-based programs for incarcerated youth in LA County. Your work is helping create real pathways for youth to heal, grow, and succeed in their communities.

At our 3/12/26 commission meeting, Charles Walden was moved by the presentation on youth with developmental disabilities and he shared a powerful comment on the urgent need for resources for youth and the harms caused by long term detention of youth with mental illness and disabilities.

Research shows youth in detention who receive regular family visits have fewer behavioral incidents, better mental health when they return home. Yet nearly 30% of incarcerated youth receive no family visits at all, often due to transportation barriers or restrictive facility policies.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online for last week’s commission meeting, we’re grateful for your time and commitment. We welcomed more than 60 attendees in person and over 500 participants online. We hope to see you at our next meeting on Thursday, April 9 at St. Anne’s.

The Office of Inspector General examined 135 detention reports and found that not one recommended release, despite California law requiring that youth be released unless specific criteria for detention are met. Read the report: bit.ly/oiglads

🗓️ Join us Thursday, March 12th at 9am at Magic Johnson Recreation Area or online via WebEx or YouTube. 📲 WebEx Registration: bit.ly/4baQyU4

When we invest in care, education, and real second chances, young people can redirect their lives toward success. Youth sent to the adult system often reoffend at higher rates than those kept in juvenile court.

AB 1646, the Hug Act, would affirm the right of youth in juvenile facilities to experience healthy, appropriate physical contact, like hugs and holding hands, during in-person family visits.

Transferring a youth to adult court means facing a life sentence, the equivalent of the death penalty. Without proper resources and support, behavior in custody can escalate, leading to additional filings by probation that push youth deeper into the system.

✊🏾✨ As Black History Month wraps up, we celebrate the Black leaders in L.A. who have shaped a more just & compassionate youth justice system. From lawyers to community organizers and researchers, these heroes have worked tirelessly to uplift young people, strengthen families, & create opportunities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and online for last week’s commission meeting. We were grateful to welcome more than two dozen attendees in person and nearly 500 participants online. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on Thursday, March 12, at Magic Johnson Park.

Watch our commission meeting livestream: www.youtube.com/live/ztZVUSG...

With two unsuitable facilities still in operation, the community has a right to understand how much the corrective actions are costing, and how those resources could be invested in supporting young people.

🗓️ Join us Wednesday, February 18th at 9am at St. Anne’s or online via WebEx or YouTube. 📲 WebEx Registration: bit.ly/3MGbF8v #ProbationOversight #LACProbation

Research shows most young people outgrow risky behavior, and community-based programs reduce reoffending by up to 40%. Detention often does more harm than good. A smarter justice system follows the science: helping youth grow, change, and succeed. #YouthJustice #BrainScience #SmartJustice

We had 400 public comments in 2025. We’re thankful for all who participated, spoke up, and stayed engaged. Meaningful community engagement isn’t just input, it’s how policy is shaped, accountability is strengthened, and real change happens. Your voices matter, and they influence decisions.

Yesterday, we welcomed Andrew Fuligni, Co-Executive Director of UCLA’s Center for Developing Adolescent. Commissioners and staff had a robust discussion about how the commission can make policy and practice recommendations based upon what science tells us about youth needs.

Commissioner Dolores Canales is our new Chair for 2026. Her leadership is deeply informed by lived experience, and by time spent inside facilities listening to young people, probation staff, adults on probation, and families. She brings accountability, empathy, and real-world insight to this work.

POC reviewed Phases 1–5 of the court-ordered Depopulation Strategy for Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and found serious concerns. Population targets were missed, key phases left incomplete, and unsafe conditions persist. Read the report: bit.ly/depopeval

After becoming Chair in 2024, Eduardo Mundo led the Probation Oversight Commission with integrity and clarity, grounded in more than three decades of service to L.A. County as a Probation Officer and Supervising Deputy Probation Officer. Thank you for your leadership as POC Chair.

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his enduring call for justice, dignity, and accountability. His legacy reminds us that true public safety is rooted in fairness, compassion, and equal treatment under the law.

Here are highlights from last Thursday’s Commission meeting. We hope to see you at our next meeting on Wednesday, February 18, at St. Anne’s.

Watch the livestream of our commission meeting: www.youtube.com/live/S8tjfas...

At our 12/11/25 commission meeting, LA County Probation Senior Director Angela Walker presented data showing a troubling staffing reality: • 21 CSEC cases with only ONE Deputy Probation Officer in office • 134 active 241.1 cases with ZERO Deputy Probation Officers in office

Through coordinated efforts all pregnant youth were safely released from L.A. County Probation facilities by 12/18/25. This moment shows what’s possible and that the same urgency can and should be applied to ensure safe, community-based placements for all youth. 🎥: BOS Meeting, 1/6/26

🗓️ Join us Thursday, January 8th at 9am at Magic Johnson Recreation Area or online via WebEx or YouTube. 📲 Register via WebEx: bit.ly/4q7wsQK #ProbationOversight #LACProbation

Check out our annual report: bit.ly/3Mq8dhP Inside, you’ll find highlights from our facility inspections, data-driven reports, community engagement efforts, and recommendations to strengthen Los Angeles County’s probation system through a people-first lens.

POC Vice-Chair Diane Terry shared this powerful comment from her experience as a social worker with DCFS, emphasizing the intentional commitment required to reduce bias when making decisions that remove Black and Brown youth from their homes. 🎥: POC Meeting, 12/11/25

Here are photos from last Thursday’s Commission meeting. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on Thursday, January 8, at the Magic Johnson Park Recreation Room.

The Los Angeles County Probation Oversight Commission issued the following statement today regarding the appointment of Eric Bates as Interim Inspector General.

Watch the livestream of our commission meeting: www.youtube.com/live/1ocyQb-...

As the County works to improve probation facilities for youth, meaningful family reunification isn’t optional, it’s essential. Every visit and every moment of connection helps young people rebuild their futures. Read the report: bit.ly/4nDs5LR

Violence. No rehabilitation. Education gaps. Visitation barriers. The POC’s 2025 inspection of Los Padrinos shows a facility still struggling to keep youth safe and supported. Read the full report: bit.ly/lospadrinos25

Family visitation for youth inside Juvenile Hall is not just connection, it’s rehabilitation, healing, and a proven method to reduce recidivism. Uplifting youth voices means listening when they tell us what support they need. #YouthVoicesMatter #VisitationMatters #FamilyConnectionHeals