In Los Angeles, a shocking scandal has emerged involving “gladiator fights” at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. According to a teenager who wished to remain anonymous, some L.A. County probation officers offered fast-food rewards to youths willing to fight others. The teenager described it as a “bounty” system where officers would point out difficult youths and say, “There’s a meal on his head.” The reward for beating up a misbehaving peer was a fast-food meal from places like In-N-Out or Chick-fil-A.
This troubling practice came to light after a video surfaced showing officers standing by as youths attacked a teenager. The California Department of Justice investigated, leading to the indictment of 30 officers on charges of child endangerment, conspiracy, and battery. Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that officers coordinated or allowed 69 such fights between July and December 2023.
Jerod Gunsberg, a defense attorney, noted that such orchestrated brawls were an “open secret” in the juvenile justice system. He explained that youths rarely spoke out due to fear of retaliation. The L.A. County Probation Department has suspended the indicted staff without pay and is working to regain public trust by addressing misconduct and supporting the investigation.
The scandal has drawn attention to the systemic issues within L.A. County’s juvenile halls, with Los Padrinos facing a state order to close due to ongoing problems. However, county supervisors have kept it open due to a lack of alternative facilities. As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of the youths in these facilities.
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