Case: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Re: Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls

Never Filed | No Court

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Case Summary

In 2001, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (DOJ) launched an investigation into the conditions at the Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls (Central Juvenile Hall, Los Parings Juvenile Hall and Barry J. Nixdorf Juvenile Hall), pursuant to Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq. and the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141.Based on its investigation, the DOJ conclude…

In 2001, the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (DOJ) launched an investigation into the conditions at the Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls (Central Juvenile Hall, Los Parings Juvenile Hall and Barry J. Nixdorf Juvenile Hall), pursuant to Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq. and the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141.

Based on its investigation, the DOJ concluded that the conditions and practices at the juvenile facilities violated the constitutional and statutory rights of juvenile residents in the areas of: medical and mental health care, sanitation, use of chemical spray, insufficient protection from harm, rehabilitation, education, telephone use, religious programming, translation services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) youth, and grievance procedures.

On April 9, 2003, the DOJ issued a findings letter which detailed the violations and set out a series of minimum remedial measures to bring the facility up to constitutional standards. The State accepted the recommendations and the parties entered into a voluntary Settlement Agreement on August 12, 2004 to ensure compliance.

We have no further information on this matter.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (3/11/2008)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Acosta, R. Alexander (District of Columbia)

Boyd, Marion Speed (Tennessee)

Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)

Cardona, George S. (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Fortner, Raymond G. Jr. (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:50 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

U.S. Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Los Angeles), County

Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls (Los Angeles), County

Central Juvenile Hall (Los Angeles), County

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall (Los Angeles), County

Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall (Los Angeles), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Issues

General:

Bathing and hygiene

Classification / placement

Counseling

Education

Fire safety

Individualized planning

Language access/needs

Phone

Religious programs / policies

Restraints : chemical

Restraints : physical

Sanitation / living conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Grievance procedures

Pepper/OC spray

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Disability and Disability Rights:

Special education

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female

Male

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, unspecified

Medication, administration of

Mental health care, general

Suicide prevention

Type of Facility:

Government-run