L.A. County Probation chief cancels plan to retire amid juvenile detention issues

Los Angeles County's Probation Department chief, who last week announced plans to retire by the end of the year, intends to stay on the job with plans Wednesday to address ongoing issues plaguing the agency's juvenile detention facilities.

"We face significant challenges, but I believe we are building a strong foundation, and there is more to be done," county Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa said in a statement released Tuesday. "I remain fully committed to working with my staff, partners, county and State leaders to ensure we turn the tide on challenges the department has faced."

Los Angeles County issued a statement supporting Viera Rosa's decision to stay on the job.

"Los Angeles County's Probation Department faces long-running challenges that it is working diligently to address," according to the county statement. "Recognizing the importance of the work now underway, Los Angeles County is encouraged that Chief Probation Officer Guillermo Viera Rosa has decided to remain in his position and provide the leadership, skills and innovative approaches needed to turn the corner on significant issues, including meeting our continued commitment to achieving full compliance with the Board of State and Community Corrections."

The development came just days ahead of a Thursday deadline imposed by the BSCC to correct persist substandard conditions and understaffing at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. As it has done in the past, the BSCC recently deemed the facility unsuitable to house youth detainees, and it gave the county until Thursday to correct deficiencies or move the youth out of the facility.

The county, however, has no alternative locations for housing them.

As of February 15, 2024, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and similar facilities in L.A. have been out of compliance. There have been at least 40 new behavior-related charges against youth, contributing to longer detention periods and eventual transfers to adult facilities. Despite spending over $12 million on security to prevent drug access and to monitor youth, overdoses continue to occur.

County probation officials are pushing BSCC staff to re-inspect the facility in hopes of winning reversal of the closure order. But a formal decision to rescind the unsuitability designation for the facility couldn't be made until the BSCC's next meeting on Dec. 18.

Additional reporting by Michelle Zacarias and City News Service.