Latest news with #Los Angeles County
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
California asks court to give state control of Los Angeles County's troubled juvenile halls
California 's top prosecutor said Wednesday he has asked a court to give the state control of Los Angeles County's troubled juvenile detention facilities because incarcerated young people are enduring unsafe conditions, including violence and rampant drug abuse. Attorney General Rob Bonta said he wants the county to hand over administration of the juvenile jails to a third-party receiver, a court-appointed official who will take over management and operations from the Los Angeles County Probation Department. The official will have control over budgets and staffing decisions. 'This is a last resort, but it's also the one left to defend the safety of the young people in these facilities,' Bonta said. He said the 'extraordinary step' was necessary because the county has failed to comply with a court order his office secured in 2021 requiring sweeping reforms. The probation department, which oversees the juvenile halls, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Bonta outlined safety concerns such as 'youth on youth' violence, riots, 'unmet medical needs,' low staffing, inadequate security cameras and drug overdoses, including one that led to the death of a teenager. Earlier this year Bonta indicted 30 probation officers accused of facilitating so-called 'gladiator fights' between incarcerated juveniles. 'These young people deserve better, and my office will not stop until they get it,' Bonta said. "A receivership is the best and only option to turn Los Angeles County juvenile halls around, and we believe the court will agree.' In addition, the attorney general asked the court to establish a compensation fund for incarcerated youth 'to redress and repair the injuries suffered in the county's custody" and to cover medical and education expenses. A hearing is set for Aug. 15. Bonta said if the court approves the plan, a receiver could be in place by the end of the summer. Previously, the Board of State and Community Corrections issued 'unsuitable' designations for the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. The state board, which inspects the youth prisons, had determined that the county had been unable to correct problems including inadequate safety checks, low staffing, use of force and a lack of recreation and exercise. Bonta's request on Wednesday comes four years after California phased out its three remaining state-run youth prisons and shifted the responsibility to counties. The move to local control was the final step in a lengthy reform effort driven in part by a class-action lawsuit and incentives for counties to keep youths out of the state system. The state-run system also had a troubled history marked by inmate suicides and brawls.
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Orange County pursuit ends when driver loses control, crashes after blowing tire in pickup truck
A wild pursuit through Southern California came to a sudden end on Saturday night when the driver of a pickup truck lost control and smashed into another vehicle in Norwalk. The pursuit began around 9 p.m. near the 405 and 605 Freeway interchange, which is about where Orange County and Los Angeles County meet. The California Highway Patrol said the chase was initiated by a law enforcement agency in the OC before being transferred to the CHP. The pursuit of a red pickup truck continued into L.A. County. The want was originally for weaving, the CHP said. When SKYCal located the vehicle around 9:36 p.m., the front driver-side tire was clearly blown out, as a large trail of sparks followed the speeding truck. Eventually, the driver turned onto Imperial Highway in Norwalk, where he continued driving at a high rate of speed. At about 9:37 p.m., the driver lost control and the truck spun into the back of a sedan that was waiting at a red light. The sedan's airbags clearly deployed upon collision. Two people were seen walking away from the vehicle while speaking to officers, appearing to be OK. The red truck spun onto the road's center median in the area of Imperial Highway and Studebaker Road. The driver exited through a window and began walking away from officers, but they quickly tackled him and took him into custody. It's not clear if the driver was armed during the chase. No additional details were immediately made available.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- CBS News
LA County awards $14 million to man who wrongfully served 20 years in prison
A Paramount man who spent 20 years behind bars for a wrongful murder conviction was awarded $14 million by Los Angeles County on Tuesday. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the millions from the budgets of the Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney's Office to settle the wrongful conviction lawsuit of Alexander Torres. Torres was arrested in 2001 for the Paramount shooting death of a rival gang member. The 20-year-old was convicted of second-degree murder six months later and was sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison. He insisted he was innocent, and key evidence proving that someone else committed the killing led to his release from prison in 2021 -- after he had already served 20 years behind bars. The Innocence Project asked a judge for a finding of "factual innocence," stating that there wasn't any evidence that pointed to Torres's guilt, but rather that "a preponderance of the evidence" proved his innocence. Torres was accused of jumping out of a car and shooting rival gang member, Martin Guitron on Dec. 31, 2000, in Paramount. He was arrested on Jan. 18, 2001, and he admitted to investigators that he had confrontations with Guitron, but said he did not leave his house the night of the shooting. Torres was identified as a suspect, primarily based on eyewitness testimony from two people, who had conflicting accounts of who the shooter was. After his murder conviction, a private investigator hired by Torres' brother in 2006 interviewed the driver of the getaway car, who named another person as the shooter. The county's "Summary Corrective Action Plan" listed a series of Los Angeles Sheriff's Department investigative oversights and errors as justification for the settlement, including "Homicide Investigators' failure to follow proper investigative protocols regarding evidence and witness interviews."
