The Los Angeles County Probation Department is facing a significant staffing shortage, prompting a plea for assistance from state and local law enforcement agencies. In December, Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa submitted a mutual aid request to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), seeking support from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and local police agencies to conduct compliance checks on probationers over a one-year period.
The staffing crisis has led to the reassignment of field officers to juvenile halls, creating a void in the supervision of high-risk probationers, including individuals convicted of sexual assault, domestic violence, and gang-related crimes. Chief Viera Rosa emphasized the risk to public safety, stating, “This reallocation has created a void in the supervision of probationers, which presents a risk to public safety.”
The OES responded by facilitating discussions between local entities to provide the necessary assistance, noting that the state lacks the authority to approve mutual aid in such situations unless specifically requested. The Probation Department has requested 150 peace officers to provide supervision for adult and juvenile probationers for a one-year period. Under the proposal, the department would offer an armed liaison from Special Enforcement Operations to assist with compliance checks, while probation officers would handle data collection and sharing. Participating police agencies would perform checks and make arrests within their jurisdictions, with reimbursement provided for the time spent on compliance checks.
The staffing issues stem from the reassignment of probation officers to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, which has faced management and operational challenges since its reopening in 2023. The facility has been plagued by short-staffing and allegations of violence among detained minors. In October, the state Board of State and Community Corrections deemed the facility unsuitable to house juveniles and ordered it to correct its staffing issues or close. Despite the order, the facility has remained open, citing a lack of alternative housing options for the minors.
In 2024, the Probation Department dismissed more than a dozen top officials following complaints of violence and injuries in county juvenile facilities. Additionally, 66 sworn probation officers were placed on leave for various alleged offenses, including some related to youth-on-youth violence at Los Padrinos. Nearly 40 officers faced accusations of general misconduct, encompassing excessive force, child endangerment or abuse, possession of contraband, and negligent supervision.
Eduardo Mundo, chair of the county Probation Oversight Commission and a former probation supervisor, expressed skepticism about the likelihood of assistance from the sheriff’s department and local police agencies. He highlighted the department’s internal challenges, stating, “It’s tough enough to be in law enforcement and protect yourself within your own agency. Now you’re stepping into a house that is really dysfunctional.”
The department’s staffing crisis has raised concerns about the supervision of high-risk offenders in the community. Mundo emphasized the potential public safety implications, particularly regarding sexual offenders who may not receive adequate supervision due to the deployment of officers to juvenile facilities. He remarked, “The most worrisome are sexual offenders. They’re not being visited because of the deployment. I’ve seen the department at its worst and it’s never been like this.”
