Juvenile Offenders to Be Housed in Residential Neighborhoods, LA Residents Express Concern

At a community meeting, La Verne Mayor Tim Hepburn and Councilwoman Robin Carder, along with over 200 local residents, expressed their opposition to LA County's decision to house juvenile offenders in residential neighborhoods, in La Verne, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2021. Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times

LAVERNE, Calif.—California state juvenile detention centers are planning to transfer young offenders under age 25, convicted of murder or other felonies, to juvenile general probation facilities located in residential areas. Offenders will be sent to county facilities in accordance with mandatory instructions from the California State government. This move has triggered strong backlash from local communities.

Gov. Gavin Newson signed Senate Bill 823 into law on Sept. 30, 2020. The bill, also known as DJJ Realignment Implementation, called for closure of California’s youth correction system, the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). By July 2023, two state juvenile detention centers in California will permanently close their doors. The responsibility for housing and managing juvenile offenders held for violent offenses will gradually be transferred to local jurisdictions.