LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement on the reported death of a teen in LA County’s Juvenile Hall. 

“I want to extend my deepest condolences to all those impacted by this tragic loss of life. This is the heartbreaking manifestation of the crisis within our juvenile justice system. From preventing drugs from entering our system to limited staffing that impacts the safety of the young people in our juvenile halls and the women and men that work there – we must contend with every contributing factor to this crisis to prevent any more lives from being taken. It is inexcusable for a young person to die of an overdose within the care and custody of Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls.  

I am in full support of a thorough investigation of this tragedy that is followed by swift and substantive action from the Probation Department to ensure that the young people in its care are provided with the appropriate programs, services, as well as stronger measures to prevent harm.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — In an effort to expand proven solutions in breaking the cycle between incarceration and homelessness – that acutely impacts people with severe mental illness in the Los Angeles County jail system, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion presented by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Lindsey P. Horvath that calls for sustainably increasing the number of beds within the Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) Housing. The motion directs the Chief Executive Office in collaboration with ODR to create a timeline and list of potential funding resources available in Fiscal Year of 2024-25 to get to a minimum of 1,000 slots for appropriate care and permanent housing that will be provided by ODR.

“The crisis in our jail system requires sustainable investments in the strategies we know are working. Developing a funding roadmap is crucial in ensuring County-led solutions like the Office of Diversion and Reentry Housing have the ability to add housing and support services to accommodate new clients who are best served in the community and not in our jails” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District.

“Our Board’s commitment to a Care First, Jails Last vision for Los Angeles County means we must quickly expand community-based treatment, services, and housing to safely divert individuals who are ready at every possible juncture from the criminal justice system,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District. “I am proud to join Supervisor Mitchell on this action to responsibly and expeditiously expand the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, which is an essential component of the system of care the County needs to serve our most vulnerable residents. Both ODR’s community-based competency restoration work, as well as its clinical diversion program, continue to receive well-deserved praise from the Courts, community stakeholders, and justice reform advocates.” 

LA County has the largest jail population in the world with close to 14,000 people incarcerated. Last year, it was reported that nearly 39 percent of the people in County jails were suffering from severe mental health needs. In 2015, the Board of Supervisors created ODR to reduce the number of people incarcerated in County jails with mental health and/or substance abuse use disorders who are at risk of homelessness. Several studies have shown that ODR’s programming has the ability to successfully stabilize individuals and equip them with the tools necessary to rejoin their communities.

To read the full motion, click here.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell joined Nicole Avant, daughter of the late and prolific philanthropist, Jacqueline Avant, the MLK Health and Wellness Community Development Corporation and over 100 special guests to commemorate the name unveiling for the Jacqueline Avant Children & Family Center (The Center) located in the Watts-Willowbrook community.

The three-story and 50,000 sq. ft. Center will serve as a national model for programs that address the complex needs of at-risk children struggling with trauma, health, and mental health problems. The first floor is now open, and the second floor will open to the community this summer. The third floor will be finished by the end of this year.

“It was an honor to join the Avant family for this special day. I cannot think of a better way to uplift Jacqueline Avant’s legacy. She dedicated her life to supporting and investing in a brighter future for the children of South LA,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District. “The Jacqueline Avant Children & Family Center is a welcomed community asset to the Second District that furthers our commitment to support children and families in accessing a multitude of health and mental health resources.”

“My family and I are thrilled and honored to celebrate the unveiling of the Jacqueline Avant Children and Family Center,” said Nicole Avant. “For over 50 years, my mom was dedicated to the mental, physical, and spiritual health of the children and families in South Los Angeles and was on a mission to improve the quality of life for those less fortunate. This new state of the art facility is evidence that my mother’s vision and her commitment to serving others has come to fruition and nothing makes me prouder.”

The County of Los Angeles invested $55 million to build the new Center that will serve thousands of children and teens, including many who are entering or involved with the County’s foster care system.

Thanks to the generosity of friends and supporters of Jacqueline Avant, and in partnership with the MLK Health and Wellness Community Development Corporation, furniture, electronics, artwork, books, and equipment were purchased to support the operations of the first floor Pediatric Clinic, and additional funds have been dedicated to support programming, a playground and wrap-around services for the youth served at The Center.

“We have been awed by the outpouring of generosity among Jacqueline Avant’s closest friends and supporters,” said Linda Griego, Founder of the MLK Health and Wellness Community Development Corporation. “The MLK CDC Board of Directors are honored to partner with Supervisor Mitchell and the County of Los Angeles to ensure that Jacqueline Avant’s dedication to uplifting the lives of the most vulnerable children and young people in South Los Angeles can continue within the building that now celebrates her contributions and will forever uphold her legacy.”

The Center will also house an Autism Wellness Center run by the Special Needs Network and a federally qualified health clinic operated by St. John Well Child Center on the second floor. On the third floor, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health will operate a crisis stabilization unit for children ages 3-12 that will be the first in the County to serve this population.

To view photos from the event, click here.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — In response to the crisis in our juvenile halls and Los Angeles County’s commitment to Care First Jails Last, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath to create a structured release system that is aligned with best practices for effectively reunifying young people with their community.  The motion calls on the Probation Department and its partners to proactively identify young people for early release or to be transferred to the least restrictive placement possible that most appropriately meets their needs.

“The pandemic has shown us that we can successfully release young people who can be safely moved to more developmentally appropriate placements that are better suited for preparing them to reunify with their community. This motion builds on previous work by creating and implementing a plan for depopulating our juvenile halls and getting young people into the least restrictive placements that will ultimately serve them and our County better,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District.

“This motion is making good on our Care First, Jails Last vision by supporting young people who are ready to be released back into school and community and ensuring that each young person entrusted to the County’s justice system has a carefully crafted plan outlining the support needed for their release,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District. “Young people who are in their critical years of development need and deserve improved coordination between the justice system, courts, and attorneys so that everyone is working together in their best interest without delay.” 

The operations of the County’s juvenile halls have a long history of failing to meet basic standards of care for young people. The Probation Department (Department) is required to achieve full compliance with Board of State and Community Corrections regulations by mid-June or risk being ordered to vacate the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall (BJNJH) and Central Juvenile Hall (CJH). Depopulation of the juvenile halls would lower the number of staff required to work at BJNJH and CJH, helping to address the BSCC-compliance issue of insufficient staffing (due to a low percentage of Probation staff showing up to work) in the halls. Failure to achieve full compliance may result in young people in the Department’s care to receive out-of-county placements and transfers to the adult system.

Today’s motion calls for the need to urgently depopulate the juvenile hall facilities to ensure the safety and overall well-being of young people in the custody of the Probation Department. The motion directs the Chief Probation Officer, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and departments to identify young people who are appropriate candidates for safe and early release from the Probation’s Department camps and halls.

To read the full motion, click here.