LA County Pleads for Help as It Struggles to Supervise ‘High-Risk’ Probationers
The Los Angeles County Probation Department is asking local law enforcement agencies to help monitor dangerous probationers, admitting that it can no longer handle the job alone. The department’s chief, Guillermo Viera Rosa, sent out an urgent request in December, asking the LA County Sheriff’s Department and over 45 city police departments to step in and take over crucial supervision duties.
This plea for help comes after a major staffing shake-up. In an effort to fix severe understaffing at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, the department reassigned most of its field officers to work inside the troubled facility. While this move aimed to improve conditions for incarcerated youth, it left a major gap in supervising probationers—many of whom have violent criminal records, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and gang-related offenses.
Why This Is a Security Concern
By redirecting officers to Los Padrinos, the department has left the community at risk. Probationers are individuals who have been convicted of crimes but were released under strict supervision instead of serving full prison sentences. Without proper oversight, they can easily reoffend. A clear example of what happens when probationers aren’t monitored properly occurred in 2022, when Justin Flores, a convicted gang member on probation, murdered two El Monte police officers before taking his own life. A later investigation revealed that probation officers had ignored multiple warnings that Flores was carrying a gun, using drugs, and becoming violent. Had officers acted on those warnings, those officers might still be alive.
Now, LA County is facing a similar crisis. With field officers reassigned to the juvenile hall, the supervision of high-risk probationers is at an all-time low. Viera Rosa’s request seeks the equivalent of 150 police officers to conduct "compliance checks"—visits to ensure probationers are following their release conditions. The county is even offering financial incentives to law enforcement agencies willing to participate, reimbursing them for every hour spent on these checks.
Pushback from Law Enforcement
Despite the incentives, getting police departments to commit may be difficult. Eduardo Mundo, chair of the LA County Probation Oversight Commission, believes agencies will be reluctant to help. Police departments across the country are struggling with staffing shortages of their own, making it unlikely that they’ll divert officers to fill in for probation staff.
“I would be surprised if they get any takers,” Mundo said. “LASD can barely field itself. All of these agencies are short.”
Mundo also criticized Viera Rosa’s decision to remove field officers, arguing that the department made things worse by placing probation officers who had medical or work restrictions on mandatory leave instead of letting them stay in the field.
“They’re digging their hole deeper,” he said. “Just let the officers who are on restrictions come back.”
A System on the Brink
The staffing crisis extends beyond probationers—it’s also threatening Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall itself. The facility, which has been out of compliance with state regulations for months, was supposed to close in December. However, county officials have kept it open, arguing they have no other place to send the youth offenders—some of whom are charged with serious crimes like murder.
To keep Los Padrinos running, LA County took an extreme step in December by enacting emergency powers, usually reserved for natural disasters. This allowed the county to speed up the hiring and reassignment of staff, even pulling in non-sworn county employees to fill administrative roles so that more probation officers could be reassigned.
Judge Miguel Espinoza, who is overseeing the case, has repeatedly delayed making a final decision on whether to shut down Los Padrinos, but time is running out. The facility is set for another inspection on February 3, and if it fails again, the judge may be forced to order its closure—further straining the already overwhelmed probation system.
What Happens Next?
LA County’s probation system is at a breaking point. If the request for law enforcement assistance goes unanswered, the lack of supervision could lead to more cases like that of Justin Flores, with tragic consequences for both the public and law enforcement. Meanwhile, the fate of Los Padrinos hangs in the balance, with another inspection and a crucial court hearing set for mid-February.
With the county struggling to juggle both probation supervision and juvenile detention, the question remains: can LA County fix its broken system before another tragedy occurs?
