SUPERVISORS ORDER REVIEW OF PROBATION DEPARTMENT'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNITS

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2010                                                                                                  Contact:         Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                             James Bolden 213-200-5314

 

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ORDER REVIEW OF PROBATION DEPARTMENT’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNITS

LOS ANGELES – At the request of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas the Board of Supervisors today directed the County’s Office of Independent Review (OIR) to ensure that a comprehensive review be conducted of procedures needed to prevent incidents of abuse between department personnel and the minors under their care.

Today’s motion, approved by the Board, continues Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ efforts to restore public confidence and ensure the safety of youth under the custody of the County’s Probation Department.

Last week, he hosted a community forum at his Exposition Park field that featured Interim Probation Chief Cal Remington and focused on many of the problems facing the department. The event was attended by a standing-room-only crowd of about 150 people.

Allegations of inappropriate contact between Probation Department employees and the juveniles under their responsibility were recently investigated by the department’s “Child Abuse Special Investigations Unit” and the Internal Affairs Unit.  The OIR is now charged with conducting an investigation of the manner in which these investigations are conducted. 

“The fairness and accuracy of these investigations is critical to public confidence in the Probation Department; the protection, health and safety of the juveniles under the custody of the Department; and the credibility of the CASIU and IAU, and the primary investigation units,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said.

“However, the CEO’s report omitted a review of the protocols necessary to prevent future incidents of abuse between minors and Probation personnel.  Moreover, any final report prepared by OIR must be a written report.” 

The Supervisor urged the OIR to work with the Acting Chief Probation Officer, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer and County Counsel, to return with a written report within 60 days after the date the incoming Chief Probation Officer assumes his responsibilities.

 

“The Board of Supervisors has sent a clear message that physical and sexual abuse in the County’s probation camps will not be tolerated,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said.

“We must also seek a permanent solution to what is allegedly a pattern of behavior that has become widespread within the Probation Dept. Along with treating the symptoms, we must identify and cure the disease.”

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