STATEMENT: Attorney General Bonta Asks Court to Place Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls in Receivership

LOS ANGELES - Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) released a statement following the announcement that Attorney General Bonta asked the Los Angeles County Superior Court to place Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls into a receivership.

“Today is a historic day in the ongoing battle to bring justice for our incarcerated youth in Los Angeles,” said Senator Caroline Menjivar. “In Sacramento, I have been sounding the alarm on this public safety crisis occurring in my backyard for years. I’ve held oversight hearings and introduced legislation to change the business-as-usual approach that holds back youth from disenfranchised backgrounds, and condemns them to a cycle of incarceration without the tools needed to forge a better path. I'm grateful for the Attorney General’s decisive action, but whether or not a Receiver is appointed by the courts, no change will happen under the status quo. Our current punitive system requires action beyond a Receiver's purview in order to meet the gravity of this moment. We must protect our youth by building accountability into a system where this currently does not exist. At the state level, I will continue prioritizing policy and working with stakeholders, so one day we can bring enduring solutions that protect our youth and truly serve public safety through effective rehabilitation and reentry programs.”

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