LA County To Build State-Of-The-Art Residence For Juvenile Offenders
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Los Angeles County has accepted $28 million in state funding to build a state-of-the-art residence for juvenile offenders.
Probation officials say that a move away from dormitory-style housing common in county juvenile camps and toward a more therapeutic environment is necessary to reduce juvenile offenders repeating criminal behavior.
Current probation facilities fall short of minimum standards, said Carol Biondi of the Los Angeles County Commission for Children and Families. She has been working with the Probation Department to develop a model of best practices for the county's Camp Gonzales.
The facility would consist of small cottage units to allow more interaction between juvenile offenders and their families, staff, therapists and other treatment providers. The new facility would serve as a model for future camp renovations, according Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky.
The original site of the new facility was Camp Gonzalez in Calabasas, 1301 N. Las Virgines Road. The board may choose to change the site before construction begins.
Under the agreement with the state, the county is required to come up with some matching funds and transfer title for the land underlying the facility to the state. Officials and county counsel struggled to understand the ramifications of approving the project today if the state later pulled their commitment.
Ultimately, the supervisors determined that they would not be obligated to pay out county funds or transfer title until they were assured of state funding. They voted 4-1 to accept the grant, with Supervisor Michael Antonovich voting against.
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