“Substandard condition”. That’s how the Los Angeles County Grand Jury described Central Juvenile Hall in 1999. Today, we’re standing before a place with a long and complex history. This is Central Juvenile Hall, also known as Eastlake Juvenile Hall. It was the first juvenile detention facility in Los Angeles County. Central Juvenile Hall was established in 1912. It sits on over twenty acres in Lincoln Heights.
Let’s dive into Central Juvenile Hall’s past. The facility has twenty-four buildings. These include living units, infirmaries, and school buildings. There are also gyms, kitchen facilities, a chapel, and mechanical areas. Central Juvenile Hall underwent major renovations in 2004.
Before its closure in 2023, Central Juvenile Hall housed youths awaiting court proceedings. After court, children might be released to parents. They could be put in foster care or a camp program. In extreme cases, they were sent to the California Youth Authority.
Life inside Central Juvenile Hall wasn’t always easy. In 2014, the Grand Jury criticized the hall’s conditions. They even proposed tearing it down. Former inmates have recalled being placed in solitary confinement.
Despite the challenges, programs aimed to help the youth. Sister Janet Harris cofounded InsideOUT Writers in 1997. This organization used creative writing. It encouraged personal growth. Mark Salzman taught writing there. He wrote a book about his experience at Central Juvenile Hall. In 2011, InsideOUT Writers partnered with the Los Angeles Opera. Together they performed stories written by incarcerated youths.
In 2012, RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan spoke to teen fathers. UpRising Yoga also held yoga classes for incarcerated youth at Central Juvenile Hall.
Central Juvenile Hall faced scrutiny over its conditions. In 2001, the U.S. Department of Justice found constitutional rights violations. These included excessive use of pepper spray. Handcuffed children and pregnant girls were among those sprayed. Mental health needs were also largely unmet. About half the children had mental health issues. Around 75% received no mental health care.
In 2005, understaffing led to a probation officers’ protest. One thousand officers didn’t show up for work. They cited dangerous working conditions. In 2009, a former probation employee received a four-year prison sentence. She had sexual relations with three detained minors at Central Juvenile Hall.
Visiting Central Juvenile Hall had strict rules. Only parents or legal guardians were allowed. Visitors had to bring proper identification. A dress code was enforced. Revealing clothes were prohibited. There were limits on what children could possess. This included paper, photos, and religious items.
Central Juvenile Hall closed on July 13, 2023. All juvenile inmates were moved to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey.
Today, Central Juvenile Hall stands as a reminder. It represents a complex chapter in Los Angeles County’s history. It’s a story of challenges. It’s also a story of efforts to rehabilitate and support troubled youth.