Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall 'Gladiator Fights'

Thirty detention services officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, United States — California, have been charged with child endangerment and abuse, conspiracy, and battery. United States — California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the indictment, stating that officers allegedly allowed and encouraged 'gladiator fights' among youths aged 12 to 18 between July and December 2023. The investigation began after a video of one of the fights was leaked in January 2024, showing officers watching without intervening, and in some cases, laughing or shaking hands with participants. Specific officers, including Shawn Smiles, Taneha Brooks, and Nancy Sostre, are named in the indictment for their alleged roles in facilitating these fights and instructing new staff not to report them. The United States — Los Angeles County, California Probation Department, which operates Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, has placed all charged officers on unpaid leave and expressed support for the Attorney General's investigation, acknowledging the need for cultural change within the department. The facility has faced ongoing operational issues, violence, and staffing shortages, with state regulators previously deeming it 'unsuitable'.