Central Juvenile Hall on Eastlake Avenue

Eastlake/ Central Juvenile Hall is located directly behind
Eastlake Juvenile Court.
Copyright 2004 -2010

The above photo is how Central Juvenile Court
looked prior to the new construction that finished in 2004. Althought it was named Central Juvenile Court, most people who worked in the juvenile court system simply called it Eastlake because of its location on Eastlake Avenue. When renovation and new construction was completed, the court was no longer called Central Juvenile Court but instead Eastlake Juvenile Court.
Copyright 2001-2010

Central Juvenile Hall on Eastlake Avenue

Central Juvenile Hall also known as "Eastlake" was the first juvenile detention facility established in 1912. Central Juvenile hall has a constant problem with overcrowding. In 1999, the Los Angeles County Grand Jury was very critical of Central Juvenile Hall and stated," We were both surprised and dismayed to see the apparent substandard condition of this facility." The grand jury reported that many of the day rooms had been converted to dormitories and several of the medical infirmary rooms where children are supposed to receive medical attention were closed because of earthquake damage and unsafe conditons. Because the grandjury found asbestos present, it is only logical to conclude that both juvenile hall staff and the children housed there were exposed to the deadly asbestos. In addition, the plumbing and steam sysems were found to be faulty and outdated. Six years later in 2004, construction and renovation has been done to upgrade the facilities. Central Juvenile Hall is one of three juvenile hall facilities in Los Angeles County. The juvenile hall is located directly behind Eastlake Juvenile Court.

Visiting Rules at Central Juvenile Hall

Central Juvenile hall only allows parents or legal guardians to visit. Visitation is on Saturdays & Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On the day your child has court, the you may visit your child from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Parents will not be allowed to visit their child unless they bring proper identification such as a California Drivers License, or California Identification card or some other acceptable form of identification. There is a dress code. Visitors cannot wear sexy revealing clothes. Tight fitting clothes for women is not allowed. No short skirts, no halter tops, low cut tops or clothes with gang words or signs. No sandals or slippers. Shoes is required at all times. Visitors cannot bring back packs, medicine, pagers, cell phones, cigaretes, food or drinks, purses or handbags and radios.

Brothers, sisters and other family members may visit if the request is approved and arranged through your childs probation officer or unit supervisor. They may only visit one time. The Juvenile Court Judges will generally not approve of any special visits other than the two parents of the minors. The courts may change a visitor in lieu of a parent. The best way to arrange a special visit is to contact your chhilds probation officer or unit supervisor.

Limitation on amount of Paper & Envelopes your child is allowed to possess at Central Juvenile Hall

Your child is only allowed 25 sheets of white or yellow paper, and 10 envelopes only. Central Juvenile Hall staff will provide a pencil and put stamps on the mail.

Limitation on number of photographs your child is allowed to possess at Central Juvenile Hall

Often times, parents, family members and others will send photographs to your child. Your child is not allowed more than five photos or pictures. The pictures should not show nude women, sex, drugs, weapons or gangs. They must be mailed and cannot be brought during visits.

Limitation on Religious items your child is allowed to possess at Central Juvenile Hall

Telephone use at Central Juvenile Hall

3. There is no right to privacy when using the telephone except when call his or her lawyer.

4. The Central Juvenile Hall staff will allow your child to use a County line to call his or her Deputy Probation Officer or lawyer.

Daily Schedule at Central "Eastlake" Juvenile Hall

Special Handlng Unit (SHU) at Central Juvenile Hall

If your child violates any of the Central Juvenile Hall rules, he or she may be sent to the Special Handling Unit (SHU). He or she can be kept in the SHU until he or she is ready to return to his or her unit.

All Clergy visits must be approved by the Chaplan's Office. The phone numbers are (562) 940-8627, (323) 383-7032, (818) 367-8938 -24 hours exchange.

Ms. Mercedes Cerros is in charge of coordinating all testing schedules for children housed at Central Juvenile Hall, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and Sylmar Juvenile Hall as well as all probation camps. Ms. Cerros can be reached at (562) 401-5740.

After receiving numerous complaints by children, lawyers, and community leaders, the United States Attorney Generals Office initated an investigation at all Los Padrinos, Central and Sylmar Juvenile Hall. A special prosecutor and a team of experts assigned to the case visited Central Juvenile Hall in 2001 and found the facility "violated the constitutional and federal statutory rights of the youth residents."

The Department of Justice found that Juvenile Hall staff had been using Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray "excessively," and in situations where "such use of force were not necessary." This includes spraying handcuffed children, children with asthma, pregrant girls, suicidal children and children with special mental health needs.

It is estimated that approximately 50% of the children housed at Central Juvenile Hall have mental health issues. However, the majority of those who have such issues no not get any mental health care. Approximately 75% of those who have mental health issues receive no such help at Central Juvenile Hall.

One thousand Los Angeles County Probation Officers failed to show up to work on September 27, 2005 to protest what they contend are dangerous working conditions and inadequate staffing at Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls and Camps. The Los Angeles County Probation Officers Union has sued the county alleging that the county's failure to meet minimum stated mandated staffing ratios has led to higher assaults at these juvenile detention facilities.

LA County Female Juvenile Probation Employee receives four years prison for having sex with three detained minors at Central Juvenile Hall

On January 15, 2009, Kimberly Hald, age 35 was sentenced to four years state prison for having sex with three minors detained at Central Juvenile Hall. Hald a former LA County Juvenile Probation Department employee was facing 16 criminal counts of sexual misconduct that allegedly occurred at Central Juvenile Hall on Eastlake Avenue.

LAPD Detective Jeff Allen stated there were three teenage victims involved. The Los Angeles District Attorneys Office filed a criminal complaint, case number BA 34235401, in court alleging Hald with numerous felonies including unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation of a confined consenting adult, oral copulation of a person under 18, oral copulation under color of authority, distributing harmful matter to a minor, contacting a minor for a sexual offense knowing that he was under 18, and touching one of the boy's private parts while he was restrained.

She was arrested on June 25, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. by LAPD Officers from the 77th Street Division. She appeared in court on July 10, 2008 for her arraignment and had her case continued to July 30, 2008. That court appearance continued to September 3, 2008 and then to November 2008 at the Criminal Courts Building located at 210 West Temple Street.

Hald pleaded no contest in November 2008 to five felony counts including oral copulation with a minor under the age of 18, sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 18 and sexual and sexual activity with a confined consenting adult and two felony counts of contact with a minor for a sexual offense said Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Natalie Adomian with the Justice System Integrity Division. She was sentenced by Commissioner Henry hall to four years states prision for sexually assaulting three male juvenile detainees. She was also ordered to register as a sex offender. On February 4, 2009, she was transferred to Frontera California Institute for Women Prison in Corona.

The Los Angeles Times Molly Hennessey -Fiske reported on February 26, 2010 that the Los Angeles Commission for Children and Families is calling for an audit of the county's probation ombudsman and the grievance process for youths detained at juvenile halls such as Eastlake Juvenile Hall and probation camps.

It was reported that the phone number for the departments ombdusman listed on signs in juvenile halls and in juvenile camps were rendered inoperable. Probation officals stated that the phone number was mistakenly rendered inoperable during a cost cutting review of unused phone lines because records showed the ombudsman never used it to to make outside calls.

LAW ENFORCEMENT DETAINED PETITION FILING DEADLINE CHART FOR FELONIES, WIC 777, 778

If you are from a law enforcement agency or your child is detained, the following is the deadlines applicable to detained minors:

Date and Time of Arrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Petition Due to DA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Court Date

Sunday 12:01 AM to 12:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday

Monday 12:01 AM to 12:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tuesday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday

Monday 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wednesday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday

Tuesday 12:01 AM to 12:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thursday

Tuesday 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday

Wednesday 12:01 AM to 12:00 PM . . . . . . . . . Thursday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday

Wednesday 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM . . . . . . . . . Friday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday

Thursday 12:01 AM to 12:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . . .Friday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday

Thursday 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday

Friday 12:01 AM to 12:00 PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday

Friday 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wednesday

Saturday 12:01 AM to 12:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday 10:00 AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wednesday

Ms. Garcia was formerly a director at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall where she was the Juvenile Hall Liason concerning Use of Force, Mental Health, Religous Servies, Gender Spefic, Hearing Impaired, Investations, and Operation Read. While at Los Padrinos she dealth with officials from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division who have been monitoring Central, Sylmar and Los Padrinos Juvenile Halls for civil rights violations. Her experience and background led her to become Superintendent of Central Juvenile Hall.

She was recently promoted to Detention Services Bureau Chief effective April 1, 2009. She now oversees all Juvenile Halls and Camps thru out Los Angeles County.

Mr. Rogers was Superintendent at Sylmar Juvenile Hall before coming to Central Juvenile Hall effective April 1, 2009. His secretary is Daisy Pau.

Ms. Heath serves as second in command at Central Juvenile Hall. She also supervises all the directors.

In addition to her duties as Assistant Superintendent of Central Juvenile Hall, Ms. heath is the Division I Director and oversees AM Officer of the Day Rodney Gritney, PM Officer fo the Dsay Rodney Fellows, Relief Officer of the Day , B/G R Med.M Supervisor Jon Marshall, and Amin Supervisor John Atkinson. Her secretary is Shirley Fraser.

Michael Clemons is in charge of overseeing Boys SHU Supervisor Phebe Walker, Girls SHU Supervisor Leon Bruce, EF Supervisor Bobby Hamilton, GH Supervisor Lawrence Lycan and IIU & RS Supervisor Norm Johnson. His secretary is Shari Everhart.

Mr. Crowe is in charge of overseeing B/G C, & MOU Supervisor Miguel Porter, J & O Supervisor Lyndon Soriano, and LK Supervisor Tony Kelley. His secretary is Loosiek Hairapetian.

Director Lydia Fernand& CD Supervisor Joseph Sillis, and M/N Supervisor M. Freeman. Her secretary is Angineh Meserkhani.

Director Anthony Smith oversees 10/6 Shift Officer of the Day Willie Chapman, and 10/6 Shiewft Officer of the Day S.Shambulia, and 10/6 Officer of the Day Dora Velarde.

Ms. Wiliams is in charge of dealing with the U.S. Department of Justice, preparing for inspections, and helping make sure the Juvenile Hall is in compliance with state and federal laws. She oversees DOJ Supervisor Charles Dunn and DOJ Supervisor F. Vasquez.

Director Ferguson overses Office Manager SC Felica Oliver, AM Clerical Supervisor STC Joanne Collins, PM Clerical Supervisor STC Yolando Clarvoe, Business Supervisor Joanne Collins, Perperty RM Lead Betty Ayala, Laudnry Lead R. Garcia, Special Project Lead Lui Hernanez, Warehouse Lead J. Crawford. His secretary is Debanice Hoy.

While children are in custody at Central Juvenile Hall, they attend 300 minutes of schooling each day. They receive one unit of credit for every 16 days they are in school. They receive two units for every 32 days in school. They receive three units for every 48 days they are in school. They receive 4 units for every 64 days they are in school and 5 units for every 80 days they are in school. Students can earn 90 days credit at Central Juvenile Hall instead of 60 or 70 at a regular school. Students must be in class to earn the credits. When transfering credits, the school must fax a request for school transcripts to Central Juvenile Hall. If the student is 18 years or older, he or she can make the request him or herself for the transcripts.

Students who (1) show high ability and is presently (2) 17 years of age and (3) behind in credits may request to take the GED.

There are monthly teacher meetings on the second Sunday of the month beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the Parent Resource Center. Principal Dr. Denise Miranda encourages all parents to participate.

The school teachers at Eastlake Juvenile Hall do reward good behavior. If your child is performing well at school in Eastlake Juvenile Hall, his or her school teacher will often give your child a good gram. Anything positive about your child should certainly be brought to the Eastlake Juvenile Court's attention. This gram is generally personally signed by your child's teacher.

Maida DeArmas is the school liason at Eastlake Juvenile Court. Her number is (213) 226-8500. Ms. DeArmas' job is to help the Eastlake Juvenile Court Judges verify attendance and school grades for children appearing before the court. Ms. DeArmas is very helpful for all attorneys appearing before the court. For students with unexcused absences and excessive tardies, the Eastlake Juvenile Deputy District Attorney can decide to set a probation violation hearing. The Eastlake Juvenile Court Judges and Eastlake Juvenile Court Commissioners and Referees place a very high importance on children attending school. For many children with delinquent cases, it possibly means the only way a child can feel hope to succeed in life. For children with very poor grades, the parents should consider hiring a private tutor three times a week, and to write to their child's school principal requesting an IEP assessment be done.

A childs progress in school can greatly affect the outcome of his or her Eastlake Juvenile Law case. Many California Juvenile Law Judges and Juvenile Deputy District Attorneys erroneously assume poor academic performance is caused by lack of effort by the child. Although that may be true with some children, more often than not, many students have a learning disability that will affect the childs grades. If your child has a learning disability, your child should not be punished for not getting the help he or she needs.

The burden, however, rests with the parents to requests the IEP assessment be done in writing to the principal. You can request a comprehensive assessment for special education services for your child under P.L. 94-142. Furthermore, your child can be assessed for eligibility and services under Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. If your child is not making adequate educational progress, your child can be eligible for reasonable accomodations and special education services under Section 504. Your request for services should be made in writing.

In accordance with Sections 56321 (a) of the California Education Code, the School District will respond to this request within 15 calender days by forwarding to you an asssessment plan for your approval. Once the assessment is received by the School District with your approval, the assessment will commence and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting will be convened within 50 calender days not counting school vacation days in excess of five days.

Reserve your seat for this seminar by calling City of Glendale, Marco Tejadilla at (818) 548-2798

Mr. Kita has successfully handled more than 1000 juvenile cases. See our winning track record We provide effective juvenile defense. If your chilld is housed at Central Juvenile Hall, call former Juvenile Deputy District Attorney George Kita for a free consultation at (626) 975-2080.