News Update

Santa Clarita sues L.A. County over juvenile camp decision

The city of Santa Clarita sued Los Angeles County on Moday over the county Board of Supervisors’ March 15 decision to house young people involved in the juvenile justice system in a facility within city limits called Camp Scott. The city’s lawsuit claims the site is unsuitable to serve as a permanent facility given its location in an area prone to environmental hazards.

“Camp Scott is located in a severe fire hazard area on a road with only one way in and one way out,” Laurene Weste, Santa Clarita mayor, said last month. “It is not a safe or suitable location for this use.”

Over the last year, Santa Clarita residents have also cited safety concerns given Camp Scott’s proximity to residential neighborhoods and the intention to house young people adjudicated for serious crimes.

Senate Bill 823, signed into law in 2020, requires the state’s youth prisons to shut down by June 30, 2023, and it has stopped allowing counties to send most youth to the state Division of Juvenile Justice as of last year.

Currently, the state’s 58 counties must each designate a local facility for the incarceration of young people who, prior to this year, would have been sent to a state youth prison. Until SB 823, the system operated like this: Young people charged with lower-level crimes remained in county facilities. Those found guilty of serious or violent offenses were typically transferred to a state facility. A serious or violent offense could include burglary, assault, homicide and other crimes.

The Office of Youth and Community Restoration was formed by SB 823 to lead the transition from state youth prisons to county juvenile facilities, and they are currently reviewing plans submitted by each county — which includes the L.A. County plan that Santa Clarita sued over on Monday.