BOARD ADVANCES PLAN TO STRENGTHEN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN COUNTY YOUTH JUSTICE FACILITIES
April 7, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors advanced a motion introduced by Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Janice Hahn to implement the County’s vision for the Department of Youth Development (DYD), marking a significant step toward transforming how services are delivered to young people in County care.
The motion directs DYD to take the lead role in overseeing programming and care coordination in custodial halls and camps for youth. This means transitioning certain critical, rehabilitativeresponsibilities from the Probation Department to the Department of Youth Development and creating formal agreements across County departments to improve access to services, information sharing, and accountability.
“This marks a significant step forward for Los Angeles County—moving from vision to action on our Youth Justice Reimagined commitment to put youth development at the center of our juvenile justice system,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “The Department of Youth Development is ready to lead, and this moment calls for urgency and accountability. By further empowering DYD, we are ensuring every young person in our care is met with opportunity, investment, and a real chance to thrive.”
“We owe the youth in our care the mental health and life skills programs that will help them heal and succeed once they return home, and our Department of Youth Development is better equipped to provide that at this time. I’m grateful to them and to our Probation Department for this collaborative effort that puts the needs of our youth first and foremost,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn.
“I want to thank Supervisors Horvath and Hahn for their bold leadership in moving us toward a system that puts the developmental needs of our youth at the forefront,” said Department of Youth Development Director David J. Carroll. “By empowering DYD to lead evidence-informed programming in these facilities, LA County will reduce idleness, improve belonging and strengthen collaborative care for justice-involved youth.”
Since its creation, DYD has expanded diversion programs, strengthened partnerships with community-based organizations, and increased youth engagement across the County. Data shows significantly lower rates of reoffending among youth participating in these programs compared to those in the traditional system.
This motion requires detailed implementation plans, identifies staffing and funding needs, and sets in motion new systems to track performance and outcomes across facilities.
Supervisor Horvath also advanced a separate motion to strengthen coordination, improve service delivery, and fully deploy existing resources to support probation and foster youth impacted by human trafficking.
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