30 Los Angeles County Probation Officers Indicted Over Staged Juvenile Hall 'Gladiator Fights'

Indictments allege officers planned and facilitated nearly 70 fights among detained youth, leading to widespread abuse and injuries.

A grand jury indicted 30 Los Angeles County probation officers for organizing and enabling violent 'gladiator fights' among juveniles at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall between July and December 2023.
The California Department of Justice investigation uncovered 69 orchestrated fights involving 143 youth aged 12 to 18, with officers allegedly encouraging the violence and failing to intervene.
Two officers, Shawn Smyles and Taneha Brooks, are accused of instructing staff to remain silent and actively covering up injuries, including a case where a youth sustained a broken nose and traumatic brain injury.
The Los Angeles County Probation Department placed all implicated officers on unpaid leave and stated its commitment to accountability and systemic reform within its facilities.
The incidents have intensified scrutiny of Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, which has faced closure orders over unsafe conditions and chronic understaffing, raising broader concerns about the county’s juvenile justice system.