So apparently, 30 officers have recently been indicted for organizing these crazy ‘gladiator’-style fights among the detainees at Los Padrinos Juvenile Prison. I mean, seriously, what were they thinking?
This is a serious issue, and it’s not something to take lightly. These officers were supposed to be responsible for the safety and well-being of these kids, and instead, they were just fueling the fire and putting their lives at risk. It’s outrageous.
Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the indictment against the officers, with more than 140 victims between the ages of 12 and 18 believed to have been involved.
Officials in The Golden State started an investigation after footage emerged of a fight inside the facility last January.
The clip, first reported on by the LA Times, shows probation officers standing by as a group of six young men beat a 17-year-old.
The horrifying clip shows the teen taking punches and kicks from the gang, inside what was described as a ‘day room’, the youths all appear to be eating breakfast.
Officers could be seen laughing and shaking hands with some of the attackers in the horrifying clip.
Bonta said that as investigators started to investigate they managed to uncover ‘striking similarities’ between the leaked clip and other incidents.
In total, his office reviewed footage and found 69 fights that had taken place between 143 youths in the first six months of it opening in July 2023.
In a statement, Bonta said: ‘Officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall have a duty to ensure the safety and well-being of those under their care.
‘Instead, the officers charged today did just the opposite – overseeing ‘gladiator fights’ when they should have intervened.
‘The indictment, and the filing of criminal charges, is an important step toward holding these officers accountable and addressing shortfalls at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.
‘Let today’s charges be a warning for all those who abuse their power: the California Department of Justice is watching, and we will hold you accountable.’
This will serve as a wake-up call for the entire system. We need to take a long hard look at how we’re treating our detainees, especially the young ones, and make sure that something like this never happens again. These kids deserve a chance at a better life, and it’s up to correctional officers to make sure they get it.
Flip to the next page to watch the wild footage…
