The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a teacher at a L.A. County juvenile probation camp was arrested today for allegedly running a “fight club” in his classroom. That’s right, he is accused of allowing his students to fight one another during his class.
If this charge is true (and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty), this will hopefully trigger some much needed reform and monitoring at the L.A. County probation camps. Those of us who work in the juvenile system have known for years that this sort of thing goes on (The camps are frequently referred to as “gladiator academies”). Los Angeles County probation camps are frightening places and ironically, they are no place for children.
This is why it is so important that attorneys defending minors in the juvenile system do everything they can to keep their clients in the family home and out of camp. Camps do not “rehabilitate” kids. Kids just come out more hardened and world weary then when they went in. This is very disturbing news indeed.
If you or your child is facing a probation violation, do not hesitate to contact Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Jerod Gunsberg at (323) 633-3423 or get in touch via the secure contact form on this page for a confidential consultation.