Efty Sharony, the ombudswoman for California's youth prison system, reported severe mistreatment of teens at L.A. County's Secure Youth Treatment Facility, describing alarming conditions including constant screams, isolation, and unsanitary environments. Her findings aimed to address ongoing issues within juvenile justice as part of Governor Gavin Newsom's reform efforts. Despite bringing attention to these critical problems, Sharony faced opposition from her superiors who discouraged further investigation. This culminated in her termination three months later, raising concerns about the state's commitment to improving youth facility conditions amid tragic incidents like a fatal overdose.
After one of her first visits to L.A. County's juvenile hall in Sylmar, Efty Sharony filed a report that said she witnessed conditions worse than anything she'd seen in "over 20 years of experience visiting every level of carceral facility in California."
Weeks after Sharony sounded the alarm bells about Nidorf, an 18-year-old housed there died of a drug overdose. The California Board of State and Community Corrections ordered the hall closed the same day.
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