Prisoners brawl at juvenile facility [Updated]

Authorities used pepper spray to help end a racially charged fight among two dozen juvenile prisoners at Camp Kilpatrick in Malibu over the weekend, officials said. [Updated at 8:32 p.m.: An earlier report that authorities used sting balls -- devices that create a loud noise as they explode and send out tiny plastic pellets that can sting -- was incorrect.] 

The brawl began with name-calling between an African American and a Latino in the camp’s dormitory at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, said Los Angeles County Chief Probation Officer Robert Taylor.

The brawl lasted about an hour, and two staff members and several inmates suffered minor injuries.

Taylor said that 23 inmates were removed from the camp and housed at two other facilities and that there was minor damage to one of the housing units.

 “We’ll be looking into the causes of this and having a larger discussion of how we’re housing minors,” Taylor said.

 -- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Comments

[Sue Cline]

The article is inaccurate. The Los Angeles County Probation Department does not house any inmates or prisoners we detain juveniles or minors in camps and or juvenile halls.
Responsible journalism includes proper termonology!

[Rodney]

These "juveniles" are animals, and need to be handled that way.

[Yutyut]

The POs need to put those kids in a hot dog.

[Dodger Tony]

African Americans and Latinos brawling? Unheard of.

[joe s.]

kids with racial problems, hmmm, dont they have other things to be concered about!

[Miz P]

I am not shocked by this.When my son was in Camp Miller his counselor had him break into his property that he had rented out while under the guise of teaching them to drive.Sometimes the counselors are the instigators of this behavior and they do little to rehabilitate.It is reactive and not proactive the whole system should be revamped we spend more money on prison than job training and schools.I had to pay for them teaching my son bad behavior when I was trying to teach him a lesson on being a good citizen.

[BigRich]

Must be due to the overcrowding? It could not possibly be because of the hate between the races.

[BigRich]

They must have terrible overcrowding conditions in old Camp Malibu. That surely is the reason that the black and hispanic young boys were fighting, right? Huh, or could it have been because that black and hispanic young boys learn to hate much like their adult leaders in state prisons.

[Marcus]

Maybe now, Our government will recognize that racial conflict exist and wont sweep it under the rug, but start taking measures to address it.

[Kurtis Thorsted]

Do not let the little trouble makers make a scene again, just shoot them and all trouble should desist. Correct but then their are the intimate trouble-starters. So line them up in the Governors office to hung-drawn-& qurtered. I am shure this will work if you Hollywood people televise it.

Sincerely:

Kurt

[Kelvin]

Most of these juveniles are headed straight to prison on their next conviction. There is clearly something very wrong with the system here, although I have to say that I haven't seen or heard of any solution to poorly educated unwanted misfits. Statistically, these juveniles are the product of teen pregnancies where the biological father is a gangmember and the mother is the daughter of a gangmember or otherwise incarcerated drug addict. Anyone got a solution for that?

[Little Billy]

The chief is looking into what caused the riot, perhaps it's the fact that the wards have to be given cookies and milk before bed, and if they dont get their cookies and milk staff get in trouble....what would the victims, the community think if they only knew how staff are obligated, by threat of loosing their jobs,to pampered the wards. It's insanity at it's best!

[mario]

People need to make up their minds, I remember the Gates war on gangs, the Los Angelinos lost their minds over, the gang population has since doubled, they are better armed, more organized, and well funded, some even by tax dollars.

They are bolder and brazen, under the new com by ya strategy in effect, just like the financial industries deregulation, when you take your hands off of engagement you get a free for all, or what I call a freefall. the problems get so out of hand that its hard to get under control.

The way to curb the longevity is to pull up the roots, kids that are in the house with one or more active gang members should be removed for the sake of the kid, it reduces the risk of being caught in cross fire, and following the traditions set before them. it would cost the county more on the front end, but save much more in incarceration, child services, welfare, etc on the back end.

If the parents are really serious about keeping their children, they can attend parenting classes, and once certified can keep the family in tact.

[Ramon]

The solution is simple. Kill every criminal in the system and just watch the other person be so afraid that they will no longer commit crimes. As long as we house people in Club Med; you know, Free food, free room and board, free cable, free medicare, free lawers for your trails, free bus trips back and forth, free visits on the weekends with your sexual partner, and no other punishment from bad behavior other than more time... It will never end. Maybe the same Chain gangs that work in Arizona can work in California, that is unless they are too lazy, and I do belive that one, cause I've heard a joke about lazy people.

[Ozzy]

more benefits of diversity

[essie r]

i agree with miz. p the probation officers really need to be investigated i am willing to answer questions from any reporter or investigator

[mizarreye]

I am first of all out raged by all of the comments saying that we should just kill all of the criminals.. what makes you all better than every one else..

my son was not apart of the rioting that was taking place in stead he went for shelter in the staff office. were after LA sherriff arrived was pulled out hog tied. his face was shattered and shot with pellet gun several times . by police I want some answers . whaich of course I am not getting any because the police all protect each other..

[little billy]

please investigate the probation officers and people will find that they are the BEST in the WORLD! given the population of gangster, thugs, thiefs, rapist and even murderers the camps still dont have major drug issues, rape issues, severe gang issues, murders, etc...within the facility. NO ONE can do the job like LA county PO's and everyone is too ignorant and parents are too desperate and in denial about their kids behaviors. If parents gave as much attention to their kids as they do when the kids are in custody, maybe their kids would be there. Now these desperate parents who are in denial are just after the $$$ they are hoping to get...all from their personal lack of parenting to begin with. DONT blame the PO's they're just trying to do their job, as best they can. They cant undo 16 years of poor parenting.

[SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE REAL]

PEOPLE SEEM TO WANT TO PLACE THE BLAME ON PARENTS AND GANG VIOLENCE,BUT THATS ALWAYS NOT THE CASE,MY SON ISNT INVOLVED IN ANY GANG AND WAS CAUGHT UP FOR BEING THE WRONG COLOR AT A BRAWL THAT HAPPEN AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL.IS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE DAY AND AGE THAT WE NOW LIVE IN,ITS A COLD AND SCAREY WORLD AT THERE THESE DAYS.MOST OF THE KIDS TODAY DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT GOD OR THE FEAR OF THE LORD.ITS A LOST GENERATION OF CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND.AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE VERY GOOD PARENTS AND COME FROM DECENT HOMES.SO KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT BEFORE STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN TRYING TO PASS JUDGEMENT FROM YOUR BEACH FRONT HOUSE IN MALIBU ON SOMETHING YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT.

[Jo]

Alot of these kids were never taught how to live life right and well, had no role models to show them and some of them experienced the only comraderie or family in gangs, wanting to belong to something, anything at all. Many of them suffer from addiction and alcoholism and noone has ever showed them the way out. If the people who post derogitory statements about these kids had walked a mile in their shoes, lived their life, they wouldn't be so quick to judge with ignorance. My prayers go out to these kids and the hope that they will find recovery and a new and better way of life. WHERE THERE'S LIFE, THERE'S HOPE.