Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall also known as Sylmar Juvenile Hall16350 Filhert Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818) 364-2011
Visiting hours are from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sylmar Juvenile Hall Inmate Search
Unlike the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Inmate locator, the Los Angeles County Probation Department is prohibited from disclosing the whereabouts of a minor unless you are a legal guardian or parent. Under Welfare and Institutions Code section 827.9, juvenile matters are confidential. Any information pertaining to any minor in custody is confidential and is not subject to disclosure to the public. Therefore there does not exist any public means to do a juvenile hall inmate search to find a particular child.
A parent or legal guardian is notified by telephone by the Los Angeles County Probation Department when a minor is brought into custody at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. Quite often a minor is moved from one juvenile to another within Los Angeles County based on the population count of each detention facility. Besides Sylmar Juvenile Hall, there is Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey and Central Juvenile Hall located on Eastlake Avenue near the USC County Hospital in Los Angeles. If you are a parent or legal guardian of a child in custody, your child will call you when he or she is moved. You may also call movement and control at Sylmar Juvenile Hall if you have any questions about the movement of your child.
Sylmar Juvenile Hall Compound
The compound houses youth between the ages of 14 to 18 years of age who are being prosecuted in adult court for crimes committed as a teenager. These teenagers typically have had "transfer hearings" (previously called fitness hearings) for committing serious felonies classified under Welfare and Institutions Code section 707 (b). These crimes include homicide, attempted murder, carjacking, armed robbery, kidnapping, assault with great bodily injury, rape, sex crimes involving force that are the most common. These young adolescent individuals have to make very difficult decisions such as deciding on whether to take a 30 year state prison offer or risk getting sentenced to life in prison. Many of these young men have grown up with single parents, and have had to fend for themselves growing up in their neighborhoods. As many as third of these youth read at only the fourth grade level and have learning disabilities. The majority of these youth are very polite and respectful but have made poor choices that led them to get charged with serious felonies. The majority of these adolescent kids suffer from post traumatic stress for witnessing certain events growing up. Almost all suffer from some level of depression and despair - a feeling of no hope for the mistake they made. It's important for parents to visit every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. and on Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. on the days they have court. The emotional support they receive from their families is a big help to these kids. Should your child wish to talk to a chaplain, a protestant chaplain can be reached at (818) 364-2061. A Catholic Chaplain can be reached at (818) 364-2021.
Barry J. Nidorf "Sylmar" Juvenile Hall
Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar is also known as Sylmar Juvenile Hall. Prior to being named after the County's Chief Probation Officer Barry J. Nidorf, it was known as the San Fernando Valley Juvenile Hall. It is one of three juvenile halls in the Los Angeles County. It is located at 16350 Filbert street on a 85,000 square foot lot. Built in 1978, it has undergone expansion between 1994 and 1998. The average population is 700 children. Children housed at Sylmar Juvenile Hall are often awaiting placement to another facility such as placement, camp or the California Youth Authority.
Visiting Rules at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Sylmar Juvenile hall only allows parents or legal guardians to visit. Visitation is on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On the day your child has court, the Sylmar Juvenile Judge will allow "after court" visits from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. There is a dress code. Visitors cannot wear sexy revealing clothes. Women should not have their cleavage busting out of their top. Tight fitting clothes for women is not allowed. No short skirts, no halter tops, low cut tops or clothes with gang words or signs. No sandals or slippers. Shoes is required at all times. Visitors cannot bring back packs, medicine, pagers, cell phones, cigaretes, food or drinks, purses or handbags and radios.
Special Visits at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Brothers, sisters and other family members may visit if the request is approved and arranged through your childs probation officer or unit supervisor. They may only visit one time.
Only certain grooming items are allowed at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Toothbrush (white or black)
Small Plastic Comb (white or black)
Hair dressing or Gel
Shower Shoes
Deodarant (no roll-on)
Body or hand lotion
Toothpaste
Shampoo less than 16 oz (must be in clear plastic)
Lip Balm
Liquid soap less than 16 oz. (must be in clear plastic)
Limitation on amount of Paper & Envelopes
your child is allowed to possess at Sylmar Juvenile HallYour child is only allowed 25 sheets of white or yellow paper, and 10 envelopes only. Sylmar Juvenile Hall staff will provide a pencil and put stamps on the mail.
Limitation on number of photographs your child is allowed to possess at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Often times, parents, family members and others will send photographs to your child. Your child is not allowed more than five photos or pictures. The pictures should not show naked women, sex, drugs, weapons or gangs. They must be mailed and cannot be brought during visits.
Limitation on Religious items your child is allowed to possess at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
No hard cover Bibles. Soft cover Bibles only.
Only plastic roasary. (white or black)
Only one small plastic cross (white or black)
One religious picture.
Telephone use at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
1. Your child is entitled to reasonable access to a telephone.
2. Your child is not entitled to call another Hall, a victim or witness.
3. There is no right to privacy when using the telephone except when call his or her lawyer.
4. The Sylmar Juvenile Hall staff will allow your child to use a County line to call his or her Deputy Probation Officer or lawyer.
Daily Schedule at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Monday thru Friday
6:15 a.m. Wake up
7:00 a.m. Clean up
8:30 a.m. School
11:50 a.m. Return from School
12:00 p.m. Lunch/Nurse's Clinic
1:00 School
2:40 p.m. Return from School
3:30 p.m. Recreation
5:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Homework
7:30 p.m. Nutional Snack
7:45 p.m Showers
8:30 p.m. Reading time
9:00 p.m. Lights out
Saturday and Sunday Schedule at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
7:00 a.m. Wake up
8:00 a.m. Breakfast, clean up
9:00 a.m. Church/Recreation
12:00 p.m. Lunch/Nurses's Clinic
1:00 pm. Reading time/viciting
2:30 p.m. Recreation/Visiting
5:00 p.m. Dinner
6:00 p.m. Recreation/Day room
7:30 pm. Nutritional Snack
7:45 p.m. Showers
8:30 p.m Reading time
9:00 p.m. Lights out
Your child may not have any of the following in his or her possession at Sylmar Juvenile Hall:
Things that are red, blue, purple, red or orange
Bars of soap
Things that can burn
Spray cans
Pump-type sprays,
Things made of wood
Roll-on deodorant
glass bottles or jars
Special Handlng Unit (SHU) at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
If your child violates any of the Sylmar Juvenile Hall rules, he or she may be sent to the Special Handling Unit (SHU). He or she can be kept in the SHU until he or she is ready to return to his or her unit.
Problems at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
After receiving numerous complaints by children, lawyers, and community leaders, the United States Attorney Generals Office initated an investigation at all Los Padrinos, Central and Sylmar Juvenile Hall. A special prosecutor and a team of experts assigned to the case visited Sylmar Juvenile Hall in February, March and June of 2001 and found the facility "violated the constitutional and federal statutory rights of the youth residents."
Excessive use of pepper spray at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
The Department of Justice found that Juvenile Hall staff had been using Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spary "excessively," and in situations where "such use of force were not necessary." This includes sparying handcuffed children, children with asthma, pregrant girls, suicidal children and children with special mental health needs.
Mental Health needs not met at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
It is estimated that approximately 50% of the 700 children at Sylmar Juvenile Hall have mental health issues. However, the majority of those who have such issues no not get any mental health care. Approximately 75% or 262 children receive no such help at Sylmar Juvenile Hall.
Los Angeles prosecutors file felony charges against three Sylmar Probation Officers involved in beating of child at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Deputy Probation Officer Carlos Portillo who is listed at 5 foot 7 and 240 pounds (Booking number 4938532) was charged in case BA 454703 with two felony counts of assault under color of authority. Deputy Probation Officer Timothy Boundy, who is listed at 6 foot tall and 260 pounds, was also arrested and charged with three felony counts, (booking number 4935032) and Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Sergio Cano was charged with one felony count. All three probation officers have pled not guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Ann Marie Wise of the Justice System Integrity Division. In a March 20, 2017 press release, District Attorney Jackie Lacey said," The probation officers charged in this case were entrusted with the safekeeping, and well-being of youths while in their custody. Sadly, in this instance, we believe the defendants abused their authority and broke the law."
On April 25, 2016, Portillo allegedly hit a child repeatedly while Boundy allegedly held the youth on the ground as Cano watched. On February 8, 2016, Portillo and Boundy allegedly assaulted another teen after he tried to leave his room. On October 8, 2015, Boundy is accused of grabbing a teen, throwing him to the ground and hitting him. As charged, Cano faces a maximum prison term of three years in state prison while Portillo faces three years and eight months in prison and Boundy faces four years and four months in state prison. Because of the three have no prior records, there is a possibility of a plea bargain of probation could be offered to resolve the cases. Because the key witnesses are the juvenile hall kids themselves, they are often not viewed as having the strongest credibilities as they often have felony charges leveled at them for unrelated cases of their own. However in one of the instances, a video tape reportedly captured probation officers beating a non-combative 17 year old child. The video tape was leaked to the blog WitnessLA. Because there are three co-defendants on the same case, any offered made by the District Attorney to the charged probation officers will likely be a package deal, meaning all defendants would need to accept a plea in order for the offer to be extended. The three probation officers have their case pending in department 33 at the Los Angeles Superior Court located at 210 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, California. Unless convicted, all three probation officers are presumed innocent while their cases are pending.
Sylmar Juvenile Hall responsible for beating of child that made him paraplegic for life. County pays out 3.9 million settlement in 2017.
In September 2017, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a $3.9 million dollar settlement to a child that was nearly killed while detained at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. The child was reportedly facing sex charges and the probation officers reportedly disclosed that to other minors that led to the child being attacked. As a result of the attack the child has severe brain damage and is barely learning to speak again. He needs 24 hour care to take a bath, go the bathroom, get dressed and eat.
Gang members at Sylmar Juvenile Hall attack child, slammed his head into concrete floor that made him paraplegic for life. County pays out 7 million settlement in 2009.
There was only one probation officer on duty in the recreation room where the attack occurred and there were 35 minors. The probation officer reportedly failed to stop the attack according to that lawsuit. This child is now confined to a wheelchair the rest of his life as a result of becoming a paraplegic.
Pepper spraying of kids by staff at Sylmar Juvenile Hall is on the increase.
Pepper spraying increased from 2015 to 2017 by 338 percent at Central Juvenile Hall, 214 percent at Los Padrinos, and 192 percent at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. This is according to information the LA County probation provided to the LA county Board of Supervisors. California is only one of five states that authorize pepper spraying of kids in juvenile halls. 45 other states have found it improper.
Barry J. Nidorf School at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Children are required to receive their education even while in custody. Children who attend school while in Sylmar Juvenile Hall are evaluated in reading, mathematics, and English Learning thru computer testing. Children are required to attench school for the required 300 minutes per day to comply with state and county education requirments.
Sylmar Juvenile Hall School
Phone (818) 367-5942, Fax (818) 362-8948
Principal - Norberto Perez
Assistant Principal - Adriana Hernandez
Assistant Principal - Robin Porter
Assistant Principal - Tina Vartanian
School Administrative Secretary - Robert Armaya
Education at the Sylmar Juvenile Hall School commonly referred to LACOE's Juvenile Court School, is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. School credits and high school diplomas earned thru Sylmar Juvenile Hall are accepted at all high schools, colleges and universities. According to the Los Angeles County Office of Education, most students enter Juvenile Court Schools with serious gaps in their education. Many are not at grade level in their education. The LA County Office of Education estimates that about 40 percent of students who enter Juvenile Court schools are at or below the fourth grade level and functionally illiterate. The majority of those students become independent readers when they leave Juvenile Court schools. Approximately one-third of the students have learning or other disabilities. Many of the teachers and school administrator's at Sylmar Juvenile Hall Schools are dedicated to their craft and have passed up higher paying jobs at traditional outside schools. Students at Sylmar Juvenile Hall Schools earn school credit at a faster rate than traditional schools. Sylmar Juvenile Hall Schools also offer testing for the High School equivalency certificate. The class room sizes are staffed at a 17 to 1 student to teacher ratio to maximize their educational experience. Teachers also assign projects designed to promote positive behavior changes as well. Some teachers issue a "Good Behavior Gram", on a weekly basis. This is usually given to students who have demonstrated good citizenship while attending school. They are earned when the student stays on task, stays seated during the classroom period, showing respect to staff and other students and entering and leaving the class quietly. If you child earns a Good Gram, these certificates can be shown to the Sylmar court judge and prosecutor as evidence of the students good character.
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN CUSTODY AT SYLMAR JUVENILE HALL CALL
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If you child is in custody and facing criminal charges, it is important to get a experienced and qualified juvenile attorney to represent your child. Most Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys primarily handle adult cases and rarely go into juvenile court. The procedures in juvenile court are very different than adult court. There is no right to a jury trial and no right to bail. (Our winning track record shows that we provide effective juvenile defense. ) If your chilld is housed at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, call former Juvenile Deputy District Attorney George Kita for a free consultation at 626-232-0970.
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