VISTO PROGRAM
VISTO - Juvenile Detention
VISTO stands for “Volunteers in Service to Others” in the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
About the Facilities and Locations
There are six Juvenile Detention Centers in Los Angeles County. They are managed by the Los Angeles Probation Department.
There are three main types of facilities: 1)Secure Youth Treatment Facilities that house permanent residents, 2) Juvenile Halls that house youth in transition, primarily youth who are awaiting sentencing, court dates, or placement, and 3) Locked Youth open-dorm camps.
The Secure Youth Treatment Facilities (SYTF) and Juvenile Halls (JH) are located in the same complexes. All offer rehabilitation programs.
We are only taking panels into Sylmar right now. The other five facilities will open to us once we have enough speakers to cover a monthʼs worth of meetings (10 speakers minimum).
Requirements for Clearance
To be eligible for clearance, you must have:
▹ One year sober from alcohol.
▹ Five years free from illicit drugs (including non-prescribed CBD products). ▹ Attended an orientation, either at LAHIC, which is in-person or online, or from your local H&I. If you havenʼt attended an orientation recently, please see below. LAHIC offers an orientation each month, both in-person and online. ▹ Six months attending H&I (Hospitals & Institutions) panels and/or meetings. ▹ A commitment to attend one panel a month once you're cleared. ▹ No history of committing any of the "Disqualifiers" below.
Los Angeles Probation Department Guidelines
Disqualifiers - Not Acceptable For Visto Clearance
No:
▹ Conviction of any sex offense.
▹ Conviction of crimes against children.
▹ Conviction of crimes with weapons within the last five (5) years. ▹ Conviction of escape or as an accessory.
▹ Conviction of arson.
▹ Conviction of animal cruelty.
▹ Conviction of sale and/or distribution of drugs within the last five (5) years. ▹ Convicted of bringing a controlled substance into a secured detention facility. ▹ Civil Commitment as a mentally disordered offender or sexually violent predator.
▹ Must not have been taken into custody for psychiatric assessment or treatment in the preceding 12 months.
▹ Conviction of Human Trafficking.
▹ Currently on pre-trial, parole, probation and/or community supervision. ▹ No outstanding warrants or wants.
▹ Additional Disqualifier Subject to Department Review:
▹ Subject of an Active Restraining Order.
Failure to Disclose – Candidate subject to disqualification for any omissions or false statements pertaining to any occurrence in the past five (5) years made on the application or any required document.
May be subject to additional review of applicable police reports and/or narrative to determine if conviction meets the above criteria and disqualification appropriate.
If you qualify, please email visto@lahic.org for an application or pick one up in person at our monthly meeting.
A list of the facilities:
Malibu: Campus Vernon Kilpatrick (CVK)
An all-girls and gender-expansive Secure Youth Treatment Facility on Encinal Canyon Road. Current status as an active fire camp unknown.
Sylmar: Barry J Nidorf Juvenile Hall (BJNJH)
An all-boys Juvenile Hall and Secure Youth Treatment Facility and Juvenile Hall. We meet with the youth who are in transition at Juvenile Hall.
Commerce: Dorothy Kirby Center (DKC)
A Secure Youth Treatment Facility and Juvenile Hall that offers intensive mental health programs. Current status as an all-boys facility unknown.
Downey: Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall (LPJH)
An all-boys temporary holding facility and Juvenile Hall.
La Verne: Camp Afflerbaugh (CBA)
An all-boys Locked Youth open-dorm camp in the foothills of La Verne. Current status as an active fire camp unknown.
San Dimas: Camp Glenn Rockey (CGR)
An all-boys Locked Youth open-dorm camp in the foothills of San Dimas. Current status as an active fire camp unknown.