EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — A Los Angeles County judge issued a tentative ruling Friday that it was "unlawful" to allow the county Probation Department to continue housing juveniles at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey, according to the LA Times.

Judge Miguel Espinoza's ruling marks a major step toward shutting down the troubled juvenile hall, which was ordered to shut down in December 2024.

"In response to today’s court ruling, the Probation Department will move swiftly to implement a depopulation plan for Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall that aligns with our broader facilities strategy and prioritizes public safety," the county Probation Department said in a statement. "We are grateful that Judge Espinoza recognized the progress the Department has made and upheld the importance of a measured approach — one that avoids the release of youth and supports a safe and orderly transition to other youth facilities."

County Supervisor Janice Hahn supported the judge's order Friday.

"There are young people in Los Padrinos who should be moved to alternate facilities, but there are also many who can and should be safely released back home, monitored with ankle monitors, or cared for in community-based placements like a Boys Republic," Hahn said in a statement. "At this time, my ultimate concern is for the well-being of the hundreds of young people in our care who have not been getting what they need to rehabilitate."

The county Public Defender's Office also threw support behind Friday's tentative ruling.

"The Probation Department’s chaos creates dangerous ripple effects on our youth’s safety. Time and again, in report after report, we’ve seen neglect, mismanagement, and abuse, all while officials insist that change is coming," said the Public Defender's Office in a statement. "The Court’s order today is a step in the right direction. We look forward to participating in the development of the plan to depopulate Los Padrinos."