Youth Advocate Wins Right for Hugs During Visits at Troubled Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall

Los Angeles youth advocate Mercedes Maradiaga has successfully fought to change strict visitation policies at the troubled Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. For years, Maradiaga's 19-year-old son was incarcerated there and she was denied the simple act of hugging him during visits due to no-contact rules in place since his admission two years ago.

The policy left Maradiaga devastated when her son needed emotional support following a violent altercation with guards that required surgery for a torn ACL. "I couldn't even let him know I’m here just with the little hug," she said, emphasizing how crucial such gestures are for incarcerated youth. The ban on physical contact extended to special occasions like birthdays and holidays.

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall has been embroiled in controversy since its reopening in 2023 after a closure due to severe violations of state standards, including staff abuses. Six officers were criminally charged with assault and child abuse for using pepper spray on teenage girls. In 2025, another wave of criminal charges against 30 officers accused of encouraging "gladiator fights" among youth further tarnished the facility's reputation.

The cycle of closing and reopening juvenile facilities in Los Angeles County has been criticized by Olivia Shields, a justice transformation policy coordinator at Urban Peace Institute. She argues that these maneuvers do not address underlying issues but merely shuffle troubled youth between inadequate facilities. "Rather than decarcerate these populations of young people and find community-based alternatives," she said, "they basically shift the youth around from facility to facility."

Ilana Parach, executive director of Hoops 4 Justice USA, also highlighted the importance of addressing youths' needs directly. When she initiated a basketball and mentorship program inside Los Padrinos, she found that physical contact during visits was among the top concerns raised by incarcerated youth.

The victory for Maradiaga marks a small but significant step towards more humane treatment within Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, where conditions remain substandard despite repeated attempts to reform. Advocates like Maradiaga and Parach continue to push for broader changes that prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration for troubled youth.