The Los Angeles County Probation Department announced this week it has temporarily closed Camp Joseph Scott in Santa Clarita, the only probation facility exclusively housing girls, due to the declining population of youth assigned to probation camps in the county.
“This past weekend, probation, medical, and support staff who worked at Camp Scott gathered to say a heartfelt goodbye to the 10 female youth who were transported to the Dorothy Kirby Center,’’ a probation department statement said.
Staff from Camp Scott have been temporarily assigned to Dorothy Kirby Center as well, officials said.
“The population in Los Angeles County Probation camps has been significantly reduced in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the department continuously screening cases in the camps for early release consideration,’’ the statement said.
“As of May 5, the court (system) has released 131 youth from camp, 75 of which were recommended by probation,’’ the statement said. “With only 10 girls currently assigned to a camp in all of Los Angeles County, it was no longer feasible to operate Camp Scott with so few youth housed in it.’’
Upon their arrival at Dorothy Kirby Center, the girls were assigned to a cottage exclusively housing former Camp Scott youth “and have transitioned well in their new living quarters,’’ the statement said.
