The Case of I.T. v. Los Angeles County

• In Event: 66.038 - I.T. v. Los Angeles County: Improving Equity in Juvenile Corrections for Youth With Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Objectives
This presentation will describe (1) the legal violations related to youth with developmental disabilities (DD) (those with an intellectual disability or needing similar services) in the juvenile detention facilities alleged in I.T. v. Los Angeles County, (2) how the case was settled, (3) the Final Settlement Agreement (2010) and required institutional reforms, and (4) the process involved in bringing about the reforms including using a Keck Foundation grant to hire an interdisciplinary research team to help monitor reform implementation.

Perspective
Class action lawsuits have been used to bring about long-term reforms of public institutions; however, frequent problems exist with implementation, enforcement, and compliance of consent degrees (Low, 2009). Collaborative agreements have shown promise in bringing about successful reform (McAleer, 2015). The National Center on Education, Disability and Juvenile Justice lists over 25 system reform lawsuits in various states focused on enforcing the rights of youth with disabilities in correctional facilities to appropriate education and habilitative treatment (i.e., individualized services, supports and training to reduce obstacles so these youth do not remain in juvenile detention longer than other youth and to reduce their recidivism). The I.T. v. Los Angeles County settlement incorporates many of these and additional best practices.

Mode of Inquiry
 This presentation uses a legal mode of inquiry in describing I.T. v. Los Angeles County. The case was built on an investigation of conditions in juvenile detention facilities of individual youth with DD and an analysis of their treatment while detained based on federal and state antidiscrimination laws. It also used findings from similar cases and research literature on services for youth with DD to fashion a Final Settlement Agreement (2010).

Data Sources
Data sources for this presentation are the many public record documents related to I.T. v. Los Angeles County, including the 2010 Final Settlement Agreement, County Department of Probation policy documents called Directives (2013), and Monitoring Reports (e.g. September 2012).

Conclusions
Major reforms occurred in the juvenile halls related to immediate identification of youth with developmental disabilities upon detention, implementation of an assessment and service implementation process that included a monthly multi-agency meeting with the youth to identify their barriers, measurable goals to overcome the barriers, and appropriate probation, education, mental health, and health services to address the goals; and immediate and ongoing discharge planning so youth would not remain in the juvenile hall longer than other youth. Policy changes required by the Settlement Agreement were enshrined in official County Directives and dedicated staff were assigned to oversee the screening, assessment, and services of youth with DD.

Significance
I.T. v. Los Angeles County provides important guidelines for using federal and state laws to remove legal violations and reform juvenile detention/correction facilities for youth with DD and highlights the role of evidence-based practices in required reforms and the ability to have outside researchers analyze data in assessing the implementation of the reforms.

Author

• Brian Capra, Public Counsel