Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall is at 7285 Quill Drive, Downey, CA 90242, about 12 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, and family visits are weekend-only in two afternoon sessions: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Before you drive out, call the facility at (562) 940-8681 to confirm the schedule for your youth’s housing unit, since times can shift from one unit to another.1Probation – Los Angeles County. Juvenile Hall
Location and Phone Numbers
The facility sits just off the 605 Freeway in Downey. The street and mailing address is the same: 7285 Quill Drive, Downey, CA 90242. Free street parking is available nearby.
Two phone numbers are worth saving:
- Main facility line for visiting, scheduling, and status questions: (562) 940-86811Probation – Los Angeles County. Juvenile Hall
- Probation Department family information line: (866) 931-22222Los Angeles County Probation Department. Los Padrinos Keeping Families Informed
For current policies, use the Probation Department’s site at probation.lacounty.gov. Older District Attorney links that circulate online can be out of date.
Visiting Hours
Family visits happen on weekends only. You can visit on either Saturday or Sunday, but not both days in the same weekend. Pick one of two sessions:3Los Angeles County Probation Department. Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
- First session: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- Second session: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your session begins so you have time to check in and clear security.4Los Angeles County. LA County Probation Model Visitation Policy The county’s model visitation policy says a visit should not be denied solely because someone arrives late, but on-time arrival avoids complications. Because schedules can vary by housing unit, confirm the day’s hours by phone before you leave home.
Who Can Visit
Approved visitors are parents, legal guardians, persons standing in loco parentis, grandparents, and children of the detained youth. All visitors must be at least 21 years old unless a court order authorizes a special visit.5Probation – Los Angeles County. Juvenile Hall – Section: Visiting Juvenile Hall
Siblings, other relatives, and friends outside those categories can sometimes visit as a special visit, but it has to be arranged ahead of time with either a court order or written permission from the youth’s Deputy Probation Officer. The county’s model visitation policy encourages broader access for extended family and other important people in a youth’s life, though what’s allowed in practice depends on the facility’s current rules.4Los Angeles County. LA County Probation Model Visitation Policy
What to Bring and What to Wear
Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. Expired, photocopied, or altered IDs will not be accepted. The only personal items allowed inside the visiting area are your ID and a single key on one key ring. Phones, bags, wallets, and food stay behind.6Los Angeles County Probation Department. Programs and Services – Section: Visiting Juvenile Hall
Dress appropriately and wear closed-toe shoes.6Los Angeles County Probation Department. Programs and Services – Section: Visiting Juvenile Hall The Probation Department doesn’t publish a detailed banned-clothing list, but avoid anything overly revealing or anything with gang-related imagery. The model policy directs staff to try to resolve dress code issues rather than turn visitors away outright.4Los Angeles County. LA County Probation Model Visitation Policy Expect a security screening on entry. All visitors are subject to search.
Mail, Phone Calls, and Commissary Deposits
You can send letters to a detained youth at 7285 Quill Drive, Downey, CA 90242. Include a return address. Incoming mail is inspected, except for legally privileged attorney correspondence. Don’t send explicit images, gang-related content, or anything that could be flagged as contraband. Photos can generally be mailed, but ask the facility about current limits on how many. Don’t try to hand-deliver photos or other items at a visit; anything a youth receives has to come through the mail or be cleared by staff.
Detained youth can make outgoing calls at designated times. Incoming calls to the facility for detainees are not accepted. Families usually set up a prepaid account through a third-party provider to receive calls. The details, including which provider and how to fund the account, change from time to time, so call (562) 940-8681 for current instructions.
You can also deposit money into a commissary account so your youth can buy approved snacks and toiletries. Accepted methods generally include money orders, cashier’s checks mailed to the facility, and in some cases online deposits or self-service kiosks in the lobby. Confirm current options and any fees with the facility before sending funds.
Why Calling Ahead Matters Here
Los Padrinos has been under heavy scrutiny. State regulators ordered the facility closed in late 2024 for failing to meet minimum staffing requirements, and it continued to operate while reports of violence, drug incidents, and understaffing persisted. For families, the practical effect is that visiting schedules, unit assignments, and communication can be disrupted on short notice. A quick call to (562) 940-8681 before you leave for Downey is the single best way to avoid a wasted trip.