RIOTS HIT JUVENILE CENTERS RACIAL VIOLENCE OF JAILS SPREADS TO YOUTH SYSTEM.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

A month of rioting that has left two dead and hundreds injured in the Los Angeles County jail system has spread to the county's juvenile halls and probation camps, officials said Wednesday.

In recent weeks, three racially motivated riots have occurred at juvenile centers, including Camp McNair in Lancaster on Saturday, said County Probation Officers Union spokeswoman Barbara Maynard.

``Racial violence is a growing problem in county probation halls and camps, and the Probation Department is ill-equipped to handle major disturbances,'' Maynard said.

Maynard said union officials believe the escalating violence is being directed by the same gangs that have been behind the violence in the county's adult jails and state prisons.

Nearly 50 teenagers were involved in Saturday's riot at Camp McNair, which is part of the Challenger Memorial Youth Center complex and houses violent juvenile offenders in an open dorm setting.

One male juvenile was hospitalized and several probation officers received minor injuries. After the incident, 32 juveniles were put in lockdown in a special housing unit.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors directed the Probation Department to investigate the riot at Camp McNair. The Commission on Human Relations also was directed to address the circumstances of a racial disturbance Monday at Golden Valley High School in the Santa Clarita Valley in which nine youths were arrested.

``To prevent violence and ensure safety for young probationers and schoolchildren, we must ensure our schools, camps and halls are safe and free of racially motivated violence and disturbances,'' Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said.

The halls are operating under a federal consent decree over inadequate staffing, programs and services. The union has filed two lawsuits against the county for failing to meet California Board of Corrections minimum-staffing requirements in the halls and camps.

The riot at Camp McNair is the second in two weeks. The first took place at Central Juvenile Hall and was also racially motivated, officials said. In January, officials said, a racially motivated riot took place at Camp Rockey in San Dimas.

In recent years, the halls and camps have been plagued by rising violence, especially at the Sylmar juvenile hall.

Violent incidents increased 12 percent from 2,094 in 2003 to 2,352 in 2004 and were expected to hit 2,700 in 2005. Last year's final figures were not available Wednesday.

Meanwhile, incidents of use of force by probation officers on juveniles rose from 1,535 in 2003 to 1,727 in 2004 and then fell to 1,672 last year. During that time, the use of various restraints by probation officers increased from none to 75.

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com