21-04 - Los Angeles County Safe Youth Zone
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAFE YOUTH ZONE
This newsletter is to familiarize Department members with the Los Angeles County Safe Youth Zone. The Safe Youth Zone was designed to provide a temporary safe haven for at-risk and Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC).
On November 2, 2016, the Safe Youth Zone was piloted at Compton and Century Stations. Other participants included the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Lynwood and Willowbrook Stations, and the Long Beach Police Department.
On June 9, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the expansion of the Safe Youth Zone to include all Sheriff’s Stations, hospitals, clinics, Fire Departments, and schools.
All County Safe Youth Zones will be designated by large yellow signs posted in conspicuous spaces. In the coming weeks, the Sheriff’s Department Facilities Service Bureau personnel will begin installing signs in visible locations at the front of all Sheriff’s Stations.
All Department Patrol Stations open to the public for 24-hour service have been designated as Safe Youth Zones. Sheriff’s Station lobbies have historically been used as safe places for those who need emergent and non-emergent services. The new Safe Youth Zone should have little impact to normal station operations.
Should a minor come into a station lobby in need of emergency services, station personnel should render aid, summon paramedics (if needed), and make necessary notification to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). If the minor is deemed to be a CSEC, immediate notification shall be made to the Special Victims Bureau, Human Trafficking Task Force, at (323) 526-5156, or via Department Operations Center (DOC) if after hours.
ATTACHMENTS/REFERENCES
Human Trafficking Task Force Tri-Fold
Field Operations Support Services’ Newsletter 17-06, Minors Engaged in Commercial Sex Acts
If you have any questions, please call or email Field Operations Support Services at (323) 890-5411 or foss@lasd.org.