LA County Probation Will Undergo Major Management Restructuring

LOS ANGELES — LA County Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa June 28 announced an unprecedented restructuring that eliminates an entire layer of management in the 6,600-person probation agency, the largest of its kind in the country.

These changes affect 14 top managers and eliminate 13 bureau chief positions in charge of adult and juvenile operations, as well as administrative services. Those affected by the changes are being offered positions in other county departments.

Viera Rosa said flattening the organization will make for quicker implementation of new policies, clearer lines of authority, better internal feedback, and greater transparency. It also pushes decision-making closer to personnel who interact with adult probationers, youth, their families, county partner agencies and the public.

“This management restructuring represents a major step towards resizing and reorienting the Department under the County’s ‘Care First, Jails Last’ initiative to enact criminal justice reform,” Viera Rosa said.

“A streamlined organization will not only allow us to enact internal reforms more effectively, but it will also align us better with the new County Departments of Youth Development, and Justice Care and Opportunities,” he added.

At the department’s request, the county’s chief executive officer asked the Board of Supervisors to expedite the restructuring by eliminating funding for the 13 bureau chief positions as part of the of the county’s revised budget approved this week.