Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall also known as Sylmar Juvenile Hall16350 Filhert Street
Sylmar, CA 91342
(818) 364-2011
Visiting hours are from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Barry J. Nidorf "Sylmar" Juvenile Hall
Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar is also known as Sylmar Juvenile Hall. Prior to being named after the County's Chief Probation Officer Barry J. Nidorf, it was known as the San Fernando Valley Juvenile Hall. It is one of three juvenile halls in the Los Angeles County. It is located at 16350 Filbert street on a 85,000 square foot lot. Built in 1978, it has undergone expansion between 1994 and 1998. The average population is 700 children. Children housed at Sylmar Juvenile Hall are often awaiting placement to another facility such as placement, camp or the California Youth Authority.
Visiting Rules at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Sylmar Juvenile hall only allows parents or legal guardians to visit. Visitation is on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. On the day your child has court, the Sylmar Juvenile Judge will allow "after court" visits from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. There is a dress code. Visitors cannot wear sexy revealing clothes. Women should not have their cleavage busting out of their top. Tight fitting clothes for women is not allowed. No short skirts, no halter tops, low cut tops or clothes with gang words or signs. No sandals or slippers. Shoes is required at all times. Visitors cannot bring back packs, medicine, pagers, cell phones, cigaretes, food or drinks, purses or handbags and radios.
Special Visits at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Brothers, sisters and other family members may visit if the request is approved and arranged through your childs probation officer or unit supervisor. They may only visit one time.
Only certain grooming items are allowed at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Toothbrush (white or black)
Small Plastic Comb (white or black)
Hair dressing or Gel
Shower Shoes
Deodarant (no roll-on)
Body or hand lotion
Toothpaste
Shampoo less than 16 oz (must be in clear plastic)
Lip Balm
Liquid soap less than 16 oz. (must be in clear plastic)
Limitation on amount of Paper & Envelopes
your child is allowed to possess at Sylmar Juvenile HallYour child is only allowed 25 sheets of white or yellow paper, and 10 envelopes only. Sylmar Juvenile Hall staff will provide a pencil and put stamps on the mail.
Limitation on number of photographs your child is allowed to possess at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Often times, parents, family members and others will send photographs to your child. Your child is not allowed more than five photos or pictures. The pictures should not show naked women, sex, drugs, weapons or gangs. They must be mailed and cannot be brought during visits.
Limitation on Religious items your child is allowed to possess at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
No hard cover Bibles. Soft cover Bibles only.
Only plastic roasary. (white or black)
Only one small plastic cross (white or black)
One religious picture.
Telephone use at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
1. Your child is entitled to reasonable access to a telephone.
2. Your child is not entitled to call another Hall, a victim or witness.
3. There is no right to privacy when using the telephone except when call his or her lawyer.
4. The Sylmar Juvenile Hall staff will allow your child to use a County line to call his or her Deputy Probation Officer or lawyer.
Daily Schedule at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Monday thru Friday
6:15 a.m. Wake up
7:00 a.m. Clean up
8:30 a.m. School
11:50 a.m. Return from School
12:00 p.m. Lunch/Nurse's Clinic
1:00 School
2:40 p.m. Return from School
3:30 p.m. Recreation
5:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Homework
7:30 p.m. Nutional Snack
7:45 p.m Showers
8:30 p.m. Reading time
9:00 p.m. Lights out
Saturday and Sunday Schedule at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
7:00 a.m. Wake up
8:00 a.m. Breakfast, clean up
9:00 a.m. Church/Recreation
12:00 p.m. Lunch/Nurses's Clinic
1:00 pm. Reading time/viciting
2:30 p.m. Recreation/Visiting
5:00 p.m. Dinner
6:00 p.m. Recreation/Day room
7:30 pm. Nutritional Snack
7:45 p.m. Showers
8:30 p.m Reading time
9:00 p.m. Lights out
Your child may not have any of the following in his or her possession at Sylmar Juvenile Hall:
Things that are red, blue, purple, red or orange
Bars of soap
Things that can burn
Spray cans
Pump-type sprays,
Things made of wood
Roll-on deodorant
glass bottles or jars
Special Handlng Unit (SHU) at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
If your child violates any of the Sylmar Juvenile Hall rules, he or she may be sent to the Special Handling Unit (SHU). He or she can be kept in the SHU until he or she is ready to return to his or her unit.
Problems at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
After receiving numerous complaints by children, lawyers, and community leaders, the United States Attorney Generals Office initated an investigation at all Los Padrinos, Central and Sylmar Juvenile Hall. A special prosecutor and a team of experts assigned to the case visited Sylmar Juvenile Hall in February, March and June of 2001 and found the facility "violated the constitutional and federal statutory rights of the youth residents."
Excessive use of pepper spray at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
The Department of Justice found that Juvenile Hall staff had been using Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spary "excessively," and in situations where "such use of force were not necessary." This includes sparying handcuffed children, children with asthma, pregrant girls, suicidal children and children with special mental health needs.
Mental Health needs not met at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
It is estimated that approximately 50% of the 700 children at Sylmar Juvenile Hall have mental health issues. However, the majority of those who have such issues no not get any mental health care. Approximately 75% or 262 children receive no such help at Sylmar Juvenile Hall.
Barry J. Nidorf School at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
Children are required to receive their education even while in custody. Children who attend school while in Sylmar Juvenile Hall are evaluated in reading, mathematics, and English Learning thru computer testing. Children are required to attench school for the required 300 minutes per day to comply with state and county education requirments.
Barry J. Nidorf School Administration and Teaching Staff at Sylmar Juvenile Hall:
Gloria Newell, Principal
Lanney Mayer, Assistant Principal
Haywood Stokes, Assistant Principal
Rosalinda Dejabakhsh, Assistant Principal
Betty Ellison, Senior School Clerk
Barbara Huntington, School Adminstrative Secretary
Shirley Hysaw, Senior School Clerk
Roxanne Lee, School Counselor
Gerald (Jerry) Perttula, School Senior Program Specialist
Good Grams from School Teachers at Sylmar Juvenile Hall
If your child is demonstrating good citizenship, his or her teacher will give your child a "Good Behavior Gram." Most teachers require that the child (1) Stay on task, (2) stay seated, (3) show respect to staff and other students and (4) enter the room quietly. If your child is getting a lot of Good Grams, these certificates should be mentioned to the Sylmar Juvenile Court.
Juvenile Court System Parent Workshop
Know your childs Rights!
Sponsored by the City of Glendale Youth & Family Services
Thursday, March 4, 2010
5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Pacific Community Center
501 South Pacific Avenue
Glendale, CA 91204
(Snacks & Refreshments, supervised children's Play area will be provided by the City of Glendale. Reserve your seat by calling City of Glendale, Marco Tejadilla at (818) 548-2798 for workshop only)
IF YOUR CHILD IS IN CUSTODY AT SYLMAR JUVENILE HALL CALL
CALIFORNIA'S PREMIER JUVENILE LAW FIRM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
If you child is in custody and facing criminal charges, it is important to get a experienced and qualified juvenile attorney to represent your child. Most Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys primarily handle adult cases and rarely go into juvenile court. The procedures in juvenile court are very different than adult court. There is no right to a jury trial and no right to bail. (Our winning track record shows that we provide effective juvenile defense. ) If your chilld is housed at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, call former Juvenile Deputy District Attorney George Kita for a free consultation at (626) 975-2080.
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