October 30, 2025
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Los Angeles County Probation Department and Game Changer Launch Transformative De-Escalation Trainings Connecting Youth and Law Enforcement
Trainings to be hosted at Los Padrinos and Barry J. Nidorf
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County Probation Department is launching a partnership this month designed to promote de-escalation, communication, and understanding between law enforcement and youth currently housed in Probation’s juvenile halls and secured youth treatment facility.
In collaboration with Game Changer, a Los Angeles–based organization accredited by both the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and the Standards and Training for Corrections (STC), the six-month initiative will bring together law enforcement officers and probation staff to train side by side with youth in meaningful, solutions-oriented dialogue.
The sessions—hosted at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey and the Barry J. Nidorf in Sylmar—will focus on building empathy, strengthening communication skills, and preventing conflict before it occurs. Through these interactive trainings, participants will earn state-certified continuing education units (CEUs) while engaging in structured discussions that aim to redefine how justice, rehabilitation, and community engagement intersect in Los Angeles County.
Over the course of the partnership, hundreds of youth and professionals will participate in moderated focus groups designed to identify challenges, share perspectives, and develop actionable solutions. Participants will receive continuing education units.
“This collaboration represents an important step toward bridging the gap between youth housed in Probation facilities, probation officers, police officers, and other juvenile justice professionals,” said Acting Chief Deputy Robert Arcos. “Trainings like this, which foster open dialogue and set achievable goals, are essential to creating lasting, positive change in our communities.”
To measure impact and ensure accountability, Game Changer will collect pre- and post-training data to assess shifts in perception, attitudes, and behavior among both youth and participants.
“Through Game Changer, law enforcement personnel are building trust and understanding with the very youth most at risk of future encounters with law enforcement—before they return to the community,” said Sean Sheppard, Founder of Game Changer.
Since 2019, Game Changer has collaborated with youth under Probation supervision, and in 2021, the organization achieved STC accreditation. Since its founding in 2016, Game Changer has conducted more than 170 in-person and virtual training events across ten states and Canada, engaging over 3,000 community members and law enforcement officers from 57 local, state, and federal agencies.