Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Los Angeles Superior CourtView official source (lacourt.org)
California County
Los Angeles County Juvenile Defense
Los Angeles County handles more juvenile cases than any other county in California. Local practice matters here: courthouse assignment, probation supervision, and program availability shape what actually happens to your child.
County seat: Los Angeles
Last updated August 29, 2026.
Los Angeles County runs the largest juvenile system in California. Where your child's case is heard, who supervises them, and which programs are available all change the realistic outcome.
Juvenile defense in Los Angeles County
Juvenile delinquency petitions in Los Angeles County are filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, and prosecuted by the district attorney's office. The county probation department investigates, prepares reports for the court, and supervises youth after disposition. Because the county is large and its juvenile operations have changed repeatedly in recent years, the courthouse handling a case and the facility where a detained child is held should always be confirmed directly with the court or probation rather than assumed.
Juvenile courthouse
Juvenile delinquency matters are heard in the Superior Court's juvenile division. Confirm the assigned courthouse for a specific case with the court before appearing.
Eastlake Juvenile Court
1601 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Other juvenile courthouse locations also hear delinquency matters; verify the assigned location for your case.
Official websiteJuvenile detention
Los Angeles County juvenile halls (operated by the Probation Department)
Detention placement in Los Angeles County has changed in recent years. Confirm the current facility and visiting rules with the Probation Department before traveling.
Official websiteCounty probation department
Los Angeles County Probation Department
Investigates cases, prepares disposition reports for the court, and supervises youth on probation and in placement.
Official websiteLocal juvenile court process notes
- Detention decisions come quickly after an arrest, so early defense involvement matters more here than almost anywhere else.
- The probation report often frames how the court views your child before anyone testifies; counsel should be involved before it is finalized.
- Program and placement options vary across the county, and availability changes — do not assume a program described online is currently open.
Adult-court transfer in Los Angeles County
In California, a prosecutor must ask the juvenile court to transfer a case to adult criminal court, and the court decides after a hearing. Los Angeles County is where many of the state's most serious juvenile allegations are filed, so transfer exposure should be assessed early rather than after a petition is sustained.
Read about being tried as an adult →Serious juvenile charges we handle
After an arrest in Los Angeles County
- 1Tell your child to stay silent about the allegation until a lawyer is present — including on recorded jail calls.
- 2Find out whether your child is detained and which facility or courthouse the case is assigned to.
- 3Write down what you know while it is fresh: times, witnesses, locations, and who contacted you.
- 4Get counsel involved before the detention hearing and before the probation interview.
- 5Preserve school records, counseling records, and anything showing your child's positive history.
Attorney coverage
We represent juveniles in Los Angeles County juvenile court. This page describes the county's public court and probation system; it does not describe a physical office location in the county.
Frequently asked questions
Where will my child's juvenile case be heard in Los Angeles County?
Delinquency matters are heard in the juvenile division of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. More than one courthouse handles juvenile matters, so confirm the assigned location with the court or with counsel rather than assuming.
Who supervises my child if the court orders probation?
The Los Angeles County Probation Department. It also investigates the case and prepares the report the court relies on at disposition.
Do I need a lawyer if my child has no prior record?
Early representation matters most in the first days, when detention and filing decisions are made. A lack of prior record is an argument counsel can make — but only if it is presented before those decisions are locked in.
Official local resources
Public court, detention, and probation resources for this county.
- Los Angeles County Probation DepartmentCounty of Los AngelesView official source (probation.lacounty.gov)
- California Courts self-help — juvenile delinquencyJudicial Council of CaliforniaView official source (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov)
Related California pages
Talk through a Los Angeles County juvenile case
Tell us what happened, which courthouse the case is in, and where things stand. We will explain the next step clearly and confidentially.