Thirty officers at the Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall are accused of coordinating “gladiator fights” between minors at the center over a six-month period.

The orchestration of “gladiator fights” is a grotesque extension of this systemic neglect. It reflects a culture within correctional institutions more broadly that dehumanizes inmates, viewing them as sources of entertainment rather than individuals in need of guidance and support.

A Los Angeles County grand jury indictment unsealed Monday revealed 30 Probation Department employees, ranging from detention service officers to at least one supervisor, have been charged with allowing — and even encouraging — 69 fights,