Keep Bailing

The LA Times has reported that command staff within the LA County Jail system first raised alarms about inmate abuse to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca almost two years ago.

The latest investigative article brings continued scrutiny to the nation’s largest jail system.  Reports of brutality against inmates, employee misconduct, and the use of unnecessary and excessive force by sheriffs and other jail personnel have mounted in recent weeks.

One of the reports found that deputies crafted narratives ‘dramatized to justify’ force. Reportedly, jailers delayed using weapons that could end fights, like pepper spray and stun guns, to ‘dispense appropriate jailhouse justice’.

Although supervisors had, at times, recommended Read more »

The LA County Board of Supervisors agrees with suggestions that the county’s jails need more oversight.

The LA Times Tuesday reported that two proposals; which provide for greater employee scrutiny; were unanimously approved.

One of the plans, backed by Supervisor Gloria Molina, called for implementing recommendations made earlier by an outside monitor, including installing surveillance cameras, eliminating the use of heavy flashlights and steel-toed shoes, and banning deputies from striking inmates in the head.

The other plan, backed by Read more »

LA County Sheriff’s officials continue to remain under fire amidst charges of inmate abuse, according to a report by the LA Times.

A number of jail employees, 30 in total, are now facing disciplinary action for abusing and/or covering up abuse of inmates.  The Office of Independent Review (OIR), which serves as a “watchdog” for the department, found that stories were often forged as a means of “justifying” physical action against inmates.  Disproving those claims, they said, is often difficult to prove.

The report further stated that “only a fraction” of jail employees who used excessive force punished for their actions.  The full report, prepared by OIR head Michael Gennaco, is expected to be released later today.

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Gennaco said jail surveillance cameras had captured footage of Read more »

Fox Los Angeles reported  that Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca has a new jail plan. If approved by the County Board of Supervisors, the $1.4 billion plan would allow for the demolition and rebuilding of the downtown Men’s Central Jail and would also allow for a new, women’s jail to be constructed at Pitchess Detention Center.

The proposal comes amidst staunch allegations of inmate abuse by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) . County officials believe that prison populations could be better managed should construction plans be approved.

Baca told Fox that the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail is antiquated and if the new facility is approved it could reduce annual operation costs by approximately $23.7 million. The current facility, which houses about 5,000 inmates, was built in 1963.

Baca further noted the new facilities would allow Read more »

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said he’s taking allegations of inmate abuse within the LA County jail system seriously.

In response to recent claims made by former department rookie Joshua Sather that he had been instructed by a supervisor to beat a mentally ill inmate, as well as other allegations brought forth by the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU), Baca said he has created two separate task forces address concerns.

“A number of allegations of misconduct including excessive force by Sheriff’s Department jail staff have been brought to my attention,” Baca said in a statement. “In order to address Read more »

George Rosales, an 18-year old Los Angeles County Jail inmate died last week after allegedly being punched in the head by a sheriff’s deputy. It’s been reported that Rosales, who was incarcerated  for armed robbery on July 27, was struck after he attempted to make a run for a prison elevator.

The inmate had been seen drinking water and appeared fine just 15 minutes earlier, prison officials say, but during a subsequent check they found Rosales in a state of distress. Rosales died during ambulance transport to a local hospital.

Sheriffs investigators say Read more »

Longtime Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has come under attack recently from a civil rights group, which is demanding his resignation because of the problems stemming from the jail system. The group, the American Civil Liberties Union, calls the system corrupt and says that it encourages fear and deputy brutality.

Sheriff Baca and his deputies are responsible for the supervision of more than 15,000 inmates in the LA County jail system, the busiest in the country. The Sheriff disputes the claims that have been made by the ACLU. The ACLU stated during a news conference that the sheriff and his top commanders were intentionally Read more »

Incarcerated inmates at the Los Angeles County Jail are still finding ways to victimize people through phone fraud schemes, according to authorities.

One of the newest schemes coming to light is one in which the inmate will call a number and yell “Emergency!” when the recording plays stating that the phone call is from an inmate at the jail.

If the person on the receiving end accepts the call, the inmate will Read more »

With the upcoming release of Johannes Mehserle on Monday from an LA County Jail, Mayor Jean Quan is confident that the city is fully prepared to handle any protests that will follow.

 Johannes Mehserle, a former BART police officer, was sentenced to two years after he shot and killed Oscar Grant, an unarmed train passenger, in 2009. A judge ordered that Mehserle be released from jail on Monday after serving less than half of his two-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter.

Quan said in a written statement: “Although we expect Read more »

Like you, we’ve followed Lindsey Lohan from child star to Lynwood Jail and back again. The new member of the Gotti movie cast could be facing some serious trouble when she heads back to court today, according to E!.

Lohan will be going before a judge for both a preliminary hearing on her theft case and a probation-revocation hearing to determine whether she’s been in enough trouble to be sent back to Lynwood jail, Los Angeles County’s women’s jail, immediately.

Here’s a breakdown of what the star is in for today:

Lindsey’s Preliminary Hearing

The prosecution faces the task Read more »