Keep Bailing

The Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail’s metal detectors are putting people at risk.  This particular facility, the largest jail in the world housing approximately 4,000 inmates, has a total of seven scanners, and many of them are not working.  As scary as that sounds, the jail’s chief says that security has not been compromised by the frequent breaking down of metal detectors. 

Deputies are often confiscating weapons made by inmates from various scrap metals.  Sheriff’s Captain Daniel Cruz, who is responsible for overseeing the jail, stated that, “We’re stuck with old technology and stuff that breaks down regularly.”  Cruz also mentioned that out of seven metal detectors at the jail, only one is working properly at the moment.  

On Wednesday, the LA Times inquired about the non-working metal detectors and the Sheriff’s Department made a commitment to replace Read more »

Nonviolent inmates who are currently in a Los Angeles County jail could serve only 80% of their jail terms.  And, according to department officials, that number could be knocked down to them serving only 50% of their sentences.

So what’s happening here?  LA County Sheriff Lee Baca stated that these early release sentences for inmates may be the future of what’s “inevitable” as the county’s budget crisis continues. The Department currently faces a $128 million budget gap.

Department spokesman Read more »

Back in June, Los Angeles County Sheriff threatened to close Pitchess Jail in less than a week. Well, here we are three months later and Pitchess Detention Center remains open. Tonight, Sheriff Baca indicates the Department has found $25million in savings and revenues. According to the Los Angeles Times:

“There will be no jail closures, and no portion of a jail will be closed,” said Steve Whitmore, the department’s spokesman. “There will no reductions in services in unincorporated areas and no reductions in detectives.”

Instead, the department will use Read more »

Last week, in a letter to the Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Lee Baca proposed closing the minimum security jail at the Pitchess Detention Center in order to mitigate $79 million in losses to the department due to budget cuts.

The Los Angeles Daily News article states:

The proposal, if ultimately approved, would reduce the amount of time county-sentenced inmates spend in jail and potentially could increase jail violence, Read more »