LA County Reaches Settlement with ACLU to Improve Conditions in Jails

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County has reached an agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union to significantly improve conditions in the jail system. 

The agreement filed today with Judge Dean D. Pregerson in Rutherford v. Luna recognizes the improved conditions in the Inmate Reception Center resulting from the remedial actions taken by the county in recent months to improve waiting times, overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. This work addresses the root causes of the issues raised in the ACLU’s Motion for Contempt and resolves that motion with no finding of contempt or contempt sanctions for the County.

Under the agreement, which requires the judge’s approval to become final, the county will agree to a series of limits on how long those in custody may be held in various areas to ensure more humane treatment.

The settlement recognizes corrective actions taken by the county and allows the county to build on the focus achieved during the past several months to continue to:

—Decrease the jail population while balancing public safety concerns;

—Expand the capacity for community-based care for those who can be safely released or diverted from custody;

—Increase staffing to provide more robust care for those who must remain in custody;

—Align how the county uses its jail facilities to better address the mental health needs of the jail population; and

—Adjust operations to support compliance goals and better track progress.

The county has established a DOJ compliance office to comply with the remaining provisions of the U.S. Department of Justice settlement agreement to improve conditions in the county’s jail system for those with mental health conditions. The county’s Chief DOJ Compliance Officer Margaret L. Carter has been empowered to set priorities, expedite approvals and sustain focus across multiple departments to accomplish this goal.