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State Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County, alleging constitutional violations and cruel treatment of detainees in the nation's largest jail system.
The legal action targets L.A. County, its Sheriff's Department, and County Correctional Health Services, claiming systemic failures to ensure basic humane conditions and adequate healthcare for those in custody.
"We can't wait any longer," Bonta said during a downtown news conference. "We need comprehensive reform and we need it now."
County detention facilities house roughly 14,000 people daily. State investigators found appalling conditions, including rodent and insect infestations, broken sewage systems, and unsafe drinking water, court filings show.
Inmates receive rotten food and cannot access essential hygiene supplies, including soap, toilet paper, and feminine products, the legal complaint states. Living spaces lack proper sanitation and climate control.
The lawsuit details alarming death rates within custody facilities. Government data reveal that avoidable fatalities represented 40% of all deaths in county jails over the past decade.
The court filing seeks mandated improvements to medical services, living environments, and grievance systems within county detention centers. Bonta's office began its civil rights probe of the jail system in 2021.
The legal action demands sweeping operational changes across all jail facilities. The California Attorney General's Office seeks court orders requiring adequate medical, dental, and psychiatric care for all detainees, safeguards against harm, and livable housing conditions. State attorneys also want enhanced complaint processes and disability accommodations, according to documents filed in L.A. County Superior Court.
County detention centers have remained under federal judicial supervision since 1979. Yet, violations continue, the lawsuit argues. Court oversight has persisted for more than four decades, according to a Davis Vanguard investigation. Multiple legal settlements and monitoring efforts have failed to create lasting improvements, state attorneys contend. County officials have spent roughly $309 million on infrastructure improvements and operational changes in recent years.
Psychiatric services are vital for preventing jail deaths, especially suicides. County jails now function as mental health facilities, according to Dr. Abdolreza Saadabadi, a detention center psychiatrist interviewed by CalMatters. California law enforcement leaders recognize suicide prevention as among their greatest challenges, requiring thorough psychiatric evaluations upon booking and ongoing supervision.
Instead of addressing root causes or devoting resources to resolving acknowledged violations, defendants have engaged in a longstanding pattern of resisting oversight and accountability, state prosecutors wrote in their filing.
L.A. County manages eight correctional facilities and holds more incarcerated people than any other local jurisdiction nationwide. County leaders have spent millions fighting previous legal challenges over detention conditions.
Sheriff Robert Luna issued a written response stating his department continues efforts to meet existing legal agreements. "Despite ongoing challenges, including a rising inmate population and an aging Men's Central Jail, our staff have remained committed to providing constitutional, humane care to those in our custody," Luna said.
Luna emphasized that his department implements changes voluntarily rather than waiting for judicial mandates.
Bonta's office has conducted similar probes throughout California, including ongoing examinations of law enforcement agencies in Antioch and Riverside County.
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