Jail Oversight Committee Approved for LA County

Just weeks after an FBI investigation into abuse allegations at Los Angeles County Jails, as well as reports by the LA Times and other organizations, county supervisors have voted to approve an outside jail oversight committee to oversee the troubled corrections system.

This vote may be viewed as a blow to Los Angeles County Sheriff, Lee Baca, who felt that there was no basis for the FBI’s investigation. He has, however, admitted that he has not done a good job of watching over the country’s biggest prison system.

Sheriff Baca did not attend the meeting with county supervisors.

An outside monitor made several recommendations, which were backed by Supervisor Gloria Molina. These include removing the use of heavy flashlights and steel-toed boots, installing surveillance cameras inside the prisons and banning deputies from hitting inmates on the head.

Sheriff’s deputies union representatives disagree with these recommendations, claiming they could be expensive and unnecessary and may endanger lives of deputies.

A separate plan calls for the establishment of a commission that will conduct reviews of any complaints and help “restore public confidence.” The committee will offer potential solutions to any problems which arise.

The new committee will be selected by November 1 and will report back to the county supervisors within 120 days.

---