The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is coming under more and more national criticism because of the problem of deputy gangs, which has existed for fifty years.
The state of the jails was getting worse, and the long-running legal disputes over them appeared to be nowhere nearer their conclusion. In addition, the department lacked personnel, was embroiled in controversy, and frequently disagreed with county authorities.
Many of those issues are still unsolved a year later, and detractors claim the new sheriff hasn’t accomplished anything in his tenure. The courts have impeded efforts to identify the gangs’ purported members, and the agency has not yet banned tattoos associated with deputy gangs.
According to county data, the effective vacancy rate for sworn positions is about 20%, the rate of deaths in jail is rising, and in June, the county narrowly averted a contempt hearing due to conditions in its lockups.
Deputy-involved shootings have decreased so far this year, and fewer people are incarcerated. Less force is being used by deputies against prisoners, and the department installed a timer system to ensure that mentally ill detainees were not left chained to benches for extended periods. Additionally, Luna told The Times last week in an interview at the Hall of Justice that he is working on a plan to close the county’s oldest jail.
He declared, “Men’s Central Jail needs to be replaced.” “What we need is something that can address the future requirements for custody—something akin to a care campus.”
