State AG's office sues over 'inhumane conditions' at LA County jails

LOS ANGELES - The state Attorney General's office is suing Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department over what it calls "persistent unconstitutional and inhumane conditions" in the jail system. 

What we know:

The lawsuit, announced on Monday, is the result of an investigation that began in 2021. 

According to Attorney General Rob Bonta, the probe uncovered a range of issues within the Los Angeles County jail system, including increasing inmate deaths despite a smaller jail population.

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Other issues cited in the lawsuit are overcrowded facilities, inadequate or delayed access to medical and dental care, and a lack of basic hygiene supplies.

The suit also mentions unsanitary conditions such as subpar plumbing, inadequate air conditioning, rat and roach infestations, and feces smeared on walls.

What they're saying:

Bonta said during a news conference that the lawsuit is about "comprehensive reform."

Bonta said that while the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Sheriff Robert Luna have made some reforms to patrol operations, "they have remained obstinate on the issue of improving the unsafe and unconstitutional conditions at county jails."

Bonta added, "We're going to court because we have no other choice. We will not let Los Angeles County continue to ignore its responsibility to the health, safety, and well-being of the individuals under its care."

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Bonta also stated, "When we're talking about feces smeared on the walls and medical care denied to those in need, we're talking about a disrespect for the basic dignity of our fellow humans and a violation of their most fundamental constitutional rights. We're confident the court will agree."

The other side:

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the lawsuit by saying the department has made significant progress in jail reform over the past two years and the complaint is based on outdated information. 

"Our Department has been fully engaged and cooperative with the California Department of Justice throughout this entire investigation. I want to commend our custody personnel whose dedication and hard work have been the driving force behind the measurable and significant progress we’ve made across all our major federal settlement 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. We are not waiting for mandates, we are proactively advancing reforms to build a safer, more accountable custody environment. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and confident in our ability to continue delivering meaningful change for our community," Sheriff Robert Luna said.