Jail System

Facing a federal investigation into allegations of brutality in his jails, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca is considering a bold proposal to shutter a portion of the department's most troubled lockup that has been plagued by inmate killings, excessive force by guards and poor supervision. The plan would shift about 1,800 inmates, including many of the county's most violent criminals, from the old section of Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, a sheriff's jail commander said.

An independent monitor for the Los Angeles County sheriff has found shortcomings in the department's handling of complaints against deputies by members of the public, according to a report released Monday. Specifically, a majority of the complaints filed in 2010 were not handled in a timely manner - with major stations taking 101 days on average to forward the complaints to headquarters. Department policy requires that it be done in 60 days. One complaint lingered for 659 days.

A series of violent brawls last week among hundreds of inmates at the Pitchess jail has cast a spotlight on the vexing political, economic and racial problems plaguing the county's jail system, and authorities concede there are no solid solutions in sight.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said this week that he may shutter much, if not all, of Men's Central Jail. That's good news considering that just five months ago he and the county's chief executive suggested that the only way to close the decrepit downtown facility would be for the county to shell out $1.4 billion to build two new jails and refurbish a third. Baca says he owes his change of heart to a new report that concluded the county could shut down the jail, without constructing expensive new facilities or jeopardizing public safety, by using electronic monitoring to release some pretrial detainees who pose no risk to the community.

In Los Angeles County, being sentenced to 30 days in County Jail means serving 11. That, says Sheriff Sherman Block, is why he is seeking voter approval Nov. 6 of Proposition A, a half-cent sales tax increase to fund construction and operation of new jails and juvenile halls. The measure is designed to relieve the jail overcrowding that has forced the early release since mid-1988 of 325,644 people accused or convicted of misdemeanors.

Several years ago, officials in Orange were promised that if they allowed Orange County to expand the Theo Lacy Branch Jail, only minimum- and medium-security prisoners would be housed behind the bars. Last month the promise was broken, and four dozen maximum-security inmates were moved into the facility on The City Drive. Orange City Council members and residents predictably were outraged, with some erroneously blaming Sheriff Brad Gates.

Displaying growing dissatisfaction with the Sheriff's Department, San Diegans favor removing the jails from Sheriff John Duffy's control and strongly support establishing an independent civilian board to review complaints against deputies, a Times poll shows. While San Diegans were divided on their view of overall jail conditions, the poll found that two-thirds favor creating a civilian review board and that, by a more than 3-to-2 margin, they would prefer to see the jails run by a separate corrections department answerable to the Board of Supervisors.

Los Angeles County supervisors could soon be asked to approve the county's most expensive building project ever, a $1.4-billion reconstruction and renovation of two jails, one of which has figured in allegations of inmate abuse. The officials will also have to gauge whether the potential benefits outweigh the hefty price tag, given the tough economy. Some supervisors wonder whether they may be diverting money from other vital services when cheaper jail alternatives could be considered.

A convicted killer who got caught because he'd tattooed a graphic mural of the murder scene on his chest raked in more than $30,000 in unemployment benefits while he sat in the Los Angeles County jail system, a sheriff's spokesman said. Anthony Garcia, 26, had family and friends cashing his $1,600-per-month checks while he served time, said Capt. Mike Parker, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. His accomplices would then deposit a portion of the money into Garcia's jail account.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said this week that he may shutter much, if not all, of Men's Central Jail. That's good news considering that just five months ago he and the county's chief executive suggested that the only way to close the decrepit downtown facility would be for the county to shell out $1.4 billion to build two new jails and refurbish a third. Baca says he owes his change of heart to a new report that concluded the county could shut down the jail, without constructing expensive new facilities or jeopardizing public safety, by using electronic monitoring to release some pretrial detainees who pose no risk to the community.

Facing a federal investigation into allegations of brutality in his jails, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca is considering a bold proposal to shutter a portion of the department's most troubled lockup that has been plagued by inmate killings, excessive force by guards and poor supervision. The plan would shift about 1,800 inmates, including many of the county's most violent criminals, from the old section of Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, a sheriff's jail commander said.

An autopsy has found that the sudden death of a Los Angeles County jail inmate last year was not caused by a deputy's blow to his head two days prior but may have been linked to drugs the inmate was given for his mental illness. George Rosales, 18, was found unresponsive in a single-person cell in the medical ward attached to the Twin Towers jail in October. He was pronounced dead a short time later. Rosales had been punched in the head by a deputy two days earlier after the inmate made a break for an elevator, authorities said.

A convicted killer who got caught because he'd tattooed a graphic mural of the murder scene on his chest raked in more than $30,000 in unemployment benefits while he sat in the Los Angeles County jail system, a sheriff's spokesman said. Anthony Garcia, 26, had family and friends cashing his $1,600-per-month checks while he served time, said Capt. Mike Parker, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. His accomplices would then deposit a portion of the money into Garcia's jail account.

Soon after pleading guilty to bribery Tuesday, a disgraced former L.A. County sheriff's deputy began fulfilling a key part of his deal with prosecutors: Cooperating with FBI agents investigating allegations of brutality and other misconduct by guards in the county's jails. Gilbert Michel and his attorney met with federal agents and prosecutors following his court appearance at which he admitted smuggling a cellphone to an inmate who promised him $20,000 in bribes. In a brief interview with The Times, Michel declined to elaborate on the type of help he intends to give authorities, but sheriff's officials have said he implicated himself and other deputies in improper uses of force against inmates.

In the coming weeks, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to decide whether to approve a $1.4-billion jail construction project that would help ease overcrowding at Men's Central Jail and prevent the early release of some inmates. The county's chief executive and Sheriff Lee Baca argue that the plan, which calls for rebuilding one facility and expanding a second, would make the nation's largest jail system safer and cheaper to operate. It's hard to argue with the need or the logic.

Los Angeles County supervisors could soon be asked to approve the county's most expensive building project ever, a $1.4-billion reconstruction and renovation of two jails, one of which has figured in allegations of inmate abuse. The officials will also have to gauge whether the potential benefits outweigh the hefty price tag, given the tough economy. Some supervisors wonder whether they may be diverting money from other vital services when cheaper jail alternatives could be considered.

The number of state prisoners arriving in county jails under California's controversial prison diversion program is significantly higher than officials had estimated, adding new pressure on sheriff's departments to figure out what to do with thousands of extra inmates. Prisoners convicted of some nonviolent crimes began serving their time in county jails last month as California complied with a U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring the state to lower its prison population by 30,000.

An autopsy has found that the sudden death of a Los Angeles County jail inmate last year was not caused by a deputy's blow to his head two days prior but may have been linked to drugs the inmate was given for his mental illness. George Rosales, 18, was found unresponsive in a single-person cell in the medical ward attached to the Twin Towers jail in October. He was pronounced dead a short time later. Rosales had been punched in the head by a deputy two days earlier after the inmate made a break for an elevator, authorities said.

The number of state prisoners arriving in county jails under California's controversial prison diversion program is significantly higher than officials had estimated, adding new pressure on sheriff's departments to figure out what to do with thousands of extra inmates. Prisoners convicted of some nonviolent crimes began serving their time in county jails last month as California complied with a U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring the state to lower its prison population by 30,000.

The FBI probe into the Los Angeles County jails has expanded to include allegations of a man who says he was beaten and pepper sprayed by deputies while handcuffed during a visit to see his incarcerated brother. The accusations of Gabriel Carrillo, who suffered serious bruises and cuts during the altercation on Feb. 26, have also sparked a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Carrillo contends he was the victim of an unprovoked attack, but deputies said they used force only after he assaulted them.