INSPECTION OF JAILS 

AS MANDATED BY CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE

INTRODUCTION

Every Los Angeles County Grand Jury is tasked with the yearly inspection of the County's jail facilities. This charge is mandated in Section 919(a) and (b) of the California Penal Code and provides that Grand Juries shall inquire into the condition and management of jails within the County and, as necessary, into the cases of unindicted persons in custody on criminal charges.

Minimum standards for jail facilities are covered under Title 15 of the California Administrative Code. Each facility maintains manuals and regulations for the operation of the unit. In addition to Grand Jury inspections of the County jails, other commissions and bodies concerned with regulating and monitoring the facilities include the Los Angeles County Institutional Commission, the State Fire Marshall and local fire agencies, and the County Department of Health Services.

Background

The Los Angeles County jail system is the largest in the nation. It has a daily inmate population of over 21,000. There are also 88 municipalities within the County that operate detention facilities. Approximately 60% of the inmate population of these facilities are being held for pretrial. The County of Los Angeles also confines approximately 4,000 juveniles.

Holding facilities in Los Angeles County include cells in the Superior, Municipal and Juvenile Court buildings. The City of Los Angeles' Police Department and smaller incorporated cities hold arrestees until arraignment hearing, release, or transfer to the custody of the Sheriff's Department. The County Sheriff's Department has the primary responsibility for the detention of inmates. Los Angeles County Detention Facilities may hold inmates up to 48 hours, house them for the duration of their sentences, or hold them until they are transferred to a State Prison.

METHODOLOGY

For the purpose of the Grand Jury's jail inspections, the Jails Committee found it best to assign two or more committee members to visit each individual jail, unless it was a designated visit by the Jails Committee as a whole, or the entire Grand Jury. An inspection form was devised with suggestions from previous Grand Juries, the Los Angeles PoliceDepartment, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the American Civil Liberties Union. This form focused on jail management and control, security, safety, and food, as well as health and sanitation.

Inspection Procedures

The Committee's two or more person teams made unannounced visits to previously selected facilities. Upon arrival at the facility the team would ask to see the Watch Commander or Officer-in-Charge and inform him they would like to inspect the facility. The team would then inspect the facility using the Jails Committee Inspection Report.

FINDINGS

Our Committee's teams completed thorough inspections of dozens of County facilities. The general condition of County jail facilities, using the criteria established in our inspection forms, was excellent. The Committee found management staffs of detention facilities were well trained, knowledgeable and cooperative. Records were provided upon request. One problem, and recommendation, that was observed by members of the Committee is noted below.

Van Nuys Jails

In August of 1998 members of the Jails Committee visited the Van Nuys Jail and noted the following.

Located within the jail cells were cast iron metal frames which contained inmate mattresses. These mattresses are utilized by the inmates for sleep or rest. These frames appeared to be in a serious state of decay. Each frame was severely rusted. Many of the frames had missing metal parts and deep gouges in the metal. The condition of the frames was so bad it was not inconceivable to imagine inmates falling through the metal frames and severely injuring themselves. The committee members were informed the jail had fifty brand new mattresses for the inmates but the severe rust on the bed frames would quickly ruin each new mattress.

While ignoring this issue would save money in the short run, the cost of each ruined mattress will add up in the long run and be a significant waste of money. In addition, the medical cost of treating each injured inmate must be factored in when evaluating the cost of doing nothing about this problem.

This problem represents a significant safety issue for the inmates, as well as the jail personnel. Inmates could be injured on these bed frames and require medical treatment. In addition, when inmates become aware their safety is at risk, it may cause problems for jail personnel who must maintain order in the facility.

The condition of these metal bed frames, and the knowledge that this condition could result in injuries to inmates, exposes the City of Los Angeles to unnecessary liability.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Los Angeles Police Department:

Immediately refurbish or replace the metal bed frames at the Van Nuys Jail.