Justice Department Notifies Los Angeles County of Investigation into Whether Conditions at Downtown L.A. Jail Violate Constitution

LOS ANGELES - The United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, human, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men's Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles.

During this investigation, which will focus on the conditions of the facility itself and not the actions of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies who staff it, the Justice Department will determine whether the County has violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.

The investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Personals Act (CRIPA), a federal statute intended to protect the rights of people incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, among other state and locally run institutions.

"Whether a person is held in a county jail, awaiting trial, or after conviction, the environmental conditions in that jail need to meet constitutional standards," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. "The Civil Rights Division is pleased to partner with the United States Attorney's Office in its investigation of Los Angeles County's Men's Central Jail to determine whether the County meets those constitutional conditions."

"Los Angeles County has a constitutional duty to provide safe, humane, and habitable conditions at Men's Central Jail," said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. "We have reached no conclusions, but these concerns warrant a thorough investigation. If the evidence reveals systemic violations, we will act."

The Justice Department has not reached any conclusion regarding allegations in this matter.

This new investigation is separate from a 2015 settlement in United States v. County of Los Angeles, (C.D. Cal., 15cv5903), which was related to mental health care provided at Los Angeles County jails.

Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via civilrights.justice.gov/report.

Assistant United States Attorney Julie A. Hamill of the Civil Division's Civil Rights Section is handling this matter.