Demand Los Angeles County officials take immediate and decisive steps now to save lives in LA County Jails
The Problem
Infrequent access to soap and water. Blood and fecal matter stained walls. These are the kinds of squalid conditions over 17,000 people are subjected to in Los Angeles County Jails.
With COVID-19 threatening the health and lives of untold numbers of Angelenos, confinement in a jail facility for even a few hours could turn into a death sentence for many.
When schools are cancelling classes, employees are tele-commuting, and Angelenos are bracing to shelter-in-place for weeks, we cannot leave our most vulnerable and marginalized populations to suffer.
Incarcerated and unhoused individuals will bear the brunt of this pandemic without sufficient preparations. Reform LA Jails, in coalition with other criminal justice reform organizations, have prepared a list of recommendations to protect ALL Angelenos.
Our Demands
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We must reduce overcrowding and protect the most vulnerable incarcerated people by prioritizing early release options. Early release should be applied to people held in pre-trial, the elderly, people with underlying health conditions (pregnancy, HIV, etc), technical violations, and those with less than 90 days on their sentences. In addition, the vulnerable population must include the 3,300 people with mental illness that the RAND study determined could be safely and better served in a community placement.
Reduce Arrest & Booking
Los Angeles law enforcement should suspend arrests (i.e. drug arrests, sex work, status offenses, etc), including suspending arrests for bench warrants. For violations that do result in an arrest, LASD should default to non-custodial sentences like citations. The County should also vacate all fines and fees so that people are not at risk of incarceration due to non-payment.
Improve Custody Conditions
Los Angeles Jails should undergo deep cleaning to protect those remaining in jail during this time; in addition, we need early screening tests and social distancing for all individuals who live, work, or visit Los Angeles County Jails. The County must also institute video visitation for ALL incarcerated people in LA County and allow for daily free phone calls and expand the hours calls can be made; in this time of uncertainty, everyone should be able to check in with their loved ones.
Prioritize Civil Liberties & Enhance Funding for Community Based Services
Protecting the Los Angeles Jail populations civil liberties as well as the families and communities they come from during this emergency must be prioritized. We stand ready to ensure their rights are not infringed upon. Moreover, county leaders should increase funding to local service providers so they can supply services to those who are released from jail especially in this moment but also beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
take action
We’re suing Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors to save lives from coronavirus in L.A. County Jails. Add your name as a citizen plaintiff today.
We already knew jails and prisons were public health hazards, but now, COVID-19 is exposing the cracks in the system. It’s unacceptable to allow thousands of Angelenos to squander in cages during a global viral pandemic.
Reform LA Jails, in concert with other criminal justice reform coalition partners, are taking Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors to court.
We can raise our voices with such intensity and fervor that the Los Angeles criminal justice system will be forced to listen. We can and will demand the respect, health, and wellness that all Angelenos deserve.
If you support our lawsuit, sign on as a citizen plaintiff today.
Demand Los Angeles County officials take immediate and decisive steps now to save lives in LA County Jails
Given the urgency of this situation, we are calling on the Los Angeles County Sheriff, the Department of Health Services-Correctional Health Services, the District Attorney, the Los Angeles County Superior Court, and the Board of Supervisors to act immediately to protect the lives of the people impacted by our county’s jail system.
Demand Los Angeles County Health Officers — Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Dr. Muntu Davis — protect incarcerated populations from COVID-19
Once Drs. Ferrer and Davis rightly determine that Los Angeles County jails are overcrowded and hazardous to the health of those who are incarcerated, in light of the coronavirus crisis, Sheriff Villanueva has the authority to decrease the jail population.
ABOUT US
Powered by Reform LA Jails, JusticeLA COVID-19 Response is a diverse team of more than 40 local and statewide organizations dedicated to fighting for justice and protecting the most vulnerable among us. That starts with ensuring Los Angeles leaders take immediate action to protect the incarcerated population, employees, and communities from the threat of COVID-19.
On the heels of two monumental victories: the passing of Measure R in the March Primary and the adoption of the Los Angeles County Alternatives to Incarceration roadmap, fueled by JusticeLA, we are ensuring that the most pressing issue facing incarcerated people today receives adequate attention. We demand the County respond immediately and courageously to save lives.
LA Jail COVID-19 Tips
If you have a loved one, friend, or family member who is incarcerated and has additional information about how Los Angeles County Jails are (or aren’t) handling COVID-19, we would love to hear from you.