The ACLU is suing the Sheriff's Department, claiming that top commanders knew that inmates were being brutalized but failed to do anything about it. "This suit is directed at them because they have allowed deputies to go unpunished, covered up their behavior and for years made no effort to reform this broken system," said Peter Eliasberg, legal director of the ACLU of Southern California. more ›

A video captures a sheriff's deputy punching out a woman on a bus in Bellflower. The video shows the woman yelling at deputies, but she doesn't seem to be violent. One of the deputies punches her in the face, causing her to topple over. more ›

We haven't been hearing much about the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department investigation into Natalie Wood's death, which was reopened with great fanfare last November. That is until yesterday when someone from Access Hollywood asked the Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore about whatever happened to that Natalie Wood case. more ›

When Sheriff Lee Baca said he didn't know jailer brutality was a serious problem, this didn't sit well with some critics. If sheriff's command staff kept Baca in the dark, why weren't their heads rolling now? And now Los Angeles Times has obtained clear evidence that Baca's command staff knew jailer brutality was a problem, but the department is still saying that Baca never got the memo — literally. more ›

Is there "pervasive abuse" going on inside our jails? That's the accusation levied by the American Civil Liberties Union in a new report that targets Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, and calls for his resignation. "Sheriff Baca bears ultimate responsibility for the horrific details we uncovered compiling this report and must step down," said Peter Eliasberg, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union. more ›

The Department of Justice announced that they are probing the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in the Antelope Valley, where deputies have been accused of violating the civil rights of minority residents in Section 8 housing. "In interviews with affected individuals and community representatives, we heard troubling accounts of allegedly unjustified stops and searches," Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said, in a statement. more ›

Sex in jail is illegal, but if it's going to happen, it had better be safe. At least that's the wisdom behind the eight-year-old program that "makes condoms available once a week to 300 inmates within the segregated unit" at the Men's Central Jail in Downtown Los Angeles, explains the Daily News. more ›

It's hard to find a good Wookiee these days, so LAPD is looking for a naughty one. A Chewbacca impersonator allegedly sexually assaulted a Marilyn Monroe look-alike near Hollywood and Highland last month, though the crime was just reported yesterday. When authorities showed up to investigate, the suspect fled. Police are presumably looking for a man who is tall, dark, and hairy. There has been no comment from LA County Sheriff Lee Baca, who may... more ›

- Michael Moore says he's losing weight thanks to eating fruits and vegetables - AP - Speaking of big fellas, Shaq's new tv show didn't do so well in its debut - Orlando Sentinel - Lee Baca sez Paris Hilton had something so unique that the LA jail docs couldn't cure her - People - Judge okays MTA fare hike, and then drives his import sedan home (probably) - LA Times - California tries... more ›

- Gustavo Arellano, who writes the syndicated column “¡Ask a Mexican!” for the OC Weekly, is profiled in the New York Times. - Hollywood loves top cop Sheriff, Lee Baca. Now he faces questions over his handling of Paris Hilton. - From University of Virginia to UCLA, here comes Gene Block. - Summing up City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo's last couple weeks. Photo taken at the UCLA Sculpture Garden by Zach Behrens for LAist.com... more ›

• The Atwater Village Newbie's wife, Mrs. Newbie, wins the Atwater Village Street Fair cookie contest - AVN • Al Sharpton met with Sheriff Lee Baca today regarding Paris Hilton - Fox 11 • Former Fox 11 TV reporter / LAPD sergeant Rod Bernsen cleared of accusations that he touched two 12-year-old boys in a hot tub - LA Times • Deadly auto accident on the PCH near the Ventura County line claims one... more ›

Tears, shrieks and wails broke out in the LA courtroom where Paris Hilton was sent back to jail just moments ago. Crying, "MOM! MOM! MOM!" the heiress was lead out of the downtown court, the nexus of mayhem, hordes of press, and gaggles of paparazzi. L.A. Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini told the media that Judge Michael T. Sauer had heard from the County Council's office (representing the Sheriff's Dept.), the city attorney, and... more ›

While Paris might be getting her first full night of sleep in her West Hollywood digs, she won't be sleeping in tomorrow morning after gorging on cupcakes, as she has been ordered to go back to court tomorrow at 9 a.m. and face the judge who put her in the clink in the first place. Apparently, even though the Sheriffs department, can alter the terms of a prison sentence (as they did when they... more ›

Sheriff Lee Baca promised that professional party girl Paris Hilton would be treated just like any one else, but lo and behold, just days after she walked into the big hose, she slinked out in the middle of the night after complaining. The Associated Press is saying that she was released for an "unspecified medical problem" but TMZ is reporting that she was let free because jail wasn't agreeing with her nerves. Law enforcement... more ›

In a deft version of doublespeak, LA County Sheriff Lee Baca spoke out of both sides of his mouth today as he prepped the press and paps about what they can expect when Paris Hilton goes to jail on Tuesday. In one breath Baca said that Paris will be treated like any other inmate at the Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood, saying that her food will be the same as the other women's... more ›

Sheriff Lee Baca reportedly asked that the arresting deputy re-write the arrest report so as to withhold the anti-Semitic statements Mel Gibson allegedly delivered early Friday morning, TMZ.com says. Sources tell TMZ that Lt. Crystal Miranda told the arresting deputy that Captain Tom Martin talked to Sheriff Lee Baca who expressed concern that the explosive report might leak to the media and that it needed to be re-written in a sanitized form. Top Hollywood... more ›

That's Sheriff Lee Baca and the State Senate Majority Leader from East Los Angeles, Gloria Romero up there. Should we listen to Baca who says kids should be in school today and parents shouldn't be "hiding behind them" or should we just be following the Senator? She's out walking with her constituents right now. more ›

The LA Times held its first publisher's forum last night with an impressive panel gathered to discuss homelessness. LA Times columnist Steve Lopez, Sheriff Lee Baca, Bobby Shriver (Mayor pro tem of Santa Monica), LAPD Chief William Bratton, Lamp Community head Casey Horan and Dr. Marvin Southard, Director of the LA County Department of Mental Health sat in directors chairs as LA Times Editorial Page Editor Andrés Martinez moderated. That's Martinez in the picture. But first we had a nice opening from the Mayor. more ›

So when the fights first broke out at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic last week, people tried to explain why. Some say that dorm-style jails are at fault. Some blame racial tensions. At one point, a clergy tour of the facility set off a new series of disturbances. more ›

Remember Measure A? The one that would have raised taxes to hire more law enforcement officers in LA County? The one that Sheriff Lee Baca pushed hard for, warning of a crime apocalypse on city streets if the proposition failed? more ›