Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
People In Psychiatric Distress Were Shackled For Multiple Days At LA County Inmate Reception Center

Conditions for some of the mental health population at L.A. County’s Inmate Reception Center were particularly bad last month, according to the Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant Inspector General Cathleen Beltz told the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission last week that she investigated after receiving a tip about overcrowding within the IRC. She said she discovered that on Aug. 22, there were 22 “front bench” patients — people who come in with psychiatric distress or drug or alcohol intoxication or withdrawal — who had been tethered with handcuffs and chains for nearly 24 hours while waiting for a bed.
Beltz found one patient had been shackled for two-and-a-half days.
Commissioner Lael Rubin called the situation “horrific.”
Assistant Sheriff Brendan Corbett said the conditions were an anomaly, blaming a spike in COVID-19 cases that required more room for quarantining and a plumbing “crisis” at Men’s Central Jail that briefly prevented the department from opening up medium observation housing.
“This was 100% driven by COVID,” Corbett said.
Beltz agreed that COVID-19 exacerbated the situation. But, she added, “It is also true ... that long wait times in the IRC — especially for the mentally ill — are not new.”
Part of the problem is that the number of people with mental health disorders incarcerated in L.A. County jails continues to go up.
“[There are] so many people with mental health disorders in the jail — growing — and then so many people stuck in the Inmate Reception Center, unable to move through the jail system,” said Kristen Ochoa, Medical Director for L.A. County’s Office of Diversion and Reentry. “It’s all because the jail, in and of itself, is overcrowded,” she added.
As of Tuesday, Ochoa said the jail mental health population was at 6,013 — about 40% of the total number of incarcerated people.
Even as the overall jail population was reduced to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the mental health population increased. Ochoa said that between 2012 and 2018, people with mental health issues made up 30% or less of the overall jail population.
“This is really sad,” Ochoa said, letting out a sigh.
The county plans to tear down the nearly 60-year-old Men’s Central Jail and replace it with increased mental health treatment options. A 145-page proposal prepared by the County Office of Diversion and Reentry lays out a three-pronged strategy that includes diverting about 4,500 people with mental health issues out of jail and investing “significantly” in beds and services within the community.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
-
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
-
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
-
The bill would increase penalties for metal recyclers who possess or purchase metal used in public infrastructure.
-
The new ordinance applies to certain grocers operating in the city and has led to some self-checkout lanes to shutter.
-
Children asked to waive right to see a judge in exchange for $2,500