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Over 30 L.A. County Jail Employees Disciplined for Inmate Beatings, Says Watchdog Report
Photo by Tim Pearce, Los Gatos via Flickr
Things are not looking good for the reputation of L.A. County's jails: a new report shows that at least 30 jail employees were disciplined for attacking inmates or covering up attacks in the past two years.
The news comes on the heels of an FBI investigation into the prison system, and the revelation from a rookie jailer that he was forced to beat a mentally ill inmate.
The report was released today by the Los Angeles County's Office of Independent Review, and according to KPCC , it reveals an atmosphere of violence and deceit. It found that deputies lied about their involvement with inmate beatings, didn't report beatings that they witnessed, and used excessive force against non-resistant prisoners.
When inmates tried to report the violence to authorities, they were allegedly turned away.
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Chief Attorney Michael Gennaco, who was involved in writing the report, told KPCC that "you find some evidence of bias, and sort of a dismissive tone with regard to the inmate's complaint."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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