The US Department of Justice will be stepping in to protect mentally ill inmates in LA County jails. 

The decision comes in light of a recent federal government report on the state of mental care in jails. It revealed jail officials often did little to prevent suicides among mentally ill inmates. 

The brief says dimly lit, vermin-infested cells along with a lack of oversight led to four suicides in 2012 and ten the year after that.

Civil rights attorney Ron Kaye spoke with Take Two about what the decision will mean for inmates. 

Press the play button above to hear more. 

KPCC reporter Frank Stoltze has even more here.