California AG Sues Over ‘Humanitarian Crisis’ in LA Jails (2)

Los Angeles County and its sheriff’s department have failed to stop a “humanitarian crisis” in county jails, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Monday.

Over the past four years around 40% of the more than 200 deaths in LA Sheriff’s Department jails, such as overdoses and suicides, could have been prevented, Bonta said in a news conference announcing a lawsuit in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County.

Sheriffs are dragging their feet on investigations and reform, and healthcare in the jails remains severely inadequate, Bonta said.

“When we’re talking about feces smeared on the walls and medical care denied to those in need, we’re talking about a disrespect for the basic dignity of our fellow humans, in a violation of their most fundamental, constitutional rights,” Bonta said.

He said problems are “particularly acute” at Men’s Central Jail, which remains open despite county leaders voting in 2020 to close it.

LA county jails in 2025 have recorded about one death each week, and the county is on track for more people to die incarcerated this year than at any point in the past 20 years, the lawsuit said.

Bonta, who has engaged in high-profile clashes with President Donald Trump’s administration this year, has made prison and jail reform a priority as the state’s top prosecutor.

Bonta in July asked a state court judge to place LA County’s juvenile halls under a receivership. He said then it was the California Justice Department’s first request ever for state control against a public institution. Bonta compared LA jail conditions to juvenile halls Monday.

“They’ve refused to meet even the most basic constitutional standards,” Bonta said. “That’s why we also recently had to ask a court to put in place a receivership over Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls. They too, rather than make progress on the needed reform, have stood still. And unacceptable conditions remain there as well.”

LASD’s information bureau said in a statement Monday the complaint uses outdated information and “lacks support from any substantiated pattern or practice of unlawful conduct,” adding that reforms and progress are underway. The LA District Attorney’s office declined to comment.

The case is Bonta v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, Cal. Super. Ct., docket number unavailable, complaint filed 9/8/25.