Three deaths in Los Angeles' Men's Central Jail have prompted Vera California's director Michelle Parris to call for immediate action, as 2023's death toll reaches 29 in the country's largest jail system, according to a press release.
"The Vera Institute of Justice calls for immediate action to stop the ongoing and tragic loss of life in Los Angeles County jails," Parris said. "The county's continued failure to address the issue puts incarcerated Angelenos in undeniable peril. In the course of only six days, three more people—one just 20 years old—have died in the decrepit and dangerous Men's Central Jail (MCJ), a facility with conditions even county officials have called 'unconscionable.'"
In the wake of three deaths occurring between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9 in Los Angeles' Men's Central Jail (MCJ), the Vera Institute of Justice has called for urgent measures to address what might become the deadliest year on record for the country's largest jail system. These recent deaths raise this year's toll to 29, with the situation drawing sharp criticism and calls for expedited action.
Parris' statement brings into focus the County Board of Supervisors' commitment made in 2020 to prioritize care and use jail as a last resort. Despite these promises and the agreement to close MCJ, the actual plan has not yet been adopted, further delaying progress.
The lack of progress is evident in the failure of the Jail Closure Implementation Team—created and funded by the Board—to publish a single progress report in more than a year. The situation is characterized by Parris as reflecting a county not serious about its commitment to closing MCJ, which has been "consistently ranked among the 10 worst facilities in the country."
The Vera Institute of Justice, represented by Parris, advocates for a clear path forward. The Board must acknowledge the emergency, commit to a timeline for closing MCJ within the next two years and adopt a "decarceration" plan for MCJ immediately, Parris said.
A strong emphasis is placed on the creation of supportive pretrial services, focusing on links to care and safely increasing releases. Significant investment in countywide pretrial services and community-based mental health beds are cited as critical needs to save lives, promote safety, decrease the jail population and achieve the long-standing goal of closing MCJ.
