Full Notification

Since Sheriff Robert G. Luna took office, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been fully engaged, cooperative and transparent with the California Department of Justice (CA-DOJ) it its broad “pattern and practice” civil rights investigation, which began on January 22, 2021. Despite a growing inmate population, the Department has maintained an upward trajectory of progress in its four current federal settlement agreements related to the County jails.

The Department has consistently demonstrated responsiveness during the investigation, producing over one million documents in response to 23 subpoenas encompassing five separate County entities and fulfilling over 1,000 specific requests for information spanning a wide range of topics. The complaint filed is based on outdated information and lacks support from any substantiated pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. Further, many of the provisions have already been completed or are being addressed by existing Department practices or ongoing Federal Settlement Agreements.

The Department remains focused on meaningful reform, not only in connection with this CA-DOJ investigation, but also across its five existing settlement agreements. Sheriff Luna has made it clear that he is not waiting for external mandates to drive change but is proactively improving practices and procedures where reform is needed.

Over the past two years, the Department has made rapid and measurable progress toward compliance with all major federal settlement agreements. Independent monitors, federal agencies, and oversight bodies have recognized the Department’s increasing compliance with key requirements of the Rosas, DOJ, Rutherford settlements. Through diligent corrective actions, ongoing collaboration with monitors, and a strong commitment to transparency, the Department has made significant improvements towards full compliance and has achieved substantial compliance with several critical standards.

For example, in Rosas v. Baca, the Department was required to implement a corrective action plan to prevent excessive force in the downtown jails. The Department has implemented 100 out of 104 recommendations from the court-appointed panel. Additionally, in the DOJ Settlement Agreement (United States v. County of Los Angeles), which governs the treatment of inmates with mental illness across all County jail facilities, a recent report filed in May 2025 found that the County and the Sheriff’s Department to be in substantial compliance with 50 of the 69 provisions, partial compliance with 15, and in non-compliance with only one. Lastly, in Rutherford v. Luna, which arose in June 2023 over the concern of processing time of individuals at the Inmate Reception Center (IRC), the Department has significantly improved the IRC through a series of corrective actions to shorten wait times and speed medical and mental health screening for individuals arriving at the LA County Jails. As of July 2025, the Sheriff’s Department and LA County have been in substantial compliance with all IRC-related requirements set by Rutherford v. Luna for six consecutive months without interruption.

The Department has invested approximately $309 million dollars in custody facility upgrades and operational improvements. These investments have supported a range of enhancements, including the hiring of additional custody professional staff, distribution of thermal undergarments, body worn cameras, expansion of scent detection K-9’s, closed circuit television systems, network infrastructure upgrades, water boiler replacement project, food programs, plumbing upgrades, cell and shower suicide prevention projects and the increase of custody-based programing and telehealth programs.

The Department’s sustained dedication to accountability and reform, implementing significant improvements in jail conditions, enhanced mental health services, better accessibility for individuals with disabilities, and the timely processing of inmates. This progress has taken place under the vigilant oversight of independent monitors, federal and county agencies, and non-governmental advocacy organizations, despite complex operational challenges such as the passage of Proposition 36 and overlapping regulatory requirements. Over the past several years, our Department has worked diligently to improve the conditions in the jails, particularly at the aging Men’s Central Jail. However, it has become increasingly clear that these efforts serve only as temporary fixes. The long-term solutions lies in replacing Men’s Central Jail with a Care First Treatment Campus, which will provide the appropriate programing space, recreational areas, and treatment facilities for the medically fragile, those with substance use disorders, and individuals suffering from serious mental illness.

The Department remains steadfast in our dedication to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Over the past two years, the Department has made unmistakable and measurable progress under the existing frameworks.

“Our Department has been fully engaged and cooperative with the California Department of Justice throughout this entire investigation,” said Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “I want to commend our custody personnel whose dedication and hard work have been the driving force behind the measurable and significant progress we’ve made across all our major federal settlement agreements. Despite ongoing challenges, including a rising inmate population and an aging Men’s Central Jail, our staff have remained committed to providing constitutional, humane care to those in our custody. We are not waiting for mandates, we are proactively advancing reforms to build a safer, more accountable custody environment. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and confident in our ability to continue delivering meaningful change for our community.”