LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The county Board of Supervisors directed the sheriff’s department and other agencies Tuesday to take a series of steps aimed at reducing the number of in-custody deaths at county jail facilities.
According to a motion introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn, 10 people have died in county jails in 2026 as of Feb. 24.
“If we don’t address this now, we will see another record year of deaths in the county jails — a record we do not want to repeat,” the motion states. “People dying in the county jails isn’t just a loss to the families, friends, and loved ones, but there is a fiscal loss in not fixing this problem. In the last five years, the county has spent millions on settlements and judgments linked to people dying in custody. These are tax dollars that could go to prevention and intervention programs, housing, social services, and other vital county services that support over 10 million people, especially during this fiscal crisis due to local settlement obligations, state funding reductions, and federal funding cuts.”
According to the motion, the board last year — responding to a “surge in in-custody deaths” — requested a report on the causes of the rising numbers. While that action led to a series of reports and recommendations, “it is apparent that immediate action must be taken and accountability measures be included to significantly reduce the number of in- custody deaths in the county jails.
“These deaths might have case-by-case factors, however, there are larger systemic issues that need to be resolved so that we see decreases, not increases of deaths.”
The motion directs the sheriff’s department, in conjunction with the Departments of Health Services’ Correctional Health Services, Public Health’s Substance Abuse, Prevention and Control, Office of Inspector General, Auditor- Controller and Medical Examiner to take a number of steps, including:
— report on how existing security equipment such as scanners can be used to scan sworn and civilian staff for narcotics and other prohibited items;
— report on vulnerabilities at each facility that could allow narcotics or other substances from being smuggled inside, and ways to correct those shortcomings, such as through installation of more cameras and scanners;
— ensure jail staff are making adequate safety checks of inmates, including assessing for “signs of life” before moving on to the next cell;
— report back on safety check policies and accountability processes;
— consistently monitor cameras and increase supervisor walks of facilities to increase the number for formal and informal safety and security checks;
— report back on the use of closed circuit TV and body-worn cameras, and the feasibility of doing more consistent camera monitoring;
— check camera equipment frequently to ensure it is in working order;
— increase transparency by adding the name of the jail facility where an individual was housed prior to their death on the sheriff’s In-Custody Death dashboard; and
— ensure the anti-overdose medication Naloxone is accessible to individuals, regardless of their housing location.
The motion also calls on Correctional Health Services officials to conduct a review of the Medicated Assisted Treatment program in jail facilities, report back on the Automated External Defibrillator investor control and inspection process, prepare monthly reports on “compassionate release efforts,” report back on recent changes to the death-review process, and report back on possible costs of retaining a consultant to evaluate recent deaths, identify trends and provide recommendations for reducing in-custody deaths.
“As long as people are in our custody, they are on our care, and we have a duty to protect their lives,” Hahn said in a statement after the vote. “This effort is about increasing accountability, acting with urgency, and doing better — now.”
The motion was approved without discussion on a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining.
“Our jails are increasingly filled with individuals who are older, medically fragile, and living with serious mental illness,” Barger said in a statement. “In fact, more than 51% of those in custody have a diagnosed mental health condition. I have consistently called for a modern replacement facility focused on treatment and rehabilitation because that is where the real solution lies. This motion focuses narrowly on reducing jail deaths, which is a symptom of a much deeper issue. Until we address the root causes, including the need for appropriate treatment infrastructure, we will not see lasting change. For that reason, I abstained.”
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