Barger Reacts to Men’s Central Jail Closure Update

Supervisor Barger issued the following statement today after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from several County subject matter experts detailing a five-year path to permanently shutter Men’s Central Jail:

“Undoubtedly, Men’s Central Jail is antiquated, inhumane, and an ineffective setting for both the incarcerated population and the dedicated staff members working there which includes deputies, nurses, and clinicians. They all deserve better. 

In June 2021, I brought forward a motion directing several County Department leaders to develop a comprehensive plan with a timeline and financial resources needed to make the jail’s closure a reality. It failed based on a lack of support from our Board. Three years later, we are finally having a discussion that is long overdue.

I am concerned about the timeline unveiled today. There are assumptions and factors that we can’t control, starting with the court release decisions, recidivism, and crime rates. 

But, I am heartened by the fact that our discussion acknowledged the fact that there will be a subset of inmates that will not qualify for diversion and must be housed and treated in a secure facility. Call it what you will – Sheriff Luna called it a Care Campus – but at least we are facing that reality. The fact that more than 50% of inmates in the County’s custody are suffering from mental health illness is a moral reminder that we must modernize our approach and constitutional duties in the 21st century. That keeps me up at night.”