California sues LA County sheriff over ‘inhumane’ jail conditions

Topline:

The backstory: In 2021, the Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation over the sheriff's department’s policing practices. As part of that probe, investigators examined conditions in county jails.

The context: It's not the first time L.A. County has been under scrutiny over jail conditions; the federal government has sued in the past, as well as the ACLU .

What’s new: Bonta said investigators found overcrowded and inhumane conditions in the nation’s largest jail system — including rat infestations, moldy food and broken plumbing.  ”We're talking about feces smeared on the walls and medical care denied to those in need," he said. "We're talking about a disrespect for the basic dignity of our fellow humans and a violation of their most fundamental constitutional r