LA Men's Jail "Medieval," "Drives Men Mad"

The ACLU of Southern California just issued a report on conditions at L.A. County's Men's Jail - it sounds pretty awful, especially considering that jailed inmates haven't yet been convicted. They're awaiting trial, and they're there because they can't afford bail.

My expectation is that fixing a jail would be politically radioactive in a state with a budget crisis like California's. And I'm not even saying it should be a priority. But surprisingly, the crisis may actually require the jail's closure, according to L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, who cites its huge expense ($50 million a year, housing 6,700 inmates at any given time). It doesn't seem there's space for 6,700 additional inmates - one third of the county's jail capacity - so what's the alternative? Perhaps a reform of drug laws?

Indeed, the ACLU's press release states that its report comes

as the county investigates the death of John Horton, 22, who was found hanging from a noose in his cell on March 30 after spending more than a month in Men’s Central Jail following his arrest on a drug possession charge. The ACLU also released a letter from a witness detailing the events leading up to the death of Horton, who was held in solitary confinement in a dimly lit, windowless, solid-front cell the size of a closet. His body was already stiff by the time security staff discovered it.

“Men’s Central Jail is so grossly overcrowded, dangerous and dungeon-like that it puts intolerable stress on the jailed as well as the jailers,” said Margaret Winter, associate director of the ACLU National Prison Project.

Here is a copy of a letter from Horton's jail neighbor giving an account of some of the circumstances surrounding Horton's death. It is harrowing. For me, the humaneness reasons for not treating drug possessors like this are convincing. But if it's economic reasons that will do the trick, so be it.