"An oversight body that has documented and exposed substandard jail conditions for decades would cease to exist if the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moves forward with a cost-cutting plan. L.A. County could save about $40,000 a year by eliminating the Sybil Brand Commission, according to an August report prepared for the supervisors by the board's Executive Office. The Sybil Brand Commission's 10 members serve a key oversight role, regularly conducting unannounced inspections of county jails and lockups."
""In June 2024, the Sybil Brand Commission reported that multiple dorms at Men's Central were overcrowded with broken toilets ... and ceilings that had been painted over to cover mold," Bonta's office wrote in its complaint, which seeks to compel reforms by the county and sheriff's department. The recommendation to "sunset" the commission comes amid a spike in in-custody deaths with 38 so far this year, which puts the county on track for what Bonta's office said would mark at least a 20-year high."
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is considering eliminating the Sybil Brand Commission as part of a cost-cutting plan that could save about $40,000 annually. The commission's 10 volunteers regularly conduct unannounced inspections of county jails and lockups and have documented substandard conditions for decades. The commission's recent findings were cited in a state lawsuit by Attorney General Rob Bonta alleging a humanitarian crisis in county jails, including overcrowded dorms, broken toilets and mold. The recommendation to sunset the commission comes amid a rise in in-custody deaths this year. The Board's Executive Office said the report aimed to identify overlapping responsibilities and efficiencies.
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