LA County Jails are dealing with precarious conditions and mismanagement. Climate warms, the safety risks increase.
“Meredith Gallen, a deputy public defender in Los Angeles County, said that while the weather is not her clients’ primary concern, the lack of preparation of county jails to withstand extreme natural conditions builds on the already existing issues her clients experience. One concern that Gallen raised is the spread of diseases, such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis, which is exacerbated by lower temperatures. On top of the health risks for incarcerated people themselves, this can also be dangerous for everyone else. “There’s a recognition that people who are in jail are not going to be incarcerated in perpetuity and that they’ll be released into the community, and it could increase community spread,” she said"
“This past winter, harsh storms broke dozens of weather records in California. Precipitation totaling hundreds of feet, along with nearly freezing temperatures, knocked out parts of the state’s infrastructure. These natural phenomena exacerbate what ACLU lawsuits describe as the “inhumane” conditions of Los Angeles County jails, institutions that currently house approximately 15,000 incarcerated people. It’s a problem that will likely only worsen, as scientists predict that extreme winters — along with extended heat waves and wildfire seasons — will become common in California due to climate change.”
