LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said a newly released report on the proposed closure of Men's Central Jail confirms that current diversion efforts alone cannot address the County's jail population and urged policymakers to let data guide future decisions.
Barger said the analysis found that 1,887 inmates—nearly half of the jail's population—cannot be relocated under the existing system because they require single-cell housing, intensive mental health care, specialized medical treatment, or protection from safety threats.
She said the findings demonstrate that diversion programs, while important, cannot meet the needs of many of the County's highest-risk inmates.
According to the report, even if Los Angeles County invests approximately $2.71 billion to implement all recommended actions, Men's Central Jail would still not be able to close within the next five years.
Barger said the public deserves an honest assessment of these realities and reaffirmed her support for reducing the jail population through diversion, treatment and community-based care whenever appropriate.
At the same time, she called for developing a 21st-century secure rehabilitation model designed to serve inmates with serious mental illness, complex medical conditions and significant safety needs.
Barger said she looks forward to a follow-up report from the Jail Closure Implementation Team (JCIT) in September and will continue advocating for a solution that is both compassionate and grounded in operational realities.