People in LA County jails are dying

Take action to close Men's Central Jail →

Pamela,    Since the start of 2023, 56 people have lost their lives inside Los Angeles County jails. Many of these people were held at Men's Central Jail (MCJ), a facility notorious for its decrepit conditions, severe overcrowding, and pervasive violence. Vera and fellow advocates have fought for years to save lives by demanding safe and sustainable decarceration in LA County—and to close MCJ for good. Will you join us?  The scale of mass incarceration in Los Angeles is unlike anywhere else in the United States.   On an average day in 2023, there were more than 13,000 people behind bars in LA County jails. This dangerous overcrowding is the single most significant factor driving jail deaths. It's not supposed to be this way. In 2021, county leaders committed to closing MCJ without a replacement jail within two years. But the jail is still operational today. It's past time for the LA County Board of Supervisors to deliver a concrete plan to close MCJ. Add your voice to call for urgent action. For decades, incarceration has been the county's default response to people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and unmet treatment needs.   Forty-three percent of people currently detained have a diagnosed mental health condition, the majority of whom could be diverted into existing alternatives to incarceration like community-based supportive housing if those programs were properly funded and scaled to increase capacity.    If we work together, change is possible. Just last week, Vera and the California Endowment brought together over 200 county and community leaders to push forward life-saving reforms—and make it possible for facilities like MCJ to close at last.   Join Vera in urging the LA County Board of Supervisors to close MCJ and end the historic reliance on jail that has taken countless lives.   In solidarity,  Michelle —   Michelle Parris  Director, Vera California  Vera Institute of Justice © 2024 Vera Institute of Justice. All Rights Reserved.   Vera Institute of Justice 34 35th Street | Suite 4-2A | Brooklyn, NY 11232 (212) 334-1300   Privacy Statement | unsubscribe