Thursday, 30 July 2026, 8:56
In 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to shut down the Men's Central Jail (MCJ) within 18 to 24 months. Six years later, the jail remains fully operational. A recent LAist report reveals that the county's latest timeline pushes closure beyond 2031, extending the life of a facility advocates call a death trap.
The delay comes as in-custody deaths hit alarming levels. According to CALÓ News, 23 men have died this year under LA County Sheriff's Department custody — the highest rate in two decades. Of those, 18 had not been sentenced or gone to court. The youngest victim was a 26-year-old Latino man. Two died by hanging in their cells.
Advocates say the slow closure process is costing lives. Janet Asante of the JusticeLA Coalition noted that around 300 people have died since the 2020 vote, despite a jail population 5,000 lower than six years ago. “We're seeing the highest rate of in-custody deaths in the last 20 years,” she told CALÓ News.
The deaths occur days apart, signaling systemic failures. Helen Jones-Phillips, whose son John Horton died in MCJ in 2009, claims he was beaten to death by deputies. An independent review found internal bruising inconsistent with the official suicide ruling.
In September 2024, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a civil rights lawsuit against LA County, the Sheriff's Department, and Correctional Health Services. The suit cites inadequate plumbing, sanitation, temperature control, and denial of medical and mental health care. Bonta called the jail “one of the most problematic” in the nation. The Sheriff's Department denied the accusations, citing $309 million in upgrades. But advocates who recently visited report ongoing problems with drinking water, food quality, and delayed care.
On Tuesday, demonstrators rallied outside LA Superior Court, urging Bonta to enforce the lawsuit. Jose Bernal of the Ella Baker Center Action Fund said, “Justice delayed is justice denied. It is a moral failure to keep a jail that cages people with mental health needs to die.” Families, especially mothers of the deceased, continue to lead the call for immediate closure.
The Men's Central Jail is located in downtown Los Angeles, the largest jail system in the United States. Its closure has been a contentious issue for decades, with previous reform efforts failing to stem deaths or improve conditions.
MCJ opened in 1963 and has been marred by allegations of deputy gang violence, inadequate medical care, and unsanitary conditions. A 2021 investigation by the California Attorney General's office revealed systematic constitutional violations. The 2020 closure vote aimed to replace it with smaller, rehabilitative facilities, but progress has stalled.
With deaths mounting and closure years away, advocates demand immediate action from county officials and the state. The fight to close Men's Central Jail is now a fight for basic human dignity and accountability.
