Presentation for L A County Jail Population Review

Presentation for L. A. County Jail Population Review Council 12. 9. 2020 Michelle Parris Program Director, Vera California

Data Used LASD daily briefing documents on the jail population, subpopulations, and number of bookings/releases - First & middle of each month (Jan. -Nov. 2020) - Daily, starting Nov. 25, 2020 Note: The LASD documents sometimes break down data for males and females. All references to ‘females’ throughout this presentation are directly from the documents. Gender information is presented in a binary way (i. e. male and female) and does not denote people who identify as transgender, gender-non-conforming, etc.

The jail population dropped after the onset of COVID-19 but has been rising since May. December 9, 2020 population: 15, 456

This year, the jail population decreased by 31% (5, 219) in two months. March 2: May 1: Difference: % change: 16, 984 11, 765 -5, 219 -31%

Race/Ethnicity Racial disparities persist.

The impact of bookings & releases

Impact of bookings & releases We need daily bookings and releases data to give an accurate picture of what has happened—particularly since the rise of the jail population since May.

Bookings & Releases Jan-Mar 2020 Source: LASD Quarterly Reports

Arrests by LAPD, which represents 30% of bookings into the jail, have remained relatively flat in recent months. Sources: Maintaining a Reduced Jail Population report; 2020 LAPD arrest data

The largest populations in the jail

Most people in the L. A. County jail system are pretrial or partially sentenced. 11

People incarcerated pretrial are the largest population (6, 425 people). 12

L. A. County Jail Population December 3, 2020

Pretrial

The pretrial population has always been a substantial percentage of the total jail population, even during COVID-19 reductions.

Pretrial The decrease in the pretrial population that happened at the start of COVID-19 has essentially been eroded by increases since May. 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop ↓ 31% The numbers: Jan 2: 7, 304 5/1/20 – 12/3/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present ↑ 28% May 1: 5, 015 Dec 3: 6, 425

The number of pretrial people has been increasing since May. At this rate of increase, we will return to the Jan. 1 pretrial population (7, 304) in 4. 4 months & the peak 2020 number (7, 548) in 5. 6 months.

Partially Sentenced (sentenced on at least one case)

The partially sentenced population has been rising since May 2020. 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop 5/1/20 – 12/3/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present ↓ 28% ↑ 36%

Sentenced

People who are sentenced constitute ~12% of the jail population. 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop ↓ 42% 5/1/20 – 12/3/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present ↓ 25%

County Sentenced 6% of the total Dec 3, 2020 jail population 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop ↓ 54% The numbers: Jan 2: 1, 449 5/1/20 – 12/3/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present ↑ 30% May 1: 661 Dec 3: 861

AB 109 Sentenced 5% of the total Dec 2020 jail population This population has had the greatest rate of decrease throughout the year. 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop ↓ 41% The numbers: Jan 2: 2, 560 5/1/20 – 12/3/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present ↓ 44% May 1: 1, 508 Dec 3: 839

Supervision Violations

Sentenced – PRCS Revocation 2% of the total Dec 3, 2020 jail population While this is a relatively small percentage of the jail population, the numbers are increasing. The male rate of increase far surpasses the female rate of increase since May. 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop ↓ 65% The numbers: Jan 2: 680 5/1/20 – 12/3/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present ↑ 43% May 1: 240 Dec 3: 344

Sentenced – Flash Incarceration This group has always been a small percentage of the jail population in 2020. 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop 5/1/20 – 11/2/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present The numbers: Jan 2: 3 May 1: 2 ↓ 33% ↑ 33% Dec 3: 0

Sentenced – Parole Revocation 1% of the total Dec 3, 2020 jail population Females composed only 6% of the parole revocation group in January, and only 1 of the 171 people on Dec. 3 was a female. 1/2/20 – 5/1/20 Pre-COVID -> lowest jail pop 5/1/20 – 12/3/20 Lowest jail pop -> Present The numbers: May 1: 214 ↓ 46% Jan 2: 394 ↓ 20% Dec 3: 171

State Prison Sentenced

State Prison Sentenced While people awaiting transfer to state prison were a smaller % of the jail population pre-COVID, there were still around 700 on any given day in the jail.

Awaiting Transfer to State Hospital

Awaiting Transfer to State Hospital This group has remained ~2% of the jail population.

A Quick Note on Females

The female jail population dropped after the onset of COVID-19 but has been rising since May. If the May-Dec rate of increase continues, the female population will reach Jan 2020 levels in 16 months.

The breakdown of subpopulations for females is very similar to that of males.

The pretrial population is also the largest group for females.

Thinking ahead

Takeaways A large decrease in the jail population in a short period of time is possible. Mar-May 2020: ↓ 31% in just 2 months The conditions that gave rise to that decrease are still present, as COVID-19 continues to be a threat inside and outside of the jails.

Takeaways Racial disparities persist, particularly for Black people, who make up 9% of the L. A. County population, and 29% of the jail population. Policies to decrease the jail population must incorporate an analysis of impact on racial disparities.

Takeaways There are three populations so large that their decreases could have a substantial impact on the jail population: - Pretrial - Partially sentenced - Awaiting transfer to state prison

Thanks! Questions? Michelle Parris mparris@vera. org