Nine people have died inside L.A. County jails so far this year, an alarming number for the Sheriff’s Department as it continues to face a lawsuit from the state over the conditions in local lockups.
Sheriff’s Department officials said they are continuing to make changes, hoping to reduce the number of in-custody deaths and care for an inmate population that is increasingly struggling with medical and mental health issues.
“Every time I get notified that someone in my care has passed away, it’s like a kick in the groin,” said Sheriff Robert Luna during a brief interview. “It’s not what you want to hear.”…