Jurors recently were unable to reach a verdict in an inmate jail assault case, raising questions about other allegations that have surfaced about deputy brutality in Los Angeles County jails. An LA Times article stated that the inmate was charged with attacking sheriff's deputies and that an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) jail monitor witnessed the incident.
The jurors deadlocked; however, the majority voted to free the inmate from three counts of battery and resisting arrest. Despite the hung jury, the FBI investigation into the incident is still underway and is scheduled to be presented to the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. This mistrial comes at a difficult time for the Sheriff's Department since it is currently facing FBI careful inspection for alleged inmate abuse and other forms of misconduct inside of jails. Meanwhile, a group of civil rights lawyers and others have signed an ACLU letter to petition federal authorities to initiate an extensive "pattern and practice" jail investigation.
According to the article, even though allegations of deputy brutality in county jails are frequently made, they are often challenging to verify and prove. In general, the only witnesses of alleged assaults in jail other than deputies are inmates, and under most circumstances, the stigma against inmates makes their accounts seemingly less credible. This recent case is considered rare since there was a third party witness.
There is no clear-cut way to settle a criminal case; each one is different and has specific circumstances that may influence the severity of charges a person faces. Los Angeles defense attorney Daniel Kann has years of experience building effective cases on behalf of his clients to get criminal charges reduced or eliminated. For a free consultation, call 310-593-2435 today.
