What's Happening in Criminal Defense with the Los Angeles County Jail System and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Currently, many people are concerned about the prospect of incarceration in relation to a pending criminal case in Los Angeles County, or perhaps they're awaiting sentencing and are understandably worried about being confined to the Los Angeles County jail amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.  Our California criminal defense lawyers are providing an overview below.

Not Reported Cases of Coronavirus in Los Angeles County Jails

One good thing about the Los Angeles County jail right now — if there is a good thing about it — is that I was just arguing bail on a three-strikes case, and I was mentioning to the judge that obviously my client doesn't want to be trapped in the Los Angeles County jail.

This was due to the high likelihood of contracting the Coronavirus, and the judge responded that, as of today, March 26, 2020, there was not one reported case of the Coronavirus inside a Los Angeles County jail.

So, obviously, I think that's good news, although I am aware that there are a number of inmates who are currently quarantined.  Still, time will tell whether there are actually people in there who have the Coronavirus.

Of course, as most of you can guess, if one or two people go in there with the Corona Virus — because such a small and enclosed place that would obviously be disaster for the Los Angeles county jail system and the Corona Virus would spread very quickly and put the authorities there in a very bad position.

Inmates Are Being Released from Jail

The prosecutors, District Attorney's office, City Attorney's office, judges across Los Angeles County, and the sheriffs who oversee the LA County jails obviously realize this, as evidenced by their mass releases. 

They've created a list of people who are eligible to be released either on their own recognizance or with a much lower bail than what would normally be required, and they're moving people out.

I can tell you right now that I had a three-strikes case in Long Beach recently, and I was able to get my client credit for time served.  Now, of course, his underlying offense was pretty weak.

However, he did have two prior strikes from 2015, so it's impressive that I was able to get him out. Still, part of it, obviously, has to do with the fact that they want to move people out of the county jail system while they try to figure out how to deal with this virus and its impact on that system.

Orange County Jails

That's not the only jail system that is making moves.  Orange County is doing the same thing.  I recently had a case in Orange County, specifically in the Santa Ana court, which I believe is the only court currently open, and they were releasing people in large numbers.

Either by letting them out on their recognizance, where prosecutors were offering them such favorable deals that they had to take them in order to get out of the county jail.  That's really what the prosecutor seems to be zeroed in on.

Because I was arguing with another prosecutor trying to secure a favorable resolution for my client, and they said yes, but if we offer your client the resolution you're asking for, it doesn't get him out of the county jail system, which is what we're trying to achieve.

Hold From Sending Inmates to Prison

Currently, it appears that there is also a hold on individuals entering Los Angeles County from prison.  There's at least a thirty-day hold.  So, all locations are trying to freeze up.

The prisons don't want a bunch of new people coming in who might have the Coronavirus, and then they would affect and impact all of the people who are currently in there.

The same thing is going on with the drug programs.  So, if you're trying to avoid jail time in Los Angeles County by going into a live-in drug program, those are all frozen right now because once again, they don't want people coming in there who might have the Coronavirus.

Everything is in a state of flux right now, with people trying to figure out what they're going to do, and they're waiting for a two- to four-week period to try to determine who has the Coronavirus and who doesn't.

Another thing I've learned from talking to some of the sheriffs in the courthouses is that, for instance, if someone has the Coronavirus or has tested positive for it and is now set to be released, what will they do?

Will they keep them and quarantine them, or will they release them?  The answer, as far as I can see, at least as I post this information about the Los Angeles County jail system and the Coronavirus, is that they will let them go.

Programs for Inmates Being Released from Jail

There are also programs being instituted for individuals who are being released from jail and may have contracted the Coronavirus to help them, so they don't spread it and impact other people in the community.

So, yes, it is a scary time to enter the Los Angeles County jail system, with the risk of contracting the Coronavirus. However, at least that system appears to be working well, as far as we can tell.

But, I think over the course of the next two to four weeks, we're really going to get a feel for the impact of the Coronavirus on the Los Angeles county jail system — whether it be at wayside, whether it be at county jail, twin towers, Lynwood, Regional Center that holds or the females.

So, there's still a lot going on right now, and I think the dust will clear as we move into April, when we'll really get a good sense of the impact of the Coronavirus on the Los Angeles County jail system.

Hedding Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, at 16000 Ventura Blvd, #1208, Encino, CA 91436. We are also located at 633 West Fifth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071. Contact us for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0979.