LOS ANGELES COUNTY- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will vote to begin the process to close the Men’s Central Jail on October 21 with no forseeable plans to replace it.
If the Board of Supervisors approve the 57-page document, it will begin the process of closing the jail by reducing its population.
On April 9, 2024, the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the transfer of the Jail Closure Implementation Team (JCIT), now named the Community Safety Implementation Team (CSIT), back to the Chief Executive Office (CEO). Among other directives, the Board directed CSIT to report in writing every 90 days with updates describing the detailed substantive plans for the closure of Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) that it has developed with County departments and stakeholders.
“Many of the actions CSIT has identified to support the closure of MCJ without a replacement will take time and a great deal of effort to implement.”
According to the board agenda submitted by Wilford Pinkney Jr, the jail population is estimated to rise to approximately 14,500 people by 2031 if all current conditions remain the same.
“The base population projected conducted in 2021 found that the jail population would be approximately 12,700 by 2025. The current jail population is approximately 13,500. If we subtract the number of people being held on Prop 36 charges, approximately 930 people as of October the jail population would be approximately 12,570, which is in line with the 2021 projection.”
CSIT is working with partners to develop strategies that will increase the number of cases resolved in less than one year and increase the number of releases up to and including the preliminary hearing stage. CSIT worked closely with partners to develop a pilot program to identify individuals in custody who may be appropriate for pre-trial release (with or without supports) and to ensure that thoughtful settlement offers are made as soon as possible to reduce extra court dates.
“As of August 2025, CSIT’s review of jail data revealed that more than 2,229 people have been in LA County jail custody for more than one (1) year. Critically, the vast majority (1,963) of those individuals have at least one case that remains unresolved, placing them outside the standard timeframe for resolving non-capital felony cases in California (non-capital cases should be resolved within one year of arraignment).”
To read the full board agenda item click here.
