Supervisors search for new direction in criminal justice system

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Los Angeles Men's Central Jail "Twin Towers", just northeast of Union Station in Los Angeles. A Metro bus facility is being built that will obscure this view. This image has some filters applied in processing to give it an appropriate mood.

Los Angeles Men's Central Jail "Twin Towers", just northeast of Union Station in Los Angeles. A Metro bus facility is being built that will obscure this view. This image has some filters applied in processing to give it an appropriate mood. Photo credit: Downtowngal (CC BY 2.0)

Plans to reform the downtown LA Men's Central Jail have been in the works for years. The latest plan was a $1.7 billion contract with McCarthy Building Companies to remake the jail into a mental health treatment center. But this week the LA County Supervisors voted to cancel the building contract and go back to the drawing board.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl represents the 3rd district. She says she voted to cancel the contract because it wouldn't have allowed the Board to achieve its mental health goals. "We, over the last year and a half, have really become much more convinced that we want to take a different tack about those who need mental health treatment or addiction treatment."

Credits

Guest:

Host:

Larry Perel

Producer:

Caleigh Wells