Inmates Stay Jailed In Orange County As Judge Dismisses ACLU Case

ORANGE COUNTY, CA —The Orange County Superior Court ordered the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California seeking the release of hundreds of inmates due to COVID-19, the Orange County Sheriff's Department reported.

The lawsuit, filed by the ACLU in June 2020, called for a 50 percent reduction in the jail population, which could have resulted in the release of more than 1,800 inmates back into the community, according to an earlier ruling.

To date, 2,322 OC jail inmates have tested positive for coronavirus while only one has died, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Many of the inmates that were up for release were in pre-trial status for, or convicted of, violent crimes, according to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes..

Through the combined efforts of Sheriff’s Department personnel and Correctional Health Services staff, the Orange County Jail was able to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 while prioritizing public safety without releasing dangerous inmates.

Barnes spoke on the reversal, Thursday.

“Navigating the pandemic presented challenges, but I am proud of the exceptional work of our personnel who continued to provide for the health and safety of inmates in our custody,” Barnes said. “Most importantly, we accomplished this work without releasing dangerous criminal offenders and compromising public safety. This ruling validates the extraordinary innovation, diligence and dedication of custody personnel and Correctional Health Services staff.”