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Los Angeles County Pays $60,900 To Settle Jail Detainee Rape Claim
Los Angeles County Pays $60,900 To Settle
Jail Detainee Rape Claim
Los Angeles (L.A.) County, California, paid $60,900 to a female detainee who was raped in her Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) cell by a male prisoner who was inadvertently admitted by a County Sheriff's deputy.
On July 16, 2004, JoAnne S. was arrested by Long Beach police and detained at CRDF's female housing area pending court appearances. CRDF is run by the L.A. County Sheriff. Three days later, when a group of female detainees was transported to court, the deputy on duty thought that all females were gone and admitted a male prisoner to clean the cells. However, JoAnne remained behind in an unlocked cell. The male worker approached her on her bed and sexually assaulted her, which JoAnne reported later that day.
When Sheriff's personnel investigated, the male worker admitted the sexual encounter, but claimed it was consensual. Nonetheless, the worker was charged with rape, but pled out to an assault. He was later deported to San Salvador.
The L.A. County Claims Board agreed with county counsel that the County had a duty to properly supervise prisoners in a non-negligent manner. Clearly, the oversight of the deputy on duty to make sure all females were gone before admitting, an unsupervised male worker breached that duty. Accordingly, the County settled for $60,900 for damages, costs and attorney fees. See: L.A. Board of Supervisors. Claim No. 04-2454, Memorandum Decision, May 19, 2005. The settlement is on PLN's website.
Jail Detainee Rape Claim
Los Angeles (L.A.) County, California, paid $60,900 to a female detainee who was raped in her Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) cell by a male prisoner who was inadvertently admitted by a County Sheriff's deputy.
On July 16, 2004, JoAnne S. was arrested by Long Beach police and detained at CRDF's female housing area pending court appearances. CRDF is run by the L.A. County Sheriff. Three days later, when a group of female detainees was transported to court, the deputy on duty thought that all females were gone and admitted a male prisoner to clean the cells. However, JoAnne remained behind in an unlocked cell. The male worker approached her on her bed and sexually assaulted her, which JoAnne reported later that day.
When Sheriff's personnel investigated, the male worker admitted the sexual encounter, but claimed it was consensual. Nonetheless, the worker was charged with rape, but pled out to an assault. He was later deported to San Salvador.
The L.A. County Claims Board agreed with county counsel that the County had a duty to properly supervise prisoners in a non-negligent manner. Clearly, the oversight of the deputy on duty to make sure all females were gone before admitting, an unsupervised male worker breached that duty. Accordingly, the County settled for $60,900 for damages, costs and attorney fees. See: L.A. Board of Supervisors. Claim No. 04-2454, Memorandum Decision, May 19, 2005. The settlement is on PLN's website.
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Related legal case
LA Board of Supervisors
| Year | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Cite | Claim No. 04-2454, Memorandum Decision |
| Level | Administrative Agency |
| Conclusion | Admin. Award |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 60900 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |