public safety

Los Angeles, CA — In response to a disturbing rise in in-custody deaths within the Los Angeles County jail system, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today unanimously passed a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn to initiate a multi-departmental comprehensive plan to address the crisis.

The County has seen one of the deadliest starts to a year in its jail system’s recent history. In the first 20 weeks of 2025 alone, 20 incarcerated individuals have died—more than double the number of deaths during the same period last year—including three in a single day.

“Our jails are in crisis,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We have seen an alarming increase in deaths of people who are in our custody and in our care. We need to take urgent, decisive action to save lives. The aim of this motion is to make sure we understand what is driving this increase and that we address it at a systemic level.”

Deaths have continued to increase despite recent efforts to improve conditions—such as increased medical staffing, greater access to Narcan within jails, and a declining jail population.

The motion directs the Department of Health Services’ Correctional Health Services (CHS) and requests the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) to deliver a comprehensive report within 90 days that includes:
• An implementation plan with clear performance metrics to significantly reduce in-custody deaths;
• An in-depth analysis of the causes and contributing factors behind the increase in deaths, along with recommendations to prevent future loss of life;
• An assessment of how policy or budgetary decisions—such as Proposition 36 or federal cuts to health services—may affect inmate health outcomes.

Additionally, the motion directs the Auditor-Controller and CEO Risk Management, with support from CHS, LASD, and the Medical Examiner, to audit corrective action plans related to in-custody deaths from 2020 to the present and recommend further improvements.

Read full motion: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/202910.pdf

Hahn’s total now at 2,388 guns collected over 14 gun buyback events

Firearms collected at today’s buyback event in Lynwood

Lynwood, CA – Today, a gun buyback sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Century Station and the City of Lynwood collected 336 guns, including 76 rifles and 44 shot guns. The event was held in a parking lot at the Lynwood Metro Station. Residents exchanged any unwanted gun for gift cards without being asked for any identifying information and without leaving their vehicles.

“The rain this morning did nothing to slow down our momentum in getting more of these deadly weapons out of our communities. I’m so thankful to every person who took us up on this opportunity to get unwanted guns away from their families and out of their homes,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Thanks to our event, today there are 336 fewer guns out there that could be accidentally discharged, found by a child, or stolen and used to kill in a crime.”

Today’s event was Hahn’s 14th since May 2022 and the third she has held at the Lynwood Station Park & Ride lot. The event brought in 336 guns, including:
• 211 pistols
• 76 rifles
• 44 shotguns
• 1 ghost gun
• 4 assault weapons
• 35 gun parts and non functioning firearms

At each event, residents can bring in any firearms they have and turn them in exchange for gift cards purchased by Supervisor Hahn’s office. The guns are surrendered completely anonymously and are later destroyed.

Handguns collected at today’s buyback event in Lynwood

Hahn held her previous events in Lynwood, North Long Beach, Norwalk, Wilmington, Long Beach, Hawaiian Gardens, Artesia, Bellflower, Pico Rivera, and Torrance.

Footage of Hahn’s Long Beach buyback event can be found here. Credit: LA36

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Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has released the following statement in support of Judge Espinoza’s order to depopulate Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall:

“I support Judge Espinoza’s order to safely and securely depopulate Los Padrinos. There are young people in Los Padrinos who should be moved to alternate facilities, but there are also many who can and should be safely released back home, monitored with ankle monitors, or cared for in community-based placements like a Boys Republic. At this time, my ultimate concern is for the well-being of the hundreds of young people in our care who have not been getting what they need to rehabilitate.”

County’s Internal Services Department led expedited refurbishment

Huntington Park, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn joined Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone, Huntington Park Vice Mayor Eddie Martinez, and other dignitaries for a rededication ceremony of Fire Station 164 in the City of Huntington Park. The station—which serves Huntington Park, Walnut Park, and other surrounding communities across Southeast Los Angeles—has been extensively refurbished by the County’s Internal Services Department since it was severely damaged and nearly destroyed by a fire last year.

“I don’t think in my wildest dreams did I believe we would be back here celebrating the reopening of this station in just 11 months. It’s a testament to the dedication and attention of our County employees who worked hard to bring Station 164 back,” said Hahn. “The brave firefighters at Station 164 have been through a lot this past year, but their commitment to serving these communities never faltered. We could not be more grateful for their continued dedication to the people of LA County.”

Firefighters and paramedics were sleeping in the station’s living quarters when the fire broke out in the early morning hours of May 1, 2024. They were awoken to the sound of a passerby alerting them to a fire in their station. Firefighters could not reach their turnouts and equipment and began fighting the fire in flipflops before getting assistance from firefighters from nearby stations who responded. Thankfully, no one was injured, but multiple firetrucks were destroyed along with much of the station.

“Thanks to the leadership of Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn and the City of Huntington Park, along with the combined efforts of the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department and the Fire Department’s Construction and Maintenance Division, the rebuilding of Fire Station 164 has been completed,” said County of Los Angeles Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone. “I am proud to welcome our firefighters back to their fire station, known as the ‘The Big House’.”

After the fire, Hahn pledged her support for getting the station rebuilt as quickly as possible. In August, the Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Hahn to expedite the $16 million rebuild and renovation of the station. With the combined efforts of the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department, the LACoFD Construction and Maintenance Division, and the City of Huntington Park, the refurbishment was completed in record time.

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Images from the morning of the fire of damage to the station available here

Palos Verdes Estates, CA — Today, goats will begin clearing brush in areas of Palos Verdes Estates as part of an effort funded by the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to reduce fire risk on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

“The natural canyons and hills of the Palos Verdes Peninsula are beautiful but they put this area at greater risk for wildfires,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Mayor Victoria Lozzi told me that her city needed help with brush clearance and I was happy to offer my office’s support. If you see the goats this month in Palos Verdes Estates know that they are hard at work making this community safer.”

“The City is doing everything we can to address fire risks throughout our community and these four areas are part of our continuous efforts to protect our residents and their properties,” said Mayor Lozzi. “We are thankful to Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Office for their generous grant and appreciate the Supervisor’s partnership in addressing fire vulnerabilities in the Fourth District.”

900 goats will be used to conduct weed abatement in 37 acres of Palos Verdes Estates parklands in canyons and hard to reach hillside areas in four zones deemed extremely high priority: Valmonte Canyon and the Palos Verdes stables, Lunada Canyon, the hillside between Via Boronado and Espinosa Circle, and the hillside below Via Pinzon and Mirlo Gate House. Today, 400 goats will begin clearing brush in Valmonte Canyon which is estimated to take between a week and a week and a half to complete with additional goats placed in the other locations next week. The work is expected to be completed by the end of March.

The City of Palos Verdes Estates authorized a contract with Fire Grazers, Inc., which has done similar work on the peninsula in the past. Supervisor Hahn’s office will reimburse the city for the cost of the contract, totaling just over $67,000.

Supervisor Hahn’s funding comes after Palos Verdes Estates Mayor Lozzi raised the problem during Hahn’s recent Mayor’s Luncheon with the mayors of the Fourth District.

3,600 devices have been distributed to service providers, local colleges, and community centers

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced that her office has purchased and distributed 3,600 innovative detection devices that detect the presence of fentanyl in recreational drugs with the goal of better preventing fentanyl poisonings. In 2023, 94% of opioid overdoses deaths in LA County involved fentanyl. That same year, overdoses were the leading cause of death among unhoused people in LA County and fentanyl poisonings have been a growing danger for young people.

“Fighting fentanyl poisonings is about saving lives, so we have to put every possible tool at the disposal of our residents and our communities. These testing devices are both innovative and easy-to-use. I look forward to getting these thousands of devices into the hands of people whose lives could be saved by them,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We need to outmaneuver this crisis and this effort is part of the solution along with our work to make Narcan more easily available.”

Hahn’s office purchased the devices and distributed them this week to nine different sites across her district including community colleges and organizations that provide services to unhoused and other vulnerable residents.

“Fentanyl doesn’t just take lives—it shatters families, destroys bright futures, and fuels addiction in every community,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna. “By increasing awareness and implementing preventative measures such as this device, we can make a real difference in the fight against fentanyl and more importantly save lives.”

The purchased devices are the DEFENT ONE All-in-One Fentanyl Detection Devices manufactured by the medical diagnostics company Defense Diagnostics Inc. (DDI). DEFENT ONE is a single-use portable device small enough to fit in a pocket that contains all of the materials necessary to conduct a fentanyl detection test, unlike other methods which require clean water and a separate container.

“We’re thrilled to be deploying DEFENT ONE, with the gracious partnership of Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, as a community engagement tool to the residents of LA County,” said Ahmad Hussain, CEO and Founder of DEFENT. “The device’s capabilities extend beyond just fentanyl detection, also encouraging open conversations about the dangers of counterfeit pills and opioids.”

Hahn’s office distributed devices to the following local partners which will provide them to community members free-of-charge:
• Harbor Interfaith Services
• Rio Hondo College
• Cerritos College
• Harbor College
• Whittier First Day
• Whittier LGBTQ Center
• Salvation Army Bell Shelter
• Long Beach Community College
• San Pedro Recovery Alliance

Hahn previously led an effort to stock LA County Library locations with naloxone, also known as Narcan, the life-saving antidote to fentanyl poisoning and opioid overdose. LA County Libraries have also offered free Narcan trainings.

Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has issued the following statement regarding California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s indictment of 30 probation officers at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall:

“I appreciate the Attorney General for filing these charges. The young people in Los Padrinos are not only in our custody, they are in our care. It is unacceptable that probation officers who were entrusted with this responsibility would use their power to abuse these kids. The probation officers who were involved in this abuse were put on leave last year and I support the Chief Probation Officer in firing any officers who are found guilty. This is only further proof that the culture of our probation department needs to change dramatically.”

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn which aims to preserve and expand the hiring incentives that have helped the County to more than double the number of mental health field teams responding directly to people in mental health crisis.

Championed by Supervisor Hahn, LA County has set out to expand its alternative crisis response system where mental health professionals can be reached through 9-8-8 or the County Help Line and sent to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, de-escalate the situation, and connect a person in crisis with immediate treatment and long-term care.

Historically, these mental health field team positions have been difficult to fill. In 2023, the Board unanimously approved a proposal by Supervisor Hahn to incentivize hiring including increased pay for field positions, signing bonuses, retention bonuses, and loan forgiveness. The incentives worked and the County was able to more than double the number of mental health field teams from 33 to 71 teams. At the same time, the County was also able to cut the average response time from six hours to two hours.

Now, one-time-funding for the hiring incentives is set to run out this year. If the incentives expire, the County Department of Mental Health will have a difficult time filling the 40 new field team positions currently vacant and further cutting response times.

“We are building up a system in LA County so that when someone has a serious mental health crisis, anyone can pick up the phone, dial 9-8-8 and expect help at their door,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “These incentives have already helped us hire a record number of mental health professionals, but we have more work to do and we should keep them in place until our response times are down to 30 minutes or less.”

Today’s motion directs the Department of Mental Health to report back in 60 days with funding options to continue and build on existing hiring incentives after the current funding runs out this June. Read full motion here.