Debate continues over LA County jail overcrowding solutions

The Los Angeles County jails are facing an overcrowding crisis, prompting a proposal by a county supervisor to release some inmates. Critics of the plan say that it could be dangerous for public safety. 

The proposal, submitted by Los Angeles County Supervisors Lindsey Horvarth and Hilda Solis, wants the county to "Declare the state of mental health services and overcrowding in the Los Angeles County jails a humanitarian crisis." 

Some experts said the proposed plan to depopulate and survey L.A. County jails, -- to release inmates and find alternatives -- is dangerous.

"For example, people who are committing acts of domestic violence, they would be eligible for cite and release -- burglars, robbers, those people will be eligible for cite and release, a felon, a career criminal caught with a firearm," said Eric Siddall, Vice-President of the L.A. Association of Deputy District Attorneys. 

In the proposed motion, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department would be instructed to "Release individuals committed and/or sentenced to the County jails for misdemeanors and/or felonies who can be safely released back into the community" based on regulations previously developed by the sheriff's department.

The proposal was on the agenda for an L.A. County Supervisors public meeting Tuesday, but Monday that changed.

Monday morning, L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn announced she was opposing the motion. She said she wanted more input from law enforcement groups.

Also Monday morning, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis announced she will be "referring the motion back to my office so that I can gather input from all stakeholders," and pulled the motion from a Supervisors meeting scheduled for Tuesday.