Eric Strong Calls for “72-Hour Jail Safety Reset” After Surge in Deaths in LA County Custody

Los Angeles, CA — Following reports that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has demanded a comprehensive jail safety plan and a timeline to close Men’s Central Jail amid a surge in in-custody deaths, Los Angeles County Sheriff candidate Eric Strong is calling for immediate emergency reforms inside the county jail system.

“Ten people have died in LA County custody in just the first two months of 2026, following 46 deaths in 2025,” Strong said. “That is not normal and it is not acceptable. When people die in government custody at this rate, it signals a profound failure of leadership, urgency, and accountability.”

Strong said the public should not have to wait for another death or scandal before basic safety measures are enforced in facilities operated by the Sheriff’s Department.

“The Board of Supervisors is right to demand immediate action,” Strong said. “But motions and memos sitting on a shelf won’t save lives. Leadership means implementing real reforms with deadlines, transparency, and accountability.”

Strong said that if elected Sheriff he would immediately implement a “72-Hour Jail Safety Reset” focused on three urgent priorities:

• Continuous supervision accountability: Enforce functioning camera coverage, mandatory safety checks, and real-time alerts when required rounds are missed.
  

• Immediate overdose prevention: Expand naloxone availability inside housing units and strengthen intake screening and monitoring for individuals at high risk of overdose.
  

• Public transparency: Release weekly public reports on in-custody deaths, overdoses, use-of-force incidents, and non-functioning cameras — facility by facility — so the public can track whether reforms are actually being implemented.

Strong also addressed the long-standing effort to close Men’s Central Jail.

“Men’s Central Jail has been under a closure mandate for years, yet progress has stalled,” Strong said. “Whether the County closes MCJ tomorrow or years from now, the responsibility today remains the same: keep people alive in our custody, protect staff, and stop preventable deaths. Leadership means owning that responsibility and delivering results.”

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