The State : Report on Jail Mostly Positive

A consultant’s report on conditions inside Orange County’s main jail generally commends Sheriff Brad Gates and found there was no evidence “to support the recent allegations of brutality.” The report does say that the consultants observed several instances of unnecessary force but that it was neither excessive nor brutal. But the report gives Gates “less than desirable” marks in areas such as food preparation, grievance procedures for inmates and recreation in the women’s jail. The report was written by Lawrence G. Grossman, hired by the county for $25,000 to recommend ways to avoid future lawsuits. Three years ago, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the county in federal court, seeking to reduce overcrowding at the jail and force other improvements. A federal judge then appointed Grossman to oversee jail operations. ACLU attorney Dick Herman said he was satisfied with the report but considered the section about incidents of brutality “watered down.”