"Private detention centers have earned millions in profits and continued to secure contracts with government agencies, despite well documented cases of health and safety violations. It is time for the State of California to use its legal and moral authority to inspect private detention facilities, hold bad actors accountable and close facilities with consistent, documented cases of human rights abuses."
"The detention center operators would be required to correct any deficiencies identified by inspectors or face a civil penalty up to $25,000 a day for each violation. Operators could also risk having their state-issued licenses suspended or revoked."
"California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta reviewed six private immigration detention facilities in the state and found serious deficiencies, including inadequate medical and mental health care, inadequate suicide prevention protocols, a lack of transparency regarding use-of-force practices, and due process rights violations."
California state Senator Sasha Renee Perez introduced SB 995, the Masuma Khan Justice Act, to penalize private immigration detention facilities that fail to comply with state health and safety standards. The legislation authorizes state inspections of detention centers and requires operators to correct identified deficiencies or face civil penalties up to $25,000 daily per violation. Facilities with consistent violations risk license suspension or revocation. The bill responds to documented cases of inadequate medical care, insufficient mental health services, poor suicide prevention protocols, and lack of transparency in use-of-force practices. At least 33 people have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, including deaths at California detention facilities.
#immigration-detention-reform #health-and-safety-standards #private-detention-facilities #california-legislation
Read at Los Angeles Times
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