Jail Volunteers Say La Deputies Brutalized Inmates

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Two chaplains and a Hollywood producer who volunteer at downtown's Los Angeles County jail say deputies brutalize inmates and sheriff's supervisors don't take beating reports seriously.

The sworn declarations by the volunteers come amid reports of an FBI investigation into deputy conduct at county jails.

The two volunteers say they heard deputies yell "stop fighting" as deputies pummeled inmates who appeared to be doing nothing to fight back.

The Los Angeles Times ( http://lat.ms/qAFXy0 ) reports the declarations will be filed in court Wednesday as part of a report compiled by the American Civil Liberties Union, which is a court-appointed monitor of jail conditions.

"Hangover" producer Scott Budnick, a former jail writing tutor, and chaplain Paulino Juarez described abuse.

The second chaplain's declaration was submitted anonymously.

---

Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.