General superintendent Los Angeles found unacceptable the use of percovich cans in the centers for minors of the County of Los Angeles.
In a report published on 4 February, describes horrific cases of pepper spray by guards, and also expressed concerns of probation officers in connection with the growth of violence in penal institutions for teenagers. In one case, a young person with a mental disorder pepper solution sprayed his groin and buttocks, and then left the room without running water for 20 minutes.
The superintendent of Los Angeles mark Ridley-Thomas, who heads the reform of the probation Department, said that the issues raised in the report point to the irresponsibility of the methods of punishment. Although in December, Sheila Mitchell, chief Deputy of the juvenile division, said they are working on training officers who used excessive pepper spray. But Mitchell also acknowledged that there is still a lot of work.
The probation Department has documented 747 cases of the use of pepper spray in 2017 that on 154% more than in 2015 when the Department’s staff used pepper spray in 294 cases.
New data published last month show that the number of applications pepper solution lost 11% in 2018 compared to the previous year — from 747 in 2017 to 664 in 2018.
The inspector General’s office announced the following recommendations:
- install video cameras in all juvenile facilities;
- to analyze each case of use of pepper spray, including checking surveillance video;
- to revise training materials for supervisors to delete the wording, which inadvertently contributes to incomplete or inaccurate report.
Though pepper spray and authorized for use in correctional institutions Los Angeles, but is considered dangerous for health, especially for pregnant women and those who suffer from asthma.
According to the Council of the heads of correctional institutions for minors, California is one of 6 States that allow prison guards to use pepper solution against juvenile offenders. The proposed law limiting the use of the cans in the state was rejected last spring.
