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December 10, 2013

L.A. Deputies Face Abuse, Civil Rights Charges 
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Eighteen current and former Los Angeles sheriff's deputies have been
charged for the alleged abuse of prisoners and other offenses in county
jails. Federal prosecutor André Birotte unveiled the indictments.

André Birotte: "The federal investigation found that these incidents
did not take place in a vacuum. In fact, the examples of illegal conduct
alleged in these indictments demonstrated that certain of the
individuals and certain of that behavior had become institutionalized.
Some members of the sheriff's department considered themselves to be
above the law."

At least 16 officers, some high-ranking, were arrested in Monday's
sweep. The charges follow a multi-year investigation into the systemic
abuse of prisoners in Los Angeles County jails.

 

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