Council asks California attorney general to convene task force to review criminal justice system

The Los Angeles City Council voted to request that the California Attorney General convene a state-level task force to review systemic problems in the criminal justice system, including courts, probation, public defenders and prosecutors. Councilmembers said the request is prompted by issues exposed in the Rampart scandal and by long-standing concerns about case processing and plea-bargaining practices.

Councilmember Chick, the motion's maker, told colleagues the measure was intended "not an investigation" but a convening of stakeholders to examine how the system handles large caseloads and whether shortcuts in prosecution and defense have led people to plead guilty when they are not. "This is not an investigation... It's to have a discussion about with all of the players," Chick said during debate. The motion was amended on the floor to add the county probation department to the list of invitees and to state explicitly that the request was not intended to open a new investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department. That friendly amendment was accepted.

Speakers during the debate urged a comprehensive review that would consider courts, probation, the public defender and the district attorney alongside law enforcement. Opponents warned against federal intervention and questioned whether further outside involvement would be productive. Several councilmembers stressed they sought a collaborative, statewide convening rather than a punitive probe.

Councilmembers voted to approve the request as amended and to continue the item one day to allow the Chief of Police or a department representative to offer input; the final recorded vote on the amended motion was 14 ayes.