The Los Angeles City Council on Friday unanimously approved a motion to keep medical services running at the city’s three detention facilities and to require a short, written plan for how to fund and operate those services going forward.

Councilmember Raman introduced the motion, saying staffing and funding changes proposed during the budget process left the Personnel Department with a plan that could have consolidated detained-person medical services into a single clinic. Raman said closing two clinics would lengthen transport times, reduce continuity of care, and pull officers off patrol. “Thousands of individuals who rely on receiving care from these medical professionals at these detention centers would be at risk of receiving a reduced quality of care,” she said.

Personnel Department general manager Malaika Phillips explained that budget reductions eliminated seven vacant positions and about 40 percent of the department’s as‑needed funding for jail medical services. Phillips said the Personnel Department had proposed an offset that would have consolidated services but described that as a proposal — not an immediate order — and estimated the department could maintain clinics at the three facilities for roughly six months while the council and departments develop alternatives.

Councilmembers across the chamber supported Raman’s motion, citing both the quality‑of‑care issues and the operational burden on LAPD of transporting detainees to a single medical site. Councilmember Price called medical care “integral” and warned cuts would affect officers and detainees. Councilmember McOsker characterized the motion as necessary for both efficiency and care quality.

The council voted to adopt the motion as amended, with the Clerk announcing 13 ayes.

What the motion requires

- The Personnel Department to continue medical services at the three detention clinics for the near term and to report back within 30 days with alternatives and cost estimates.
- Coordination with LAPD on operational impacts such as transport and staffing.

Action and next steps

Personnel staff said a report could be delivered within approximately 30 days and would include the cost, scope of care, types of providers, and a timeframe for funding. Councilmembers emphasized they wanted the 30‑day report and asked both Personnel and LAPD to be responsive to that timeline.

Ending

Councilmembers framed the action as both a short‑term protection of detainee health and a step toward a clearer, budgeted approach to maintaining medical services in city detention facilities.