The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has successfully completed constitutional reforms regarding its use of jailhouse informants.
The California agency fulfilled all requirements under a January agreement to prevent violations of defendants’ Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The reforms mark the end of a years-long federal investigation into unconstitutional practices that threatened the integrity of criminal prosecutions in one of the nation’s largest counties.
Under the agreement, OCSD implemented new policies, training programs, information systems, and auditing procedures for managing custodial informants. The department also enhanced public transparency about its informant practices.
“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has demonstrated an enduring commitment to protecting the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of those in its jurisdiction,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Dhillon commended “the Sheriff and his staff for their efforts in doing their part to ensure the integrity of criminal prosecutions.”
The Justice Department originally found civil rights violations following an investigation into both the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office. The probe revealed a pattern of using jailhouse informants in ways that violated defendants’ constitutional rights.
Tuesday’s announcement signals that federal oversight has ended, as OCSD has demonstrated that its reforms are “durable and robust.” The completion comes six months after the parties signed the sustainability agreement in January.