Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Antelope Valley Evaluation Monitoring Team—Six-Month Report

As per paragraph 171 of the Settlement Agreement between the Parties, the Monitoring Team submits this initial semiannual report, dated December 22, 2015. In August 2011, the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division, launched an investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) in response to complaints and allegations of violations of the Fair Housing Act in the Antelope Valley, California.

As per paragraph 171 of the Settlement Agreement between the Parties, the Monitoring Team submits this initial semiannual report, dated December 22, 2015. In August 2011, the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Rights Division, launched an investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) in response to complaints and allegations of violations of the Fair Housing Act in the Antelope Valley, California. Upon completion of their investigation in June 2013, the DOJ issued a letter documenting their findings that the LASD’s Lancaster and Palmdale Stations had engaged in a pattern and practice of conducting stops, searches, and seizures that were unreasonable and in violation of the Constitution and federal law. Additionally, the DOJ concluded there was evidence of discrimination against African Americans in the enforcement of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (commonly known as Section 8), which is a violation of the Fair Housing Act.