Times Series on Jail Problems Wins Award From State Bar

A Los Angeles Times series uncovering major mismanagement in the long-overcrowded Los Angeles County jail system has won the State Bar’s Golden Medallion Media Award Competition.

The contest was designed to “honor and encourage reporting that educates the public about lawyers, law, the courts and the administration of justice.”

The series documented the waste of millions of dollars in housing inmates. It disclosed that inmates in the system served a smaller percentage of their sentences than anywhere else in the country and that thousands of habitual criminals were being let go through a flawed work release program.

“It was a clear and unanimous winner,” said judge Peter Kaye. Among the nine Times staff members receiving the award are lead reporters Eric Lichtblau, Paul Feldman, David Ferrell, Josh Meyer and Ralph Frammolino and Metro projects editor Joel Sappell.