South OC Times

The Orange County Sheriff's Department has announced the conclusion of a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into its use of custodial informants. This investigation began in December 2016. Alongside this announcement, the department has entered into an "Agreement for the Sustainability of Custodial Informant Reforms" with the DOJ.

In October 2022, the DOJ released a report detailing its findings from an investigation into practices by both the Orange County Sheriff's Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office between 2007 and 2016. Following this report, the Sheriff's Department voluntarily provided additional materials to demonstrate changes and safeguards it had implemented. The DOJ reviewed these current policies and procedures, confirming their constitutionality.

Sheriff Don Barnes stated, “Since 2016, we have worked diligently to implement comprehensive reforms regarding custodial informants. This Agreement provides a framework for the DOJ to validate those efforts and establish our policies and practices to be among the best in the nation.” The agreement will close once DOJ validates that these practices have been sustained for six months.

The collaborative effort between the Sheriff's Department and DOJ aims to ensure public confidence in informant use within Orange County's criminal justice system. Sheriff Barnes added, “We took the initiative to immediately begin setting up systems to uphold inmates’ constitutional rights while ensuring effective investigations inside a correctional facility."

During its investigation, the DOJ was granted full access to documents, facilities, and personnel by the Sheriff's Department. Mary Izadi, Constitutional Policing Advisor for Orange County Sheriff’s Department said, “It is encouraging to receive unprecedented DOJ recognition for the landmark improvements and reforms OC Sheriff has established.” She noted that no changes or enhancements are required under this agreement as existing processes already meet standards.

Sheriff Barnes emphasized their commitment: “We are proud to set a standard for law enforcement agencies nationwide regarding the use of custodial informants.”