Report 2021-105 Recommendation 20 Responses
Report 2021-105: Law Enforcement Departments Have Not Adequately Guarded Against Biased Conduct (Release Date: April 2022)
Recommendation #20 To: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
To better assess whether peace officer applicants have the ability to work with diverse members of their communities and whether they possess detectable disqualifying biases, by no later than October 2022 Los Angeles Sheriff should begin conducting standardized interviews of officer applicants that include questions designed to assess their experience working with diverse communities and their ability to do so effectively.
1-Year Agency Response
We conduct the "Structure Interview" at the beginning of the hiring process which includes two questions regarding Community Involvement/Awareness. The applicant has the opportunity to describe current issues in their community and how they would address those issues. This interview is used to assess their experience and if there are disqualifying biases.
The "Structure Interview" process has remained the same since the last update in October 2022.
- Completion Date: October 2022
- Response Date: May 2023
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending
LA Sheriff has not yet provided documentation substantiating its implementation of this recommendation.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
6-Month Agency Response
We conduct the "Structure Interview" at the beginning the hiring process which includes two questions regarding Community Involvement/Awareness. The applicant has the opportunity to describe current issues in their community and how they would address those issues. This interview is used to assess their experience and if there are disqualifying biases
- Estimated Completion Date: Unknown
- Response Date: October 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending
60-Day Agency Response
We have a tracking mechanism in place which seeks to maintain the hiring of applicants reflective of the diversity Los Angeles County. We are making strides to seek input from elected officials and non-profit organizations, such as the NAACP and the California Legislative Black Caucus. We will also continue to seek input from other ethnicity focus groups and incorporate their valued suggestions into upcoming revisions our marketing plan in cooperation with the County CEO's Office.
- Estimated Completion Date: TBD
- Response Date: June 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending
All Recommendations in 2021-105
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.