the Bulletin March 2025

LETTER from SHERIFF BARNES

T his month, we closed the second of two investigations related to the Department’s use of custodial informants. The first investigation by the United States Department of Justice began in January 2017 and closed in January 2025 with a sustainability agreement. This agreement will conclude after the U.S. DOJ validates that the Department’s custodial informant practices have been sustained for six months. The second investigation closed just this week, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) dismissing their lawsuit with prejudice, meaning the case is permanently closed and cannot be refiled. The ACLU acknowledged in the settlement agreement that their case, filed in 2018, had no impact on Department operations. The resolution of these cases reaffirms that our policies are aligned with constitutional standards and further validates the Department’s dedication to lawful policing practices. These outcomes are unprecedented. In other counties, similar cases have resulted in consent decrees or jail monitors tasked with ensuring compliance with extensive reforms. Orange County avoided such outcomes thanks to the tireless efforts of many personnel. Specifically, I want to recognize the hard work of many teams who contributed to these achievements. Constitutional Policing Advisor Mary Izadi led our discussions with both the U.S. DOJ and the ACLU. Her tenacious defense of our Department and our processes, procedures, and policies surrounding custodial informants paved the way for these landmark results. Additionally, I want to acknowledge the foundational work of Commander Ash Abdelmuti, Captain Ryan Anderson, Commander Brett Darnell, and Retired Captain Scott Merrill, who collaborated with Constitutional Policing Advisor Mary Izadi back in 2022-2023 to set the groundwork for our success today. Their leadership and commitment ensured that our policies and practices surrounding custodial informants were robust and operationally sound. Current and former members of the Special Services Bureau, Classification Bureau, Custody Intelligence Unit, Population Management Unit, Records Division, Discovery Unit, Property/Evidence Bureau, and S.T.A.R. Bureau provided critical documentation and expert testimony throughout these investigations. Their collective efforts made a profound impact in bringing these cases to successful conclusions. You will often hear me refer to the people in our jail as those “entrusted to our care.” This is not merely a phrase; it reflects our duty to ensure that individuals in custody are appropriately cared for during their time with us. I deeply appreciate all of our hardworking custody personnel who tirelessly protect the constitutional rights afforded to everyone. Thank you all for your diligence and persistence in ensuring that our department continues to uphold its commitment to lawful and ethical practices.

the BULLETIN •MARCH 2025 | page 3