Opponents of jail expansion protest downtown

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Opponents of jail expansion demonstrated just steps away from where the L.A. County Board of Supervisors was meeting.

The protesters dressed in orange shirts meant to mimic prison jump suits. They held signs that said 'no jail expansion' and outlined their oppositions in speeches. The overwhelming theme was to use these funds in ways that would better the community, not for jails. Bilal Ali, co-founder of 'Occupy the Hood," shared his wishes.

"We need investments in our communities, we need investments in jobs, we need investments in quality affordable housing, we need investments in quality health care, and we need investments in quality education for our people," said Ali, "We are lacking these things in our community because of misplaced policies like this that is geared to build a nation of incarceration."

The protesters also attacked Sheriff Lee Baca and his department. Baca and other high ranking sheriff's department officials were recently sued by the American Civil Liberties Union for crimes against inmates. Human rights advocate Troy Isaac knows what jail is like. He spent 24 years in prison, including time at the county's old Hall of Justice.

"I'm just a little upset that they want to build more jails and Sheriff Lee Baca can't handle the jails that he has now," said Isaac, "So we're going to have more human rights violations."

The funds in question are specifically for jail construction. Using the money for anything else would require an amendment from the state assembly. Supervisor Don Knabe says that he understands where the protesters are coming from...

"But at the end of the day, we still need jails. And we still have very significant issues, infrastructure issues, and needs for improvements, particularly replacing the central jail and some of the other facilities, that we're going to have to accept the money. That's what it's for," said Knabe.

The California Corrections Standards Authority will announce which counties will receive the funds on Thursday.