by TChris

In the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, incompetence is not viewed as justification for significant disclipline of employees -- even when the incompetence leads to dead inmates in the jail.

Los Angeles County sheriff's employees whose actions contributed to the deaths of five county jail inmates have received punishment ranging from a written reprimand to a 15-day suspension, according to a report released Monday.

The Office of Independent Review says the deputies were merely negligent, not malicious. Small comfort to the dead inmates.

The Sheriff says he's opposed to "symbolic harshness." If only the same philosophy applied at sentencing hearings in the criminal justice system.

The OIR also reports that deputies are being arrested for drunk driving more frequently than last year, and that they're involved in more shootings.