Los Angeles County Sheriff, Lee Baca is under fire from the local American Civil Liberties Union regarding abuse of prisoners in the county jail. This police misconduct case has been brewing for months.

According to Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), “The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California Wednesday filed a federal civil rights lawsuit that accuses Sheriff Lee Baca of failing to stop a ‘pattern and practice of deputy-on-inmate violence’ inside L.A. County jails.

“Baca is responsible for the operation of the jails. His deputies act as guards. The suit also names three of Baca’s top commanders.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of inmates, says Baca and his commanders ‘are aware of the culture of deputy violence that pervades the jails but have failed to take reasonable measures to remedy the problem.’ The suit says the sheriff is in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, which provide citizens reasonable protection from violence and excessive force.

A group of deputies within the jail called the “3000 Boys” is responsible, according to the lawsuit, for the abuse of prisoners. The lawsuit also alleges Sheriff Baca knew of this group and did little to stop them.

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the New York Police Department (NYPD) for their “Stop and Frisk” program citing it as unconstitutional. The Taxi/Livery Inspection Program (TRIP) was originally put into place to deter criminals from robbing cab drivers.

However, cab drivers are now complaining that they and their passengers are being pulled over and frisked without cause.

According to the NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman, “Over the past few years, NYPD officers have stopped and frisked millions of innocent people for walking in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time, and now the Department has extended this unlawful practice to passengers in livery cars. It’s just another disturbing example of the NYPD’s campaign of excessive and racially lopsided policing, and we’re confident the courts will put a stop to it.”

The two men named in the lawsuit who were pulled out of cabs by the NYPD include a black radio host and a lawyer.

The City of Atlanta and Police Department has had a lawsuit filed against them exactly one year from when 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston was slain in a high profile case. Police had obtained a “no-knock” warrant based on phony information from an informant.

Thinking intruders were breaking in, a scared Ms. Johnston fired off one shot from an old gun at police. The police responded by firing 39 shots, killing Johnston in injuring other officers. According to reports, some officers then proceeded to plant marijuana around the house and falsify reports to cover up the mistake.

Officers Jason Smith and Gregg Junnier have pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and face sentencing soon. The lawsuit alleges corrupt practices by the Atlanta Police Department and that the City knew about these practices and showed gross indifference to these practices.