Attorney General Bonta Issues Statement on Ninth Circuit Decision on California’s Ban on Private Detention Facilities

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement following a 2-1, three-judge panel decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on California’s ban on private detention facilities under Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32):

“California is committed to protecting the health and safety of all people, irrespective of whether they are in custody or civil detention,” said Attorney General Bonta. “When we passed AB 32, we sent a clear message that putting an end to for-profit detention centers is key to achieving that goal. Prisons and detention centers shouldn’t be places of profit. We will continue the fight to ensure the dignities and rights of everyone in California are protected. As a Filipino American who was brought to this country as an infant, this fight is personal to me. While the road ahead may feel a little longer today, our work continues and we will keep pushing forward.”

In today’s decision, the Ninth Circuit reversed the trial court’s dismissal of the current challenge to AB 32. The case is ongoing. A copy of the decision is available here.