Crime Prevention

The department provides law enforcement services for the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and contracting cities. Services include abandoned vehicle reporting and removal, adult fingerprinting, animal control for unincorporated county areas, child abuse reporting/emergency response, court security, crime prevention, criminal history records, drug abuse education/prevention, internship programs, medic alert, police reports, pre-employment background checks, parking regulations enforcement, process service, sex offender registration/community notification, sheriff services, and temporary restraining order assistance services.  

  The Sheriff assists in the functioning of the Superior and Municipal Courts, and operates county correctional facilities. Services are restricted to the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and the contracting cities of Agoura Hills, Artesia, Bellflower, Bradbury, Calabasas, Carson, Castaic, Cerritos, Commerce, Cudahy, Diamond Bar, Duarte, Hawaiian Gardens, Hidden Hills, Industry, La Canada/Flintridge, La Habra Heights, La Puente, Lakewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Malibu, Maywood, Palmdale, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Dimas, South El Monte, Temple City, Walnut, and Westlake Village. 

  Abandoned vehicle reporting and removal and parking regulations enforcement is provided to residents in unincorporated Los Angeles County and contracting cities. 

  Livescan fingerprinting is available only at the Imperial Hwy office (Records and Identification Bureau) for adult employment and citizenship/immigration identification and background checks. 

  Temporary restraining order assistance is provided on a short term (72 hrs.), emergency basis only. Regular TROs must be applied for at a Superior Court location. 

  The VINE program is a computer-based telephone program that provides information and notification about inmates currently imprisoned in the L A County Jail System. The program uses a database to determine if an individual is currently in custody. Individuals may also register up to two phone numbers for an automated notification call when a specific inmate is released or transferred. The program will attempt to call every half hour for 24-hours; calls may come in the middle of the night. 

  The Sheriff's Family Crimes Bureau investigates cases of child abuse where criminal charges have been filed or are pending. Officers work with DCFS on reports of child abuse, and are sometimes sent by DCFS to take a first report. They also provide child abuse prevention services for the public by providing community and media presentations.  

  The department provides sex offender registration/notification, in accordance with Megan's Law, through access to the US Department of Justice database of sex offenders at kiosk's in Sheriff's stations. Criteria for the use of the database include that the viewer be 18 years of age, or if younger than 18, be accompanied by an adult. California ID is required. Time is limited to 15 minutes of viewing. It is illegal to use the information gained on the database to harass or discriminate against a registrant. It is not permitted to make copies of the information.  

  Pre-employment background checks and Clearance Letters for employers or INS can be obtained at every station, and at the Records and Identification Bureau.  

  The Vial of Life program provides medical information for use by emergency medical, law enforcement and others who respond to an emergency in a person's home. The program provides vials, forms and tags to people who wish to participate. 

  The Mental Evaluation Team provides field response to sheriff's deputies in dealing with people who are mentally ill. The team interviews and evaluates people in crisis and, when appropriate, transports them to a care facility. Unit staff work out of the Century, East Los Angeles and Pico Rivera Stations. The teams do not respond to calls from the public. 

  Student internships are provided that allow college students to earn college credit while observing departmental operations in the field.