County Sheriff Lee Baca faces what may be the toughest fight of his 14-year political career. A scathing report issued Friday includes accusations of misconduct in his jails, such as deputies beating inmates, cover-ups and a persistent culture of violence.

After the U.S. Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its dangerously overcrowded prisons, the state is shifting responsibility of nonviolent criminals to local officials. Of all the prisoners and parolees leaving the state's system, the bulk are headed to Los Angeles County, which already has a strained criminal justice system.