Los Angeles jail inmates face challenges getting to court due to insufficient buses, leading to overcrowding

Los Angeles County is facing a transportation issue that is impacting the ability of up to one-third of the 12,000 inmates in county jails to make it to their court appearances. The LA County Sheriff’s Department has a shortage of functioning buses, with only 23 out of 82 currently operational. This has led to overcrowding in jails as inmates who are unable to be transported to court remain incarcerated. County supervisors are recognizing the urgency of the situation and are working on a proposal to address the lack of transportation.

In response to the transportation crisis, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to implement an interim plan that involves borrowing vehicles from neighboring counties and seeking assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to transport inmates to state prisons. A report on the feasibility of the proposal and how to finance it is expected in 45 days. The current county budget includes funding for the purchase of 20 additional buses for the sheriff’s department, but these purchases have not yet been made. It is projected to take up to 1 1/2 years for the new buses to arrive and be equipped for inmate transport.

Supervisor Hilda Solis highlighted the lack of new buses received by the sheriff’s department since 2018. The existing buses, which transport 1,500 inmates daily to various appointments, are at risk of not lasting through the end of the year. The situation is further complicated by the fact that a significant portion of the inmate population in county jails are awaiting pretrial and have not been sentenced for a crime. Many individuals are detained because they are unable to make bail, while others are awaiting sentencing. The average daily inmate population in the county jail system was around 12,177 in the year 2023.

Supervisor Janice Hahn proposed the utilization of remote technology by the courts and the county public defender’s office to reduce the necessity of in-person appearances. This could potentially alleviate the strain on the inadequate transportation system. Maintaining the fleet of aging buses currently costs the county between $1.2 million and $1.6 million annually. The lack of reliable transportation for inmates not only impacts their ability to attend court proceedings but also contributes to overcrowding in county jails. The proposed interim plan aims to address these challenges and ensure that inmates have access to the justice system.