L.A. County Leaders Vote To Overhaul Jail System

On Tuesday, L.A. County leaders voted 5-0 to approve an ambitious plan to overhaul the criminal justice system. The reform plan is an effort to decrease vulnerable populations in the jails, especially people who are homeless, have substance abuse disorders or mental illness.

The plan is laid out in a report from the Alternatives to Incarceration Work Group. More than two dozen community leaders and county government workers from different departments, including the sheriff’s department, health department and district attorney’s office, worked on it for almost a year.

Some of the 114 recommendations in the report include training 911 operators to do mental health screenings, expanding community-based treatment centers and building more supportive housing.

NOW COMES THE HARD PART

The Board also voted to establish a special team inside the county CEO's office to implement the recommendations. The CEO needs to report back to the board with an initial analysis of the recommendations within 90 days, including how to pay for them.

Dr. Bob Ross, president of The California Endowment and chair of the county's Alternatives to Incarceration Work Group, wants to ensure the plan offers a long-term return on investment.

“Every time you treat someone, from a dollar-to-dollar standpoint,” he said, “it really is a smarter, more cost-effective way to treat people in the community.”

GO DEEPER:

• Read the jail reform motion (Board of Supervisors)

• LA County Leaders Consider Alternatives To Jail For Sick, Vulnerable Inmates (LAist)