Los Angeles County is currently grappling with a significant issue in its inmate transportation system, as up to one-third of the 12,000 inmates in county jails are unable to make their court appearances due to a shortage of functioning buses. The LA County Sheriff’s Department has reported that out of a total of 82 buses, only 23 are currently operational, with some days seeing as few as six buses in service.
This breakdown in the transportation system has resulted in overcrowding in the county's seven jails, as inmates who are supposed to appear in court are unable to do so. This has led to individuals being held in jail longer than necessary, impacting the administration of justice.
To address this pressing issue, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to implement an interim plan to increase the number of working buses transporting inmates to courthouses and medical appointments. The plan includes borrowing vehicles from neighboring counties and seeking assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to transport inmates to state prisons.
While the current county budget includes funding for the purchase of 20 additional buses for the sheriff’s department, these acquisitions have not yet taken place. It is estimated that it will take up to 1 1/2 years for the new buses to be acquired and equipped with necessary security upgrades for inmate transportation.
Supervisor Hilda Solis highlighted that the sheriff’s department has not received any new buses since 2018, and the existing buses may not be able to sustain operations through the end of the year. The situation is further complicated by the fact that a significant portion of inmates in county jails are awaiting pretrial and have not been sentenced, with many individuals unable to post bail.
One proposed solution to reduce the need for in-person court appearances is the utilization of remote technology by the courts and the county public defender’s office. This could potentially alleviate the strain on the transportation system and help expedite legal proceedings.
It has been reported that the county spends between $1.2 million and $1.6 million annually to maintain the aging fleet of buses, underscoring the financial burden associated with the current transportation challenges.
