Jail Funds Still Short, Baca Says

Despite the boost in funding for Los Angeles County jails over the next three years, inmates will still be freed after serving just half their sentences, Sheriff Lee Baca announced Monday.

Baca reported in a letter to the Board of Supervisors that the increase would allow him to keep inmates in jail longer, but that by June 2007 they still would serve only 40% to 50% of their sentences.

Since Baca began the early releases in 2002, more than 120,000 inmates have been freed early, most after serving just 10% of their sentences.

The releases, which Baca has blamed on budget woes, prompted the supervisors in December to allocate enough funds to give him an extra $24.4 million a year by 2007.

But even with the additional money, Baca wrote, the Sheriff’s Department would find itself with $44.6 million less for custody operations than it had in 2001.

The recent slayings of three people allegedly by an inmate after his early release from a 60-day jail sentence renewed criticism of the sheriff’s decision to close jail beds, even among supporters.

Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who has repeatedly advocated that fellow board members give more money to the Sheriff’s Department, has decried Baca’s decision to release inmates early.

“Until all of his programs are fully funded, he should do the most with what he has by setting priorities,” said Antonovich’s spokesman, Tony Bell. “And his top priority should be keeping criminals behind bars.”

But Baca said that although he understands the financial pressures on the county budget, he has had no choice but to eliminate jail beds because he cannot afford to pay for guards.

“The reality that I’m forced to do this should be well understood by the Board of Supervisors,” he said.