LOS ANGELES COUNTY : D.A. to Launch Outreach Plan Despite Fund Squeeze

Despite threatened budget cuts that could slash his prosecutorial staff, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti announced Wednesday that his office will set up a crime prevention outreach program staffed by four deputy district attorneys.

“There is never a good time to initiate this kind of program. There is always some kind of budget problem,” Garcetti said at a press conference marking his 100th day in office.

The new program comes a week after Garcetti told county officials that staff reductions would leave his prosecutors unable to handle their cases and force them to drop misdemeanor prosecutions. He has threatened to sue over cuts.

The new program, as yet undefined and expected to cost about $250,000, will use prosecutors reassigned from sex crimes, hard-core gang and other divisions. Garcetti said it is needed because “the only way we are going to make an impact is to prevent youngsters from getting into a life of crime.”

Responding to speculation over possible plea bargains in the Reginald O. Denny beating case after three defendants said they would consider settlement, Garcetti said any plea would require “substantial punishment. No one is going to get a bargain.”