With Bus Fleet Failing, LA County Seeks Alternatives for Transporting Inmates

Citing persistent mechanical problems with the existing bus fleet, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday called for a report on potential alternative methods of transporting jail inmates to and from court hearings, medical appointments and state prisons.

According to Supervisor Hilda Solis’ office, the sheriff’s department has not received any new inmate-transport buses since 2018, leaving it with a current operational fleet of between five and 11 in the L.A. Basin area, where 64 are actually needed. Only six out of nine buses are operating in the North County area, and only six of nine are operating for state prison transfers.

Solis’ office noted that it also costs between $1.2 million and $1.6 million a year to maintain the aging buses.

The shortage of buses at one point left 33% of inmates who were scheduled to appear in court unable to do so because of the lack of transportation, according to a Superior Court estimate cited by Solis’ office. Some of those inmates potentially could have been released following those hearings, meaning the lack of transportation was exacerbating jail overcrowding, according to the report.

“The buses we currently have may not sustain us until the end of this year or through the middle of next,” Solis said in a statement. “It is already costly to maintain the ones we have and to prevent a bigger issue, we need an interim plan to get us through to when the new buses arrive. I know that our court partners will appreciate this so that they can get through their cases as efficiently as possible — as well as our incarcerated individuals whose cases could be resolved.”

The county has approved the purchase of 20 new buses, however, it will take between 12 and 18 months to receive them due to the security renovations needed for inmate-transport vehicles.

The motion approved by the board Tuesday calls for a report within 45 days on an interim plan for boosting transportation options, including possibly borrowing vehicles from neighboring counties or asking the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials to transport its prisoners to and from county jails.

“Los Angeles County is committed to ensuring that those who are incarcerated and justice-involved receive the services and rehabilitation they need, which hinges on timely transportation to and from court hearings,” Board Chair Lindsey Horvath said. “Missing or being late to court appearances has the potential to set individuals back months or years. Today’s motion is a necessary investment to make sure LA County lives up to its promise of justice and rehabilitation.”