The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department celebrated its new fleet of inmate transfer buses Thursday, as the previous aging bus fleet led to court delays that snarled the entire system.
Sheriff Robert Luna delivered his remarks during the morning press conference in front of the first new bus the department has had in eight years.
“Our court transportation services make every effort to transport all individuals to court on a daily basis, but in recent years when bus availability has been low, it has been very difficult,” Luna said.
The department’s Court Services Transportation Bureau transports approximately 1,500 people in custody to and from court, medical appointments and state prisons. Luna said currently 70% of the department’s fleet is not operational due to maintenance issues and parts availability.
According to the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, LASD has not received a new bus since 2018, resulting in 23 of the 82 buses in operation, less than half of what the department needs to provide its transportation. It also costs between $1.2 and $1.6 million annually to maintain the aging buses.
“I remember when I first came into office, and some of the first angry phone calls I got were from some of our judges complaining that they were consistent – some of our prisoners were missing court, which supports the whole system” , said Luna. .
In 2023, the Board of Supervisors has set aside approximately $21 million for a new fleet of 20 buses and 16 vans. The first of these buses arrived this week and one bus will be delivered approximately every two weeks until the full fleet is in place.
“Most importantly, these new buses will ensure that every individual in our care and care is transported safely, quickly and in accordance with their constitutional rights,” Luna said.
He also explained that the department has also developed an equipment and technology replacement plan to prevent critical gaps from arising in the future.
