Scrutiny Intensifies Over LA County’s Handling of $88M Youth Justice Funds

Los Angeles County’s handling of $88 million allocated for youth justice programs raises pressing concerns about financial management and accountability.

At a Glance

Los Angeles County received $88 million in state funds for youth justice for fiscal year 2021–22.
Only 11 percent of the allocated funds have been spent.
The county’s probation department has initiated only six of the 26 planned programs.
The state auditor reports potential mismanagement and calls for greater oversight.

Audit Report Highlights Financial Mismanagement

In a troubling audit, the California State Auditor revealed that Los Angeles County has spent merely $9.7 million out of the $88 million allocated for youth justice in the 2021–22 fiscal year. The funds were intended to provide rehabilitative services for youth, but the county has yet to roll out many planned services. The audit calls into question whether financial resources meant to assist vulnerable youth populations have been misappropriated or simply mismanaged.

Unmet Expectations and Calls for Accountability

While Los Angeles County has received substantial state funding, only 11 percent has been utilized. Additionally, the county has only implemented 6 out of 26 planned programs, further highlighting inefficiencies. This minimal expenditure raises questions about the county’s commitment to addressing youth justice needs.

Probation Department Under Scrutiny

The audit specifically mentioned a critical shortfall in the Los Angeles County Probation Department’s operations. “Los Angeles generally agreed with our findings and conclusions,” the state audit reported. “The county did not directly respond to all of the recommendations we made to it, but it did indicate agreement with portions of one recommendation.” These findings underline the need for substantial reforms within the department.

“It has yet to spend tens of millions of dollars in funding the State issued to assist the county in providing rehabilitative services for youth,” State Auditor Grant Parks noted.

L.A. County spent $800,000 to incarcerate ONE person last year. 🤯

That same money could provide a diversion path for 95 system-impacted youth or fund enrollment for 1,600 kids in youth development programs instead. 💯#FullyFundCareFirst #YouthJusticeReimagined #CareFirstBudget pic.twitter.com/8OWmLt1JCR

— Youth Justice Coalition (@YouthJusticeLA) June 27, 2022

Future Implications and Recommendations

The report also recommended legislative changes to ensure better accountability and transparency moving forward. One significant recommendation is for Probation to create weekly staff working groups and set specific timelines to finalize service agreements with service providers. This would facilitate a more effective deployment of funds, ensuring that the youth justice programs receive timely financial backing.

“Delays in identifying facilities, program service categories, and budget development have hampered the program,” adding to the administrative challenges faced by Los Angeles County.