Dollars for programs that offer alternatives to incarceration, including mental health counseling and substance abuse treatments, were dispersed into the supplemental Los Angeles County’s budget by a 4-0 vote by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The action will allocate $69.5 million for specific programs that include direct community investments and alternatives to incarceration. This bulk amount was already approved by the board on Sept. 29 as part of the 2026-27 Supplemental Budget. However, the action specifies the way the money will be spent.
The decision, initiated by the county’s Chief Executive Officer, is related to Measure J that was approved by county voters in 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. Measure J requires L.A. County to allocate 10% of its county’s locally generated unrestricted revenues within the general fund each year for alternatives to incarceration and other program investments in housing and jail diversion.
The timing of the allocation of what is essentially Measure J-like funding comes a week before the Nov. 3 election when county voters are deciding on Measure E. This measure fixes mistakes in the county charter, in particular, one that accidentally erased Measure J in 2024, if Measure E is not approved.
“In 2020, the voters said they wanted the county investing in communities,” began First District Supervisor Hilda Solis before the vote. “This plan puts care first and jails last into practice, by connecting people to treatment instead of custody.”
The allocations come from two pots: $43.5 million in unspent Care First, Community Investment (CFCI) funding and an increase of $26 million in CFCI funds, according to the memo to the board from CEO Joseph Nicchitta.
His memo breaks down how the money will be spent:
• $12.1 million for housing assistance to keep people from falling into homelessness, including using motel and other types of housing vouchers
• $10 million for job training
• $8.3 million for community-based restorative justice programs
• $8.3 million for community-based youth development programs
• $5 million for small and minority-owned businesses
• $11.6 million for jail diversion, including housing and services
• $11 million set aside for the eventual closing of Men’s Central Jail
• $3.2 million for administration
• $4.4 million to the Office of Public Defender for a program that connects defendants in court with social workers and mental health workers
• $2.6 million to Department of Public Health for its substance abuse prevention programs
• $4 million to the county’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department’s (JCOD) Rapid Diversion Program
Second District Supervisor Holly Mitchell said she was concerned that such a large amount of money for the care first, jails last funding went unspent.
Adam Bettino, senior deputy director of JCOD said the unspent dollars were caused by hiring delays and other contracting issues. He said the CFCI dollars now is spread among 16 different county departments. “Once the board approves the spending plan there are no delays,” Bettino said.
The departments were given the authority to use sole source contracting to prevent delays.
“These investments in my opinion are rooted in what the community needs,” Solis said.