The Justice Department announced Monday a $435,000 grant for a pilot program in Los Angeles aimed at keeping first-time offenders arrested for “quality-of-life” crimes out of jail by giving them a chance to make amends.
The Smart Prosecution grant will pay the salaries of two full-time staffers for two years at the city’s attorney’s Neighborhood Justice program in Hollywood and South Los Angeles.
Chicago, Houston and San Francisco received the same kind of grant.
Next month, Feuer plans to roll out his program in Pacoima, South Los Angeles and the Harbor area. Earlier this month, he said he wanted to start Neighborhood Justice programs in Hollywood, West Los Angeles and Van Nuys when more funding becomes available.
“Being chosen as a Smart Prosecution site bolsters my office’s commitment to innovative, neighborhood-centered justice,” Feuer said. “These resources will help us engage our community in tackling the quality-of-life crimes that are neighborhood prioritizes.”
Under Los Angeles program, alleged offenders who wish to avoid criminal charges will be referred to “justice panels” made up of volunteers from the community where the crimes were committed. The panels determine what offenders must do to repay the community, which could mean painting over the graffiti or returning what was stolen.
Those accused of the crimes also will need to participate in services aimed at preventing them from committing the crime again, whether it is re- channeling their energies into art classes or getting help with job-hunting.
The crimes handled under the program include vandalism, petty theft and alcohol-related offenses. The program would only affect people aged 18-years and older.
Feuer has said the program is based on “restorative justice” in which the goal is to divert people jails and to reduce recidivism.
The City Attorney’s Office is training volunteers over the next month and working with community groups such as the El Nido Family Center in the Valley and the Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro.
— City News Service