Measure J, L.A. County’s 2020 criminal justice reform measure, is constitutional, appellate court finds

Protesters demonstrate at Pan Pacific Park after the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed in 2020 after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground with his knee. An appellate court has ruled that a sweeping Los Angeles County criminal justice reform initiative known as Measure J is constitutional, potentially paving the way for millions of dollars to be invested in social services and a host of community-based jail diversion programs. Measure J was a landmark moment in L.A. County politics when the powerful Board of Supervisors acted on what community activists had been pleading with the board to do for years: reallocate how county money is spent to disrupt the county’s reliance on its jails to house those with serious mental illnesses and people who committed low-level crimes in response to poverty or addiction. California Judge says sweeping L.A. criminal justice reform measure is unconstitutional A Superior Court judge declares that Measure J, which Los Angeles County voters approved last year to set aside public funds for social services, is unconstitutional. Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn said in a statement that “the voters of L.A. County made it clear they want us to spend more money keeping people out of jail, and this appeals court has upheld their wishes.” It remains unclear how Measure J will affect the county’s budget, including the Sheriff’s Department.