Sacramento Bee

May 21, 2010

Sacramento County sued over cuts to probation funds

The Sacramento County Probation Association and Crime Victims United of California on Thursday filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court to prevent more massive cuts to the county's probation department.

The suit comes the same day as an education coalition filed an "adequacy" lawsuit against the state over education funding and the quality of schools. Disability rights groups filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this month to stop proposed cuts to mental health in Sacramento County.

"That just reflects the dire straits government is in right now to fund these programs," said Jim Wiltshire, deputy director of the California State Association of Counties. "It will bring the courts into the appropriation of funds game."

Sacramento County is facing a projected $166.5 million general fund shortfall in the fiscal year starting July 1 -- the third straight bad budget year for the county. To close the deficit, officials are proposing to lay off an additional 190 probation officers, dropping the department's staff by more than 400 since 2008-09 to about 545 employees, department officials have said.

In a press release announcing the lawsuit, association President Greg Stuber said the cuts would "virtually eliminate supervision for adult and juvenile offenders sentenced to probation by the Courts."

"Our officers are charged with keeping convicted criminals out of trouble and on the road to rehabilitation. These cuts would make that impossible and put our communities at real risk," Stuber is quoted as saying.

County Counsel Robert Ryan said his office is evaluating the complaint and will defend against the lawsuit.

The county is set to release its proposed fiscal year 2010-11 spending plan in early June.

For more information on the county's budget, visit http://www.budget.saccounty.net.

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