Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents areas including Santa Clarita, has announced her support for the effort to recall L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón.

Barger, who is Santa Clarita’s representative on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, announced her endorsement of the recall on Friday citing Gascón’s zero bail policy.

“I typically support election outcomes as a way of respecting the public’s right to choose, but our D.A.’s policies have led to disastrous consequences,” Barger said in a statement. “Public safety in L.A. County has visibly deteriorated.”

The Pivotal Moment

Barger pointed to a report published by the Los Angeles Times on Friday as the turning point for her.

The report discussed a diversion program in L.A. designed to give treatment and housing instead of jail time to adults who are mentally ill, unhoused or have addictions.

Only about one-quarter of the hundreds of people eligible for the program actually participated, according to statistics from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

Zero Bail’s Effect

LAPD Deputy Chief Kris Pitcher told the Los Angeles Times that he believed the program has been hindered by the zero bail policy put in place by Gascón and court officials.

The policy has made bail free for those who commit minor crimes, allowing people to be released quickly after being arrested to wait for trial.

Pitcher said that for many, being released is more appealing than entering a treatment program, even if it means they will still face criminal charges.

“Diversion programs like this one seize a narrow window of opportunity to offer treatment and housing to arrested individuals who’ve hit rock bottom,” Barger said. “But the quick release option put in place by Gascón’s policies squanders that opportunity. If there’s no rock bottom, there’s no incentive to accept help – instead, we’re left with a squandered opportunity to end suffering and help heal some of our community’s neediest individuals.”

Facing Charges

Pitcher also mentioned some of those turning down the program believed Gascón’s office may not file charges against them at all.

“Learning that our D.A.’s ‘Zero Bail’ policy has interfered with a diversion program’s ability to serve people who are suffering from addiction, mental illness and homelessness is unacceptable and the last straw,” Barger said.

Read the full statement from Barger’s office here.

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