Kings County DA asks board for funding to hire forensic psychologists for Prop 57 transfer hearings
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Summary
The district attorney asked the board to approve contracts with forensic psychologists to support transfer hearings for five juveniles, citing Prop 57 case law that increases evidentiary and psychological review before transfers to adult court.
The Kings County district attorney asked the Board of Supervisors on April 7 for approval of funding to hire forensic psychologists to assist with transfer hearings under Proposition 57.
"We have 5 pending contracts with a doctor Amy Watts," the district attorney said, explaining the office needs forensic psychological evaluations to meet new evidentiary requirements and to determine whether juveniles are fit for transfer to adult court.
The DA told the board two of the minors are connected to a shooting in Lamar, two are associated with the "Nana Jeff" case, and one is an attempted‑murder matter. She said recent case law and Prop 57 have made it more difficult to transfer juveniles to adult court and that forensic psychological review is necessary to proceed with transfer hearings.
A motion to approve the requested funding was made and the clerk recorded affirmative votes; the public record shows the board approved the request during the meeting.
What happens next: the DA said the contracts would allow the office to schedule and complete transfer hearings that require expert psychological assessments; specific contract terms and dollar amounts were not specified in the public remarks.
