An agreement regarding the operator of a victims’ services center was once again delayed after the issue was pulled from the Kern County Board of Supervisors’ Tuesday morning agenda as details continue to be finalized.
Services are still available at the Kern County District Attorney’s Family Justice Center on 18th Street even after the agreement for Bakersfield Recovery Services to occupy the center was pulled from the agenda.
The center “continues to offer a full array of services to the community through the support of over 20 community partners,” Daniela Gonzaga, spokesperson for the DA’s office, wrote in an email.
“Any victim of interpersonal violence is welcome to visit our centers whether they have made a law enforcement report or not.”
As to the status of the new agreement, Gonzaga said, “There are a few remaining steps to complete before the process is finalized; therefore, today’s item was pulled from the agenda.”
Last month, the DA’s office announced it was ending its longstanding agreement with The Open Door Network to run the center due to public statements made by the organization’s CEO, Lauren Skidmore.
The DA’s office previously told The Californian it asked Skidmore in September to refrain from making public statements about pending cases, saying public statements from a partner agency could complicate the DA’s prosecutions.
Skidmore has claimed the cancellation was more personal, and made in retaliation for her advocacy for the estranged wife of DA Cynthia Zimmer’s nephew.
Zimmer’s nephew Zack Scrivner was a Kern County supervisor until late 2024 when he resigned, months after an incident at his Tehachapi home where he is accused of inappropriately touching one of his children while high on drugs. Scrivner was not charged with any sexual crime. A judge approved a mental health diversion for child endangerment and weapons charges, which could later be dismissed if he completes the terms of the program.
Because of her relation to Scrivner, Zimmer recused herself from the investigation and prosecution, which was ultimately handled by the California Attorney General’s office.
Skidmore has often appeared alongside and issued statements on behalf of Scrivner’s estranged wife, Christina Scrivner, and in February joined her and Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, at a press conference in Sacramento regarding stricter limits for mental health diversions.
Supervisors were meant to approve an occupancy agreement with Bakersfield Recovery Services — the organization chosen by the DA’s office to run the Family Justice Center — at their March 24 meeting, but due to a lack of quorum were forced to continue the item.
Supervisors Chris Pariler and Jeff Flores both recused themselves from the vote, citing contributions made by Bakersfield Recovery Services to each of their campaigns. Supervisor David Couch was absent from that meeting.