Back to All CJ FAQs

How much does the state spend on criminal justice and court programs?

Judicial and Criminal Justice Budget Summary

General Fund (Dollars in Millions)

2019‑20

2020‑21

2021‑22

Change From 2020‑21

Amount

Percent

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

$13,056

$12,104

$13,453

$1,350

11.2%

Judicial Branch

2,208

2,158

2,944

786

36.5

Department of Justice

360a

353

387

34

9.5

Board of State and Community Corrections

186

227

350

123

54.1

Other departmentsb

118

139

160

21

15.0

Totals, All Departments

$15,928

$14,980

$17,294

$2,314

15.4%

aDoes not include funding related to the National Mortgage Settlement.

bIncludes Office of the Inspector General, Commission on Judicial Performance, Victim Compensation Board, Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, State Public Defender, funds provided for trial court security, and debt service on general obligation bonds.

Note: Detail may not total due to rounding.

  • The 2021-22 budget includes $17.3 billion from the General Fund for judicial and criminal justice programs, an increase of about 15 percent above the 2020-21 expenditure level.

  • Of this funding, $13.5 billion (78 percent) supports the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

  • For more information on the state budget, please see the LAO’s State Spending Plan. For information on projected expenditures for state programs, please see the LAO’s Fiscal Outlook publication.


Last Updated: November 2021