To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
February 23, 2026 - For over three decades, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has faced litigation for providing unconstitutional levels of prison mental health care, in part due to chronic vacancies among mental health staff. In this report, we provide an overview of CDCR’s mental health system, assess ongoing efforts to address mental health vacancies as well as additional steps that could be taken to reduce vacancies, and make recommendations aimed at bolstering the state’s ability to recruit and retain sufficient mental health staff.
February 23, 2026 - The 2026-27 Budget: Estimated State Savings From Proposition 47
February 11, 2026 - In this post, we provide an overview of the Governor's proposed 2026-27 budget for the Department of Justice and analyze several proposals to fund the department's firearm-related workload.
October 24, 2025 - The 2025-26 budget provides $17.3 billion from the General Fund for judicial and criminal justice programs, including support for program operations and capital outlay projects. This is a decrease of $569 million, or 3 percent, below the revised 2024-25 level.
June 12, 2025 - In this report, we provide background on trends in retail theft over the past decade, discuss some of the possible contributors to these trends, describe recent retail theft-related law changes, and outline key questions that the Legislature may want to ask as it continues to provide oversight of this issue.
March 13, 2025 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 On Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation
February 25, 2025 - Senate Committee on Public Safety and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 On Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation
February 19, 2025 - In this post, we provide an update and comments on the implementation of a new firearm and ammunition tax that went into effect beginning July 2024.
February 12, 2025 - In this brief, we provide an overview of the proposed funding for the judicial branch in 2025-26. We also analyze the Governor’s budget proposals to increase discretionary funding to the trial courts and start a capital outlay project to construct the new Tracy Courthouse in San Joaquin County.
January 13, 2025 - Update (1/16/25): A set of tables detailing various solutions and proposals has been appended to the online version of this report. They are available using the HTML link above.
On January 10, 2025, Governor Newsom’s administration presented its proposed state budget to the California Legislature. In this report, we provide a brief summary of the Governor’s budget based on our initial review as of January 12. In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release many additional issue-specific budget analyses. For those additional analyses, please see our budget page.
December 2, 2024 - CalFacts presents a wide range of facts and trends about the state's economy, finances, and programs.
September 10, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Public Safety & Assembly Committee on Public Safety