Criminal Justice Publications

Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Improving State Programs for Crime Victims

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March 18, 2015 - As part of the Governor’s budget for 2015-16, the administration proposes to reorganize the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). In this report, we (1) review existing victim programs, (2) identify challenges regarding the current structure and delivery of these programs, and (3) recommend steps to help address these challenges.

Handout

Trial Court Funding in 2013-14

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March 11, 2015 - Presented to: Joint Legislative Audit Committee and Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety

Handout

Improved Budgeting for the Department of State Hospitals

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March 5, 2015 - Presented to: Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety

Handout

Impact of Proposition 47 on State Corrections

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March 5, 2015 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 5 on Corrections, Public Safety and the Judiciary

Handout

Impact of Proposition 47 on State Corrections

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March 4, 2015 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety

Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Governor's Criminal Justice Proposals

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February 20, 2015 - The Governor’s budget proposes a total of $15 billion from various fund sources for judicial and criminal justice programs in 2015-16. This is an increase of $306 million, or about 2 percent, above estimated expenditures for the current year. In the report we provide an analysis of the Governor's budget proposals for state criminal justice departments and programs, including for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the judicial branch, various local public safety programs, and the Department of Justice. The report reviews the most significant proposals in these areas and offers corresponding recommendations for the Legislature's consideration.

Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Implementation of Proposition 47

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February 17, 2015 - On November 4, 2014, voters approved Proposition 47 which makes significant changes to the state’s criminal justice system. Specifically, it reduces the penalties for certain non-violent, nonserious drug and property crimes and requires that the resulting state savings be spent on (1) mental health and substance use treatment services, (2) truancy and dropout prevention, and (3) victim services. In this report, we describe the impact of Proposition 47 on state corrections, state courts, and the county criminal justice system, as well as the Governor’s budget proposals related to the proposition. We also provide recommendations for ensuring that the resulting state savings are spent in an effective manner.

Report

The 2015-16 Budget: Improved Budgeting for the Department of State Hospitals

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February 9, 2015 - This report examines the budget of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), which provides inpatient mental health services to patients in DSH’s eight facilities. It provides an overview of the various components of the department’s budget, and details how the department develops its annual budget requests. The report finds several shortcomings with the current budgeting process. To address these, the report provides recommendations for the Legislature to consider.

Handout

Restructuring the Court-Ordered Debt Collection Process

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January 16, 2015 - An additional resource to our November 2014 report Restructuring the Court-Ordered Debt Collection Process.

Report

Restructuring the Court-Ordered Debt Collection Process

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November 10, 2014 - As an additional resource, this handout gives a high level overview of the report.

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Court-ordered debt collected from defendants convicted of traffic violations or criminal offenses provides revenue to a number of state and local funds, which in turn support a variety of programs including trial court operations and victim assistance. As a result, the state has an interest in ensuring that such debt is collected in a cost-effective manner that maximizes the amount of revenue available to support these programs. Based on our review of the existing collections process for court-ordered debt, we believe that improvements can be made to help increase collections of such debt and the amount of revenue available for distribution to various state and local funds. Specifically, we recommend: (1) realigning the current court-ordered debt collection process to the courts, (2) piloting a new collections incentive model that would reward courts for improving collections, and (3) improving data collection to enable comprehensive evaluations of the performance of collection programs.

Report

Default Prove-Up Process, Chapter 193, Statutes of 2011 (AB 110, Blumenfield)

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July 18, 2014 - In recent years, various concerns have been raised regarding the state’s “default prove-up process”—a trial court process related to certain civil cases involving the collection of debt. In view of the concerns raised by stakeholders, the Legislature passed Chapter 193, Statutes of 2011 (AB 110, Blumenfield), requiring both Judicial Council (the policymaking and governing body of the judicial branch) and our office to review the state’s default prove-up process. This report responds to the requirements specified in Chapter 193.

Handout

Public Safety Realignment Funding Allocation

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May 12, 2014 - Public Safety Realignment Funding Allocation

Handout

Trial Court Operations Funding

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May 7, 2014 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety

Handout

An Update on Achieving a Constitutional Level of Correctional Medical Care

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May 1, 2014 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 On Corrections, Public Safety and the Judiciary

Handout

Trial Court Operations Funding

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April 10, 2014 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 On Corrections, Public Safety and the Judiciary