Criminal Justice Publications
To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.
The 2023-24 Budget: County Probation Grants to Support Temporary Increase in the Supervision Population
- Format:
- HTML
February 23, 2023 - We recommend that the Legislature reject the Governor’s proposal for two primary reasons. First, the proposed funding is likely not needed. Second, given the state’s budget problem, dedicating new General Fund to this purpose would come at the expense of previously identified priorities, and we do not find it sufficiently justified for prioritizing limited state resources.
The 2023-24 Budget: Increased Federal Authority For State Crisis Intervention Program
- Format:
- HTML
February 22, 2023 - In this post, we analyze the Governor’s budget proposal to provide increased federal spending authority to the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) in order to allow the receipt of federal grant monies that were recently made available to the state. We provide key background on the grant, describe the state’s initial plan to spend the grant funds, assess the plan and the Governor’s proposal, and provide associated recommendations.
The 2023-24 Budget: Office of the State Public Defender
- Format:
- HTML
February 15, 2023 - This post provides an overview of the Governor’s proposed budget for the Office of the State Public Defender to engage in activities to improve DEI in the recruitment, hiring, and retention of staff.
The 2023-24 Budget: Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training—Office of Administrative Hearing Costs
- Format:
- HTML
February 13, 2023 - In this post, we assess and make recommendations on the Governor’s budget proposal to provide additional resources to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to fund the costs of peace officer decertification hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) within the Department of General Services (DGS).
The 2023-24 Budget: Judicial Branch Budget Proposals
February 10, 2023 - This brief provides our analysis of a proposal seeking court-specific resources for the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Program and a proposal to address the solvency of the State Court Facilities Construction Fund.
Overview of Enforcement of Firearm and Ammunition Laws
- Format:
January 31, 2023 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review Assembly Committee on Public Safety
The 2023-24 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget
January 13, 2023 - On January 10, 2023, Governor Newsom presented his proposed state budget to the Legislature. In this report, we provide a brief summary of the proposed budget based on our initial review. In the coming weeks, we will analyze the plan in more detail and release several additional budget analyses.
The California State Bar: Assessment of Proposed Disciplinary Case Processing Standards
January 6, 2023 - As required by Chapter 723 of 2021 (SB 211, Umberg), this report presents our assessment of the California State Bar’s proposed (1) caseload processing standards for resolving attorney discipline cases within its Office of Chief Trial Counsel, (2) establishment of a backlog goal and metrics to measure such a goal, and (3) staffing requirements needed to achieve the new standards.
Promoting Equity in the Parole Hearing Process
January 5, 2023 - In this report, we (1) provide background on California’s parole hearing process, (2) identify current aspects of the process that could disadvantage certain groups, and (3) recommend steps to promote greater equity in the parole hearing process.
The 2022-23 Budget: California Spending Plan Series
- Format:
- HTML
September 29, 2022 - Each year, our office publishes California Spending Plan, a series of publications that summarize the annual state budget. The Overview of the California Spending Plan is presented here along with short online posts that focus on major areas and features of the 2022-23 budget package. As more of these posts become available, we will add them below.
The 2022-23 California Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice
- Format:
- HTML
September 26, 2022 - The 2022-23 budget provides $18.7 billion from the General Fund for judicial and criminal justice programs, including support for program operations and capital outlay projects. This is an increase of $852 million, or 5 percent, above the revised 2021-22 spending level.
Assessing the Provision of Criminal Indigent Defense
September 22, 2022 - This report provides background on the provision of indigent defense in California, discusses existing indigent defense service levels, and makes recommendations to improve the state's oversight of indigent defense.
Proposition 27: Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
- Format:
August 10, 2022 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization Senate Committee on Governmental Organization
Criminal Justice Staff
- Anita Lee
- (916) 319-8321
- Courts, Department of Justice, Gambling
- Caitlin O'Neil
- (916) 319-8351
- State Prisons, County Jails, Sentencing
- Jared Sippel
- (916) 319-8335
- Emergency Services and Business Regulation
- Orlando Sanchez Zavala
- (916) 319-8307
- Correctional Health Care, Rehabilitation Programs, Juvenile Justice, Community Corrections
- Drew Soderborg
- (916) 319-8346
- Deputy Legislative Analyst: Public Safety and Business Regulation