Overview and Update on the Prison Receivership

Nov 8, 2023 - Federal Court Orders State to Reduce Prison Overcrowding In November 2006, plaintiffs in the cases now known as Plata v. Newsom (involving prison medical care) and Coleman v. Newsom (involving prison mental health care) filed motions for the federal courts to convene a three ‑judge panel pursuant to the U.S.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4813

The 2026-27 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 23, 2026 - For example, under the medical Receiver in the Plata court case, state spending on prison medical care has more than doubled since the first year of the Receivership (after accounting for inflation) —reaching $3.1  billion in 2025 ‑26.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - While the CJC project is necessary, the project ’s cost has more than doubled. Specifically, prior budgets included $64.1  million for this project, which was estimated to cost a total of $70.2  million, with the county covering the remaining balance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

State Correctional Spending Increased Despite Significant Population Reductions

Feb 4, 2020 - For example, the number of health care positions per inmate has nearly doubled —from 0. 06 i n 2010 ‑ 11 t o 0. 11 i n 2018 ‑19 (the most recent complete data available). We note, however, that the number of non ‑health care staff declined over the same time period.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4145

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - Supreme Court issued a decision in the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen case that found laws requiring people provide “good cause ” to carry a concealed weapon to be unconstitutional.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

State Corrections: Response to COVID-19

May 8, 2020 - In 2009, a federal three-judge panel —convened at the request of the plaintiffs in Coleman v. Newsom and Plata v. Newsom —declared that overcrowding was the primary reason that CDCR was unable to provide adequate health care and ordered the state to reduce the population of its prisons.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4229

The 2023-24 Budget: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 16, 2023 - In addition, the proposed Pine Grove contracts are inconsistent with realignment because the state would be responsible for at least 93  percent of the cost of the camp, resulting in the state effectively double paying counties that choose to send realigned youth to it.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4686

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice

Oct 24, 2025 - In addition, the budget package continues to include language —without a specific amount in the CDCR budget –that would allow the Department of Finance (DOF) to make payments from the General Fund for any fines related to staffing vacancies in the   Coleman v.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5085

The 2017-18 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Mar 1, 2017 - Coleman v. Brown In 1995, a federal court ruled in the case now referred to as Coleman v. Brown that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) was not providing constitutionally adequate mental health care to its inmates.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3595

Improving California’s Prison Inmate Classification System

May 2, 2019 - Federal Court Ordered California to Limit Prison Population In November 2006, plaintiffs in two ongoing class action lawsuits —now called Plata v. Newsom  (involving inmate medical care) and   Coleman v.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4023