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

Feb 23, 2026 - Assessment Expansion of Tele ‑Mental Health Is One Strategy That Could Help Alleviate Staffing Challenges. In our report Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care , we find that the expansion of tele‑mental health is a promising strategy to address vacancies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - Increasing Compensation Can Be a High ‑Cost Strategy. In general, compensation increases can be a high ‑cost strategy for filling vacancies. For example, the action plan estimates that it will cost $25   million ongoing to increase pay by roughly 3   percent for mental health positions at CDCR.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134