Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - For example, CDCR psychologists, according to the state Auditor, earn between $56 and $85 per hour —well above the average hourly rate paid in other states. According to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California is the highest paying state for psychologists with the average hourly wage at $64 per hour, whereas psychologists nationwide earned a median of $53 per hour (21  percent less).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - Figure 1 Department of Justice Budget Summary (Dollars in Millions) Funding for Firearm-Related Workload Background Bureau of Firearms (BOF) Primarily Responsible for Regulating and Enforcing State ’s Firearm and Ammunition Laws.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - Currently, the fund remains insolvent and is estimated to require a General Fund backfill in the tens of millions of dollars annually through 2036 ‑37 to maintain existing facility ‑related activities and to pay the debt service for completed construction  projects.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

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

Feb 23, 2026 - Specifically, we recommend that the Legislature adopt budget bill language requiring CDCR to report by January 10, 2029 the following data for 2026 ‑27 and 2027 ‑28 for each collective bargaining unit representing its employees: (1)  the number of hours and associated dollar value of compensable leave cashed out by existing employees through leave buy ‑back programs (programs in
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137