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

Feb 23, 2026 - Recommendations Approve Fire Watch Funding. We recommend the Legislature approve the one ‑time $15.2  million General Fund proposed for fire watch. Given the important safety function these funds support and CDCR ’s inability to address these costs due to the structural shortfall, this proposal meets the high bar for additional General Fund spending that we think
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - A large portion of the General Fund support is used to support the Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS) enforcement teams, which seize firearms from people prohibited from owning or possessing them.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

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