Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - Those departments may seek increases in compensation to ensure their pay remains competitive with CDCR —potentially adding still more costs to the state. Extending Licensing Exemptions to Out‑of‑State Licensed Providers State Licensing Policies Limit Pool of Potential Providers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

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

Feb 23, 2026 - Adding More Licensing Exemptions for Those Who Work at Prisons. Currently, providers with out ‑of ‑state licenses are required to obtain a California license to work in CDCR, though some may use their out ‑of ‑state license on a temporary basis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - Special Funds Unable to Support BOF Costs … As noted above, the DROS Special Account is estimated to be insolvent in 2026-27 absent any action. The condition of the DROS Special Account would be even worse if it also supported all firearm-workload it could statutorily support that is currently supported by the General Fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

Retail Theft in California: Looking Back at a Decade of Change

Jun 12, 2025 - For example, if the affected property is worth more than $50,000 but not more than $200,000, a year can be added to the person ’s sentence. If the property is worth more than $200,000 but not more than $1,000,000, two years can be added. ✘ Proposition 36 (2024) Allows up to three years to be added to the sentences of people who worked with two or
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - New Construction Supported by the General Fund. For a period, the SCFCF ’s insolvency halted the judicial branch ’s construction program. However, after the fiscal difficulties facing the state subsided, the state shifted support for the construction program to the state General Fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

The 2025-26 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 19, 2025 - The department identified the following options to support BFS operations: (1)  a  general tax increase, (2)  allowing the surcharge added to criminal history background check fees to also cover BFS costs (and adjusting the surcharge accordingly), (3)  increasing the specific fee added when individuals are convicted of criminal offenses which
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4972

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

Oct 24, 2025 - (This program supports court and county costs related to conducting pretrial risk assessments, making release decisions, and supporting monitoring and other services.) This reduces the ongoing support for the program to $50  million annually.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5085

The 2024-25 Budget: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 22, 2024 - Some jobs assigned to people in prison —such as cleaning, maintaining, and repairing facilities; providing clerical support; and grounds keeping —are focused on supporting prison operations. Other jobs —such as manufacturing traffic signs and license plates —provide goods or services purchased by state agencies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4852

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice [Publication Details]

Oct 24, 2025 - The 2025-26 budget provides $17.3 billion from the General Fund for judicial and criminal justice programs, including support for program operations and capital outlay projects. This is a decrease of $569 million, or 3 percent, below the revised 2024-25 level.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5085

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Jul 1, 2024 - Adding a performance component would create stronger incentive for colleges to focus on incarcerated student outcomes and provide robust support services. The Legislature could use the same three ‑component model and funding rates currently in place for most other CCC students.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4913