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

Jun 12, 2025 - Eligibility for early release was determined based on people ’s criminal history; likelihood of committing future crimes; risk of complications from COVID ‑19; and the need to reduce capacity at the prisons where they were housed to create space for physical distancing, isolation, and quarantine efforts.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

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: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - Finally, DOJ manages various databases, including the statewide criminal history database. Spending Proposed for 2026-27. As shown in Figure  1, the Governor ’s budget proposes $1.3  billion to support DOJ operations in 2026-27 —a decrease of $13  million (or 1  percent) from the revised amount for 2025-26.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

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 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 2024-25 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 9, 2024 - DOJ also provides various services to local law enforcement agencies and manages various databases (including the statewide criminal history database). Spending Proposed for 2024-25. As shown in Figure  1, the Governor ’s budget proposes $1.3  billion to support DOJ operations in 2024- 25 —a decrease of $47  million (or 4  percent) over the revised amount for 2023-24.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4831

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Jul 1, 2024 - Given that the results of the recommended data and studies have the potential to notably improve legislative decision ‑making on prison postsecondary education policy and programs moving forward, we believe the added administrative workload is warranted.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4913

Promoting Equity in the Parole Hearing Process

Jan 5, 2023 - For example, a competent and zealous attorney serving a transgender candidate could counsel them about how to best address commissioners ’ questions about their disciplinary history. Without access to these services, such a candidate could be inequitably denied release due to their history of victimization in prison.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4658

The 2022-23 Budget: Monitoring Correctional System Staff Misconduct Investigations

Feb 9, 2022 - (See the nearby box for more detailed information on the history of OIG.) History of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) In the early 1990s, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) —then known as the California Department of Corrections (CDC) —faced a succession of highly publicized cases alleging serious staff misconduct.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4520

Overview and Update on the Prison Receivership

Nov 8, 2023 - An estimated $194  million was added to the state budget from 2002 ‑03 through 2006 ‑07 to address the problems identified in prison medical care. However, upon further review of the state ’s performance, the federal court found that the state had failed to comply with its orders.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4813