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

Feb 23, 2026 - As mentioned in the “Establishment of the Second California Prison Receivership ” section of this brief, CDCR is under federal court order in the Coleman  v.  Newsom case to reduce mental health vacancies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - Supreme Court issued a decision in the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen case that found laws requiring people provide “good cause ” to carry a concealed weapon to be unconstitutional.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

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

Oct 24, 2025 - In addition, the budget package continues to include language —without a specific amount in the CDCR budget –that would allow the Department of Finance (DOF) to make payments from the General Fund for any fines related to staffing vacancies in the   Coleman v.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5085

Overview and Update on the Prison Receivership

Nov 8, 2023 - Federal Court Orders State to Reduce Prison Overcrowding In November 2006, plaintiffs in the cases now known as Plata v. Newsom (involving prison medical care) and Coleman v. Newsom (involving prison mental health care) filed motions for the federal courts to convene a three ‑judge panel pursuant to the U.S.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4813

The 2023-24 Budget: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Feb 16, 2023 - This brief provides our analysis of the Governor’s 2023-24 budget proposals related to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4686

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

Feb 9, 2022 - These concerns have been echoed by plaintiffs in an ongoing class action lawsuit (known as Armstrong  v. Newsom ) concerning CDCR ’s treatment of inmates with disabilities. CDCR Currently Implementing New Process.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4520

A Review of State Standards and Inspections for Local Detention Facilities

Feb 16, 2021 - This is often referred to as “case law. ” For example, in 1993, the United States Supreme Court held, in a case known as Helling v. McKinney , that allowing inmates to be exposed to second ‑hand smoke could constitute a violation of the United States Constitution ’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4371

Assessing the Provision of Criminal Indigent Defense

Sep 22, 2022 - Supreme Court ’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) found that the right to counsel is “fundamental and essential to fair trials ” in the United States and that defendants who are too poor to hire attorneys cannot be assured of a fair trial unless attorneys are provided by the government.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4623