The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - Without this funding to build or modify space to relocate the courtrooms into existing courthouses, service levels would be impacted. Finally, the Orange CJC project is already in progress and addresses key safety issues in a building with large numbers of people visiting on a daily basis.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

The 2011 Realignment of Adult Felony Populations: Results and Key Takeaways

Jun 30, 2026 - Without it, the state would have had to pay for significantly more prison capacity and/or allow the federal courts to release tens of thousands of people from prison. Increased Population Pressure on Jails, Particularly Initially.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5191

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - This would allow the state to reduce CDCR ’s mental health funding by over $200  million if all 713 currently empty beds are deactivated without resulting in adverse effects to actual staffing or mental health services available to the incarcerated population.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

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

Feb 23, 2026 - During a tele ‑mental health visit in prison, an incarcerated patient is escorted to a medical room within the prison where they communicate via audio and video with the mental health provider over a secure network.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Jul 1, 2024 - In fall 2023, we visited several prisons (both men’s and women’s). We met with students, faculty, and staff. During these visits, students shared their challenges, such as having instruction disrupted by prison security incidences that required them to return to their cells and encountering technology glitches (such as having difficulty finding areas of the prison with a strong enough Wi‑Fi signal for their laptops).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4913

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

Feb 22, 2024 - Accordingly, deactivating prisons or yards and maintaining them on warm shutdown allows the state to save money on an annual basis without foreclosing the possibility of reactivating capacity if it is needed in the future.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4852

The 2021-22 Budget: Trial Court Operations Proposals

Feb 11, 2021 - While this is particularly important during the pandemic when in ‑person public access to the court may be limited, it could also be beneficial to maintain on an ongoing basis for certain court users —such as those who would need to travel far distances to visit the court —under normal circumstances.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4362

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

The 2022-23 Budget: Governor's Proposals for CDCR Operations

Feb 8, 2022 - Several Programs Were Established Without Dedicated Funding. Four of the five existing in ‑prison bachelor ’s degree programs were established without dedicated funding being provided directly through the state budget.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4517

A Review of State Standards and Inspections for Local Detention Facilities

Feb 16, 2021 - Without clear program mission and goals, it is difficult for the Legislature to assess whether the program fulfils an important state function that is consistent with its priorities. This includes whether the program is appropriately structured and resourced or should even continue to exist.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4371