Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Jul 1, 2024 - The state, in turn, would free up both Proposition  98 and non ‑Proposition  98 General Fund that could be used for other purposes, including other education purposes. CCC Education Programs at Prisons Lack an Evaluation Component.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4913

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - We found that (1)  most mental health classifications appear to be relatively well paid compared to the broader market even before recent bonuses, (2)  other non ‑compensation factors appear to influence vacancy rates, (3)  the mental health Receiver plans to reassess whether further changes in pay are necessary, (4)  various other efforts are underway to improve recruitment and
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

The 2024-25 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 23, 2024 - The analysis measured benefits to litigants as the money they saved as a result of using self-help centers, such as wages they would have otherwise lost from having to travel to court unnecessarily. The analysis measured costs as the cost to the courts of providing the self-help assistance.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4848

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

Feb 23, 2026 - We recommend that the Legislature direct the department to report in spring budget hearings on what specific steps it is taking in the current year and is considering or planning to take in the budget year to free up funding to address the shortfall, the size of the shortfall, and what unbudgeted costs currently makeup the shortfall.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

Promoting Equity in the Parole Hearing Process

Jan 5, 2023 - About four to five months before their hearing, BPH appoints an attorney for candidates who do not hire a private attorney or receive free services from a private attorney. Private attorneys that provide free services are often affiliated with nonprofit organizations specializing in parole hearings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4658

The 2025-26 Budget: Update on Implementation of New Firearm and Ammunition Tax

Feb 19, 2025 - Providing an amount less than $75  million annually could still provide CalVIP with a sizeable increase in stable funding —while freeing up some monies to support lower priority Chapter  231 programs, such as those at the judicial branch or DOJ.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4970

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

Feb 22, 2024 - This methodology change would (1)  help promote more accurate budgeting and (2)  likely reduce the overall cost of the proposal in the budget year, freeing up General Fund resources that could be used to address the fiscal difficulties facing the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4852

Increasing Oversight of the State Litigation Deposit Fund

Jan 28, 2021 - As shown in Figure  5 , tens of millions of dollars are transferred from the LDF annually into these DOJ special funds —ranging from nearly $ 20  m illion in 2009 ‑ 10 t o $ 78  m illion in 2015 ‑16.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4322

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

Jun 12, 2025 - Prior to Proposition  47, stealing $950 or less of money or property from a store was sometimes treated as a wobbler punishable by up to three years in jail or prison. For example, if the defendant entered the store with intent to commit theft —as evidenced, for example, by their possessing a bag designed to conceal merchandise —they could be charged with burglary.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 6 (Corrections)

Sep 7, 2023 - For example, since 2011 ‑12, men consistently have made up more than 66  percent of the applications received for the academy wit
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4800