The 2024-25 Budget: Juvenile Custodial Interrogation Mandate

May 28, 2024 - Stakes of Interrogations Are High for Youths. Interrogations can have significant implications on outcomes for youths in the juvenile justice system. As discussed above, the information collected through an interrogation can be used to file a petition in juvenile court.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4910

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - Increasing Compensation Can Be a High ‑Cost Strategy. In general, compensation increases can be a high ‑cost strategy for filling vacancies. For example, the action plan estimates that it will cost $25   million ongoing to increase pay by roughly 3   percent for mental health positions at CDCR.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

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

Feb 22, 2024 - For example, people can earn one week of credit for completing a high school algebra course. In addition, upon completion of certain educational milestones, such as completion of a high school equivalency program, people can receive up to 180 days of credit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4852

A Review of State Standards and Inspections for Local Detention Facilities

Feb 16, 2021 - Local detention facilities engage in high ‑stakes activities —including delivery of health care and use of force —that can have life and death consequences for inmates, detained youth, and staff. Accordingly, facilities require heightened oversight that is tailored to the correctional setting.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4371

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

Feb 23, 2026 - For example, the California Department of Health Care Access and Information in 2022 estimated that there would be a shortage of psychiatrists and behavioral health providers in all 58 California counties by 2025, with 27 prisons located in counties experiencing high or severe shortages.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5137

The 2026-27 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 11, 2026 - These projects were categorized into five groups —and ranked within each group —in the following descending priority order: 18 immediate need projects ($2.3  billion), 29 critical need projects ($7.9  billion), 15 high need projects ($1.3  billion), 9 medium need projects ($1.6  billion), and 9  low need projects ($100  million).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5113

The 2026-27 Budget: Department of Justice

Feb 11, 2026 - The decision included the following footnote: “Because any permitting scheme can be put towards abusive ends, we do not rule out constitutional challenges to shall-issue regimes where, for example, lengthy wait times in processing license applications or exorbitant fees deny ordinary citizens their right to public carry. ” This footnote suggests that there may be a point where firearm regulatory fees become unconstitutionally high.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5118

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

Jun 12, 2025 - Despite the statewide increase, reported retail theft remains well below historical highs that occurred in the 1980s. Various Changes in the Criminal Justice System Could Have Impacted Retail Theft Trends.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

The California State Bar: Assessment of Proposed Disciplinary Case Processing Standards

Jan 6, 2023 - However, if high ‑risk cases are prioritized in the Investigation Stage, it would be reasonable to assume that those cases would be referred to the Charging Stage more quickly for resolution. This  means that the overall amount of time needed to process high ‑risk cases would likely be less than the amount of time needed to process low ‑risk cases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4655

The 2025-26 Budget: Judicial Branch

Feb 12, 2025 - These projects were categorized into five groups —and ranked within each group —in the following descending priority order: 18 immediate need projects ($2.3  billion), 29 critical need projects ($7.9  billion), 15 high need projects ($1.3  billion), 9 medium need projects ($1.6  billion), and 9 low need projects ($100  million).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4959