Increasing Oversight of the State Litigation Deposit Fund

Jan 28, 2021 - Litigation proceeds are deposited into the LDF in cases where the state is a party to the legal action and no other state statutes specifically provide for ( 1)  t he handling and investing of the money and ( 2)  h ow any earned interest is distributed.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4322

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Jul 1, 2024 - Online pilots Given the generally poor outcomes of correspondence courses, some community colleges and CDCR are working together to pilot new online instructional models. Require CCC and CDCR to report on pilot outcomes, including course success rates compared with in ‑person and correspondence courses and impact on faculty recruitment to teach high ‑demand courses in prisons.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4913

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 6 (Corrections)

Sep 7, 2023 - The normal cost is the amount of money that actuaries determine must be set aside for the benefit employees earn today so that the contribution and any future investment returns on that contribution are sufficient to pay for the benefit after the employee retires.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4800

Addressing Chronic Vacancies in Prison Mental Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 - For example, CDCR psychologists, according to the state Auditor, earn between $56 and $85 per hour —well above the average hourly rate paid in other states. According to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California is the highest paying state for psychologists with the average hourly wage at $64 per hour, whereas psychologists nationwide earned a median of $53 per hour (21  percent less).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5134

The 2023-24 Budget: Increased Federal Authority For State Crisis Intervention Program

Feb 22, 2023 - For example, if the Legislature determines that the priority should be to ensure people suffering from behavioral health crises are not harmed and receive immediate service locally, the Legislature could consider providing more money from the state share to local entities to support, or test, more programs and activities —such as increased training for law enforcement in dealing
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4697

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

Jun 12, 2025 - For example, in May 2021, CDCR modified its regulations to allow people with convictions for violent crimes to earn up to 33.3  percent off of their sentence (an increase from 20  percent) for maintaining good behavior.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5055

The 2024-25 Budget: County Probation Grants to Support Temporary Increase in the Supervision Population

Feb 20, 2024 - These temporary increases have been caused in the following two ways: Increased Credit Earning.  Proposition  57 expanded the authority of CDCR to reduce people ’s sentences through credits. People earn credits through maintaining good behavior and participating in rehabilitation programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4849

The 2023-24 Budget: County Probation Grants to Support Temporary Increase in the Supervision Population

Feb 23, 2023 - These temporary increases have been caused in the following two ways: Increased Credit Earning. Proposition  57 expanded the authority of CDCR to reduce people ’s sentences through credits. People earn credits through maintaining good behavior and participating in rehabilitation programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4703

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

Feb 22, 2024 - After  completing adult basic education classes, they may choose to work in the prison laundry in order to earn money. Finally, as they approach their release date they may be assigned to a cognitive behavioral treatment program to address their identified need for anger management skills.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4852

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - In the coming days, we will analyze the plan in more detail and provide additional comments in hearing testimony and online . We begin with an overview of the condition of the General Fund under the administration ’s estimates and proposals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432