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

Feb 23, 2026 - CDCR provides tele ‑mental health services via live video by using specialized equipment. 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

The 2021-22 Budget: Authorization of Remote Court Proceedings [Publication Details]

Mar 12, 2021 - This publication provides our analysis of the Governor's 2021-22 budget proposals to authorize remote court proceedings.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4401

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

Oct 24, 2025 - . $13.6  million ongoing General Fund augmentation for costs associated with suicide watch workload. $9.5  million ongoing General Fund augmentation from the 2024-25 revised level to provide substance use disorder treatment to the prison population. $3  million General Fund in 2025-26 (increasing to $4.4  million in 2026-27 and ongoing) to staff the newly constructed 50-bed mental health crisis facility at the California Institution for Men (CIM) in Chino.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5085

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

Feb 16, 2023 - For  example, as discussed in the “Audio ‑Video Surveillance Systems ” section of this brief, CDCR had purchased equipment for and was close to beginning installation of an audio ‑video surveillance system at CVSP when the prison was announced for deactivation.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4686

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

Feb 8, 2022 - In recent years, CDCR has deployed fixed audio video surveillance systems and body ‑worn cameras on officers at a growing number of prisons. All  video and audio recordings are stored for a minimum of 90 days but are stored for longer under certain circumstances, such as if they become evidence in an investigation into staff misconduct.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4517

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

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 6 (Corrections)

Sep 7, 2023 - As such, the normal cost for the benefit earned by employees is the best estimate of the value of the employer-provided benefits earned today by employees and therefore the best way to compare pension benefits across employers.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4800

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

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

Jul 1, 2024 - Specifically, in 2022 ‑23, 1,808 CCC students at CDCR (12  percent) had earned more than 60  units. Of these students, 418 (2.7  percent) had already earned 100 or more CCC units. Just over 100 of these students had already accumulated 150 or more units.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4913

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