Report California Prison Programs and Reentry Pathways By Heather Harris, Brandon Martin, Sean Cremin Jun 26, 2024 In recent years, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has expanded programs that support community reintegration. But participation has been low. A new report details the rehabilitative needs of people in prison, CDCR efforts to expand programs to meet those needs, and factors that may affect participation.
Fact Sheet California’s Prison Population By Joseph Hayes, Justin Goss, Heather Harris, Alexandria Gumbs Jul 22, 2019 Many of California’s inmates live in overcrowded conditions, despite successful efforts to stabilize the prison population systemwide. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of the state’s prisons, highlighting the most current information on racial disparities, health costs, and other key issues.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: California Prison Programs and Reentry Pathways By Heather Harris, Brandon Martin, Sean Cremin, Stephanie Barton Jun 26, 2024 The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) began expanding education, employment, and rehabilitative programs in 2012, setting a goal to meet the needs of 70 percent of eligible people. Although CDCR greatly expanded capacity, most people released from prisons between 2015 and 2019 had not participated.
event California Prison Programs and Reentry Pathways Jul 16, 2024 In recent years, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has expanded its rehabilitative programs. But participation has been low. PPIC researcher Heather Harris will present a new report detailing the education, employment, and behavioral needs of people in prison, CDCR efforts to expand programs to meet those needs, and factors that may affect participation.
blog post Spending on Corrections and Higher Education By Sonya Tafoya, Sarah Bohn Aug 4, 2016 California spends more on corrections and less on higher education today, in relative terms, than at nearly any point in the past thirty years.
blog post Video: California Prison Programs and Reentry Pathways By Stephanie Barton Jul 25, 2024 Researcher Heather Harris discusses a new report on the rehabilitative needs of people in prison, efforts by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to expand programs to address these needs, and factors that may contribute to participation.
Report Public Safety Realignment: Impacts So Far By Magnus Lofstrom, Brandon Martin Sep 28, 2015 Prompted by a federal court order to reduce prison overcrowding, California’s 2011 historic public safety realignment shifted many correctional responsibilities for lower-level felons from the state to counties. The reform was premised on the idea that locals can do a better job, and it was hoped that incarceration rates and corrections costs would fall. At the same time, critics predicted crime would rise. Four years since its implementation, realignment has made several important impacts: Realignment significantly reduced the prison population, but the state did not reach the court-mandated population target until after the passage of Proposition 47 in November 2014, which reduced penalties for many property and drug offenses. The reform challenged county jails and probation departments by making them responsible for a greater number of offenders with a broader range of backgrounds and needs. The county jail population did not rise nearly as much as the prison population fell, reducing the total number of people incarcerated in California. Realignment did not increase violent crime, but auto thefts rose. Research so far shows no dramatic change in recidivism rates. State corrections spending remains high, but there is reason to believe expenditures could drop in the future. Realignment has largely been successful, but the state and county correctional systems face significant challenges. The state needs to regain control of prison medical care, which is now in the hands of a federal receiver. And the state and counties together must make progress in reducing stubbornly high recidivism rates.
blog post Prison Admissions Resume as COVID-19 Spreads By Heather Harris Jun 12, 2020 California has resumed prison admissions after an eight-week moratorium, a change that – if it leads to increased crowding -- could put the prison population at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19.
