CSAC’s full analysis of the 2012-13 May Revision is in our latest Budget Action Bulletin.
Today Governor Brown released his May Revision of the proposed 2012-13 budget which contains reductions in programs and services counties provide to 38 million Californians.
“Governor Brown demonstrated once again his commitment to counties by staying true to his vow to sustain funding for realignment,” said Mike McGowan, CSAC President and… Continue reading
The United States Congress is currently debating a major piece of health care policy called the Prescription Drug and User Fee Act (PDUFA). While you may not have heard of PDUFA before, it has had a positive effect on patients and California businesses since 1992. The Campaign for Modern Medicines, a coalition organized by pharmaceutical companies, is working to support reauthorization of the Act by Congress this year. And while PDUFA has broad bipartisan support, there will be attempts to add on unnecessary elements that will reduce the effectiveness of the program. Continue reading
Sacramento County has taken the approach of holding night court to handle cases that can be deemed violations of felony probation. The new system has moved more than 2,000 cases out of the overburdened court system and the cases get settled in one or two court appearances. What used to take several weeks can get settled in a matter of days. VOP In Lieu Court frees up the calendar for more complex cases, reduces the length of time a probationer is in jail awaiting a hearing and metes out the same justice that the more standard hearing process would deliver. Continue reading
In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) has a noble and practical purpose: help the most vulnerable Californians with significant health issues stay as long as possible in their homes by providing some level of caregiving assistance. Yet the system, designed with the best intentions, is still susceptible to fraud from persons who prey on the sick and elderly. In response to concerns about fraud, Los Angeles County instituted a model IHSS Anti-Fraud effort developed by the Department of Public Social Services in partnership with the District Attorney and State Investigative Section. Continue reading
Ask Santa Cruz County Chief Probation Officer Scott MacDonald about the value of thinking outside the box and his eyes light up. If you want someone to promote the effectiveness of the current corrections system, then you better find someone else to talk to. MacDonald is quick to repeat the quote that “the corrections system needs to do more correcting and less collecting.”
For the past seven years, Santa Cruz County has been thinking outside the box on how it treats technical parole violators. Their program is called the Warrant Reduction Advocacy Program (WRAP) — and it’s working. Since the program’s inception, Santa Cruz County has been able to reduce warrants by more than 60 percent. Continue reading
