July 30, 2020

July 2, 2020

The Senate Public Safety Committee held an oversight hearing, COVID-19 in California State Prisons. The hearing focused on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) current and future plans for handling of increases in COVID-19 cases in state prisons, which has now spread to at least 19 state correctional facilities.

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Board will meet Thursday, June 11, at 10:00 am via Zoom/Teleconference. The agenda topics include an information only COVID-19 update on Adult and Juvenile detention facilities and BSCC inspections, training compliance and grants.

May 28, 2020

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) resumes intake from county jails this week. The intake process from county jails began in a very limited and controlled manner with CDCR only accepting offenders at the North Kern State Prison and Wasco State Prison reception centers. Also, through June 19, CDCR will only accept intake from the counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Fresno. CDCR anticipates that no more than 200 inmates will be accepted from these counties.

May 15, 2020

As counties work diligently to prepare local budgets in the face of great fiscal uncertainty, we know there are many questions about existing revenue streams. The economic impacts of COVID-19 are anticipated to result in sharp reductions in Vehicle License Fee (VLF) and Sales and Use Tax, creating unprecedented times for 2011 Public Safety Realignment—the first year-over-year decline in revenue for the Local Revenue Fund 2011.

May 15, 2020

The Public Policy Institute of California released a report summarizing statewide jail population trends in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not surprisingly, the report explains that jail populations across the state have declined—stating that between February 29 and April 11, all of California’s counties reduced their jail populations by releasing more people than they admitted.

May 15, 2020

The Judicial Council of California has launched the Pandemic Continuity of Operations Working Group, which will quickly collect best practices and publish a framework to help the state’s 58 superior courts address interrupted services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group, a roster of 22 superior court presiding judges and court executive officers from a Judicial Council advisory group, plans to publish by early June its collection of best practices and guidance from federal, state, and local entities.

April 30, 2020

April 23, 2020

April 9, 2020

At its April 6 meeting, the Judicial Council approved 11 temporary emergency rules, including setting bail statewide at $0 for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies to “safely reduce jail populations” and staying eviction and foreclosure proceedings to protect Californians from losing their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2, 2020

April 2, 2020

March 26, 2020

Governor Newsom Issues Executive Order N-36-20: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

March 19, 2020

ADVISORY: Due to the changing nature of directives related to COVID-19, meeting information is subject to change. For the latest California Courts news related to COVID-19, visit newsroom.courts.ca.gov/coronavirus-updates.

February 27, 2020

January 9, 2020

The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s GAINS center (Gather, Assess, Integrate, Network, and Stimulate) will host a webinar, Preventing Opioid Overdose at Reentry through Jail and Community Based Programs, on Tuesday, January 14 from 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.

January 9, 2020

November 7, 2019

Governor Newsom signed 870 bills into law this year. To keep counties informed of new laws that impact them, CSAC will be publishing a series of articles to spotlight those laws in each policy area. This week, the Administration of Justice policy area provides information on new laws affecting a wide range of subjects.

The new laws listed below become effective January 1, 2020 unless noted otherwise.

October 31, 2019

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is offering the following opportunities that may be of interest to California county officials involved with Administration of Justice. 

Center for Juvenile Justice Reform 2020–2021 Length of Stay Policy Academy

October 24, 2019

Last week, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released a report titled “Just the Facts: Racial Disparities in California Arrests.” The report makes the following findings:

The Council of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH) is hosting community engagement events throughout the state and would like to encourage County participation.