Staff
Anita Lee
(916) 319-8321
Courts, Department of Justice, Gambling
Caitlin O'Neil
(916) 319-8351
State Prisons, County Jails, Sentencing
Orlando Sanchez Zavala
(916) 319-8307
Correctional Health Care, Rehabilitation Programs, Juvenile Justice, Community Corrections
Drew Soderborg
(916) 319-8346
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Public Safety and Business Regulation


Publications

Criminal Justice

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Handout

Proposition 36: Allows Felony Charges and Increases Sentences for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes. Initiative Statute.

September 10, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Public Safety & Assembly Committee on Public Safety


Handout

Overview of State Asset Forfeiture in California

July 12, 2024 - Presented to: Committee on Revision of the Penal Code


Report

Assessing Community College Programs at State Prisons

July 1, 2024 - Due to legislation enacted a decade ago, the availability of postsecondary courses at state prisons has expanded significantly. In this report, we focus on California Community College programs at state prisons. After providing background on these programs, we cover trends in student outcomes and explain how these programs are funded. We then assess the strengths and weaknesses of these programs and make several recommendations aimed at improving them.


Post

The 2024-25 Budget: Juvenile Custodial Interrogation Mandate

May 28, 2024 - In this post, we discuss the Juvenile Custodial Interrogations mandate, which is a newly identified state mandate funded in the Governor’s 2024-25 May Revision budget.


Handout

Overview of Selected Sentencing Changes and Avoided State Costs

April 11, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation


Letter

Letter to Honorable Thomas J. Umberg on Availability of Court Reporters in the Trial Courts

March 5, 2024 - This letter responds to a request for the LAO to examine the current and future availability of court reporters in the trial courts, and provide data and findings in key specified areas.


Handout

Overview of Governor’s Proposed 2024-25 Public Safety Budget

March 4, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 On Public Safety


Post

The 2024-25 Budget: Judicial Branch

February 23, 2024 - This post provides an overview of the Governor’s 2024-25 proposed funding levels for the judicial branch and our assessments and recommendations on a proposal to provide $19 million ongoing General Fund to support self-help centers.


Brief

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

February 22, 2024 - This brief provides our analysis of the Governor’s 2024-25 budget proposals related to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.


Post

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

February 20, 2024 - In this post, we evaluate the Governor's proposal to provide $4.4 million to county probation departments to support the temporary increase in the Post Release Community Supervision population resulting from Proposition 57 (2016).


Handout

Overview of Juvenile Justice System and County Funding Provided Through the State

February 14, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation


Post

The 2024-25 Budget: Department of Justice

February 9, 2024 - This post provides an overview of the Governor’s 2024-25 proposed funding levels for the Department of Justice. It also provides our assessment and recommendations on a proposed $100 million loan from the state Litigation Deposit Fund to the state General Fund.


Handout

Overview of State Law Related to Retail Crime

December 19, 2023 - Presented to: Select Committee on Retail Theft


Report

Overview and Update on the Prison Receivership

November 8, 2023 - California’s prison medical system has been under direct management of a Receiver appointed by a federal court since 2006 because the state was found to be providing unconstitutional levels of care. In this brief, we provide an overview of the establishment of the Receivership, changes to prison medical care made by the Receiver, and the steps that the state needs to complete in order to exit the Receivership. We also raise some issues for legislative consideration related to the Receivership.


Post

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Judiciary and Criminal Justice

October 16, 2023 - The 2023-24 budget provides $18.6 billion from the General Fund for judicial and criminal justice programs, including support for program operations and capital outlay projects. This is a decrease of $1.2 billion, or 6 percent, below the revised 2022-23 spending level. A large portion of this reduction is due to the expiration of limited-term funding provided in previous years.