Report 2018-113 Recommendation 1 Responses

Report 2018-113: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Several Poor Administrative Practices Have Hindered Reductions in Recidivism and Denied Inmates Access to In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs (Release Date: January 2019)

Recommendation #1 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of

To ensure that Corrections has reliable tools for assessing the needs of its inmate population, it should validate COMPAS and CSRA by January 2020 and revalidate all of its assessment tools at least every five years.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2023

The department is exploring innovative needs assessment options with plans to test an enhanced version of COMPAS. If revalidation is deemed necessary, the Department will proceed accordingly.

CSRA revalidation is in the final phase of completion, with a final report anticipated. However, the Department has moved forward with adjustments to mapping tables. A new maintenance contract is in development between UCI and CDCR for continued CSRA maintenance and update.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

CPRIO is leading an Offender Risk and Needs Assessment Committee to analyze current assessments used within CDCR, including the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative

Sanctions (COMPAS) and the California Static Risk Assessment (CSRA), as well as whether other assessments exist that better meet CDCR's offender population's needs.

The assessment analysis team will recommend either a revalidation schedule for current assessments or replacement by April 2019.

2022 Update: The University of California, Irvine (UCI), has successfully validated CSRA in the Spring of 2022. In addition, UCI updated CSRA with current California Offense Table codes.

UCI is also engaged with the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) on revalidation of COMPAS, with an estimated date for completion by mid-2023.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented

Although CDCR indicates that it has validated the California Static Risk Assessment, it has yet to do so for the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions assessment.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

University of California, Irvine (UCI), findings and recommendations for the California Static Risk Assessment (CSRA) tool are currently under discussion, with a decision regarding revalidation or replacement expected by November 2021.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

The Division of Correctional Policy Research and Internal Oversight is leading an Offender Risk and Needs Assessment Committee to analyze current assessments used within CDCR, including the COMPAS and the CSRA, as well as whether other assessments exist that better meet CDCR's offender population's needs.

The assessment analysis team will recommend either a revalidation schedule for current assessments or replacement by April 2019.

Revalidation Contract executed January 2020.

Needs Assessment decision to be completed by November 2021.

Revalidation/ Replacement Schedule: Dependent upon approved assessment plan.

The contract with UCI has been executed, to include an update to the California Static Risk Assessment tool, examinations of cut points and racial and gender disparities, testing of dynamic risk items, and ultimately a full revalidation of the tool. The Department is currently evaluating potential vendors to develop the Needs Assessment tool with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2021.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Pending

1-Year Agency Response

The Division of Correctional Policy Research and Internal Oversight is leading an Offender Risk and Needs Assessment Committee to analyze current assessments used within CDCR, including the COMPAS and the CSRA, as well as whether other assessments exist that better meet CDCR's offender population's needs.

The CSRA revalidation contract with the University of California, Irvine was executed in January 2020 with a revalidation timeline to follow execution and assessment.

The Criminogenic Needs Assessment and decision will be completed by June 2020.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Pending

6-Month Agency Response

The Division of Correctional Policy Research and Internal Oversight is leading an Offender Risk and Needs Assessment Committee to analyze current assessments used within CDCR, including the COMPAS and the CSRA, as well as whether other assessments exist that better meet CDCR's offender population's needs.

The Offender Risk and Needs Assessment Committee has drafted a Report to the Secretary with recommendations related to the COMPAS and CSRA tools and their future use. The Report has been submitted to the Secretary. A Governor's Office Action Request has been sent to the Governor's Office. If the GOAR is approved, the Committee will immediately put the final recommended changes into action.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

The Division of Correctional Policy Research and Oversight is leading a team to analyze current assessments used within CDCR, including the COMPAS and the CSRA, as well as whether other assessments exist that better meet CDCR's offender population's needs.

The assessment analysis team will recommend either a revalidation schedule for current assessments or replacement by April 2019.

Revalidation/ Replacement Schedule:

Tentatively Jan 1, 2020 Dependent upon approved assessment plan.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2018-113

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.