Report 2018-113 Recommendation 9 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 #9 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of

To improve the inmate enrollment rates in CalPIA's vocational education programs, CalPIA and Corrections should require a CalPIA representative to attend all classification committee meetings at all nine prisons where CalPIA offers vocational education. Corrections should also ensure that it enrolls eligible inmates in CalPIA's vocational programs before filling spots in its own vocational programs. In addition, if the CalPIA recidivism study indicates that CalPIA's vocational programs are better at reducing recidivism than Corrections' vocational programs, CalPIA should request funding from the Legislature to expand its vocational training program.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2022

Issue the Memorandum Directive, as outlined in Items 4.1 and 4.2, wait list and assignments by priority.

2022 Update: The Division of Rehabilitative Programs agrees that participation in vocational education is important to reducing recidivism. CDCR collaborates with the California Prison Industry Authority (CalPIA) to ensure effective vocational education programs are available. CalPIA receives $2.6 million to provide vocational education programs.

Supporting documentation will be submitted via email, per CSA's direction.

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

In response to our recommendation, CalPIA representatives attend all classification committee meetings. In addition, based on the positive findings of CALPIA's Recidivism Report, it entered into an agreement with CDCR to provide career technical education training services for eligible inmates at the designated CDCR institutions.

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2021

CALPIA has Workforce Development Coordinators attend classification committee meetings at each institution, which includes those nine prisons that offer CALPIA vocational programs. CALPIA has 13 Workforce Development Coordinators who are also working with CDCR through the assignment committee process to ensure that incarcerated individuals are assigned to CALPIA's vocational programs. CALPIA's Workforce Development Branch identifies which programs have vacancies at each institution monthly and directs Workforce Development Coordinators to prioritize the filling of those vacancies.

CALPIA's recidivism study will be presented to the Prison Industry Board for approval on October 28, 2021. The study, conducted through UCI, will provide the necessary data elements and detailed analysis which will help guide CALPIA's ongoing focus for improved outcomes for the men and women in our programs. Based on the results of the study, CDCR would be the requester of the additional rehabilitative program funds because CALPIA is a self-supporting state entity.

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

Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2020

Issue the Memorandum Directive, as outlined in Items 4.1 and 4.2, wait list and assignments by priority.

August 30, 2019 for Memo Directive & Training Proof of Practice.

Recidivism study to be completed fiscal year 2021-2022.

CALPIA has Workforce Development Coordinators attend classification committee meetings at each institution which includes those nine prisons that offer CALPIA vocational programs. Due to COVID-19, CALPIA has reduced the number of Workforce Development Coordinators from 29 to 12 and continues to assess the program as needed.

CALPIA's Workforce Development Coordinators are also working with CDCR through the offender assignment committee process to ensure offenders are assigned to CALPIA's vocational programs. CALPIA's Workforce Development Branch identifies which programs have vacancies at each institution monthly and direct Workforce Development Coordinators to prioritize the filling of those vacancies.

CALPIA has formed an advisory committee in collaboration with the University of California, Irvine to refine the scope of the recidivism study. The study will provide the necessary data elements and detailed analysis which will help guide CALPIA's on-going focus for improved outcomes for the men and women in our programs. Based on the results of the study,. Due to COVID-19, the anticipated completion date for that study is fiscal year 2021-22.

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

1-Year Agency Response

CALPIA has added part-time Workforce Development Coordinators at each CDCR institution. Their function is to attend institution classification committees to secure offender participants for CALPIA programs while enhancing any transitions of offenders released after having been in a CALPIA program. CALPIA currently has Workforce Development Coordinators assigned to all 35 prisons.

CALPIA's Workforce Development Coordinators are also working with CDCR through the offender assignment committee process to ensure offenders are assigned to CALPIA's vocational programs. CALPIA's Workforce Development Branch identifies which programs have vacancies at each institution monthly and directs Workforce Development Coordinators to prioritize the filling of those vacancies.

CALPIA has formed an advisory committee in collaboration with the University of California, Irvine, to refine the scope of the recidivism study. The study will provide the necessary data elements and detailed analysis which will help guide CALPIA's ongoing focus for improved outcomes for the men and women in our programs. Based on the results of the study, CALPIA may submit a request for additional funding to expand its vocational training program.

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

CALPIA has added part-time Workforce Development Coordinators at each CDCR institution that attend classification committees to secure offender participants for CALPIA programs. Although CALPIA and CDCR have also decreased vacancies in CALPIA career technical education programs in recent years, nearly half of the budgeted inmate positions in January 2020 were left unoccupied. CALPIA and CDCR need to do more to decrease vacancies in these programs.

6-Month Agency Response

Issue the Memorandum Directive, as outlined in Items 4 and 5, wait list and assignments by priority.

Following Issuance of the Directive memorandum, documented training on a CDCR Form 844 Training Participation Sign In Sheet for all CCI's, CCII's and Inmate Assignment Lieutenants to be provided within 30 days of memorandum release. August 30, 2019 for Memo Directive & Training Proof of Practice.

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

60-Day Agency Response

Issue the Memorandum Directive, as outlined in Items 4.1 and 4.2, wait list and assignments by priority.

Following Issuance of the Directive memorandum, documented training on a CDCR Form 844 Training Participation Sign In Sheet for all CCI's, CCII's and Inmate Assignment Lieutenants to be provided within 30 days of memorandum release.

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

All Recommendations in 2018-113

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.