Report 2021-105 Recommendation 18 Responses

Report 2021-105: Law Enforcement Departments Have Not Adequately Guarded Against Biased Conduct (Release Date: April 2022)

Recommendation #18 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of

To enhance CDCR's identification of correctional officer applicants who possess the ability to work with diverse individuals and do not have detectable disqualifying biases, by October 2023, the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training should establish standards for the selection of correctional officers that incorporate the best practices that we describe in this report.

6-Month Agency Response

1. Introduce CPOST Draft Standard, "Pre-Employment/Selection Standard" at the April CPOST

commission meeting. (The draft standard was initiated prior to the release of the CSA

Report; however, the standard incorporates the best practices described in the CSA report.)

2. Take Draft Standard to stakeholders/Subject Matter Experts for review.

3. Present final draft to CPOST for ratification and implementation.

6-Month Update: The CPOST Commission reviewed and approved the "Pre-Employment Selection" standard. The standard has been posted for the public on the CPOST website.

Supporting documentation will be provided, per CSA's instruction.

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

CDCR provided its pre-employment/selection standard, which establishes requirements for hiring entry-level correctional officers, including a review of candidates to determine if they possess the ability to work with diverse individuals and do not have detectable disqualifying biases.

60-Day Agency Response

CDCR will:

1. Introduce CPOST Draft Standard, "Pre-Employment/Selection Standard" at the April CPOST commission meeting. (The draft standard was initiated prior to the release of the CSA Report; however, the standard incorporates the best practices described in the CSA report.)

2. Take Draft Standard to stakeholders/Subject Matter Experts for review.

3. Present final draft to CPOST for ratification and implementation.

Status:

1. Upon ratification of the April CPOST meeting minutes in June, the draft standard will be released.

2. Subject Matter Experts/Stakeholders are reviewing components of the standard. These will be presented at the public CPOST meeting scheduled for June 16, 2022, for vote and approval.

3. The standard will be implemented immediately upon ratification by CPOST.

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

All Recommendations in 2021-105

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.