AB 900 Benchmarks - Achieving Results

AB 900 provides authorization to build up to 40,000 state prison beds and up to 13,000 local jail beds in two phases.  In total, $2.4 billion has been authorized for up to 16,000 infill beds and $300 million for infrastructure, while $2.6 billion is allocated for up to 16,000 reentry program beds and $1.14 billion for up to 8,000 medical, mental health, and dental program beds.  The original bed plan has been revised and refined to ensure that every new bed built will be accompanied by related treatment and program space, as directed by AB 900.

Progress: Phase I

Construction Funds for up to 40,000 Beds Tied to Meeting Benchmarks

AB 900 construction is slated to be completed in two phases, both of which are contingent on meeting rehabilitation benchmarks.

At least 4,000 beds authorized in AB 900 are under construction.

Four of the first AB 900 infill projects are planned for ground breaking by December 21, 2008.  These projects are Kern Valley, North Kern, Wasco and California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi.  Together, they will include 6,050 beds.

 

First 4,000 beds authorized by AB 900 include space and provide
opportunities for rehabilitation services for inmates.

Of the first four projects, 2,850 beds are to be built as reception center beds. These beds do have diagnostic and treatment areas but do not include full programming. The beds to be constructed in non-reception spaces will provide for full programming and rehabilitation services. Of the balance of the first 6,050 beds, 3,000 beds will be built with full programming, and will provide for a transition plan to relieve several institutions from reception center activities, returning unused space back to provide full programming. The remaining 300 beds in the first 6,050 bed increment are Administrative Segregation beds. All beds proposed after the first three sites are non-reception center, non-Administrative Segregation beds.

 

At least 2,000 of the original Reentry beds are under construction or sited.

CDCR has met its requirement to site 500 of the proposed 2,000 reentry bed milestone with its proposed conversion of the Northern California Women’s Facility in Stockton, San Joaquin County. Based on the utilization of CDCR’s 500-bed prototype, CDCR must site the remaining 1,500 beds at approximately three sites.  CDCR had received proposals from 19 counties to site 6,950 reentry beds by the deadline to apply for Phase I funds, in excess of this milestone amount.  CDCR believes it will have multiple sites identified including finalization of purchase agreements by December 31, 2008.

 

2,000 of 4,000 Substance Abuse Treatment (SAT) slots are established with aftercare in the community. 

CDCR has identified the prisons at which the first 2,000 Substance Abuse Treatment (SAT) beds will be located. They include:

• California Correctional Institution
  level I (50 beds);
  
  
• California Institution for Men
  level I (250 beds);
  
• Valley State Prison for Women
  level I/IV (250 beds);
  
  
• Central California Women’s Facility
  level I/IV (250 beds);
  
  
• California State Prison, Solano
  level II (500 beds);
  
  
• Sierra Conservation Center
  level I (250 beds);
  
  
• Avenal State Prison
  level II (250 beds); and,
  
  
• Leo Chesney Community Correctional Facility (200 beds).
  

These programming slots will be located in modular buildings provided by the Prison Industry Authority (PIA).  Construction is being expedited with a goal of initiating programming prior to December 2008, though interim programming space is also under consideration should planned modular buildings not be ready by the target date.

Work will soon be initiated to secure 1,000 slots for substance abuse aftercare in the community.  These services will be procured from community-based providers using current processes and practices.

 

Prison institutional drug treatment slots average at least 75% participation over the previous six months.

As of the end of December 2007, there were 9,669 in-prison substance abuse treatment slots operating at almost 94% capacity. This rate takes into consideration all substance abuse slots, not just the new 2,000 substance abuse slots. This measure is currently being met, and will continue to be sustained above the 75% participation level.

 

CDCR implements an inmate assessment at reception centers, and has used the assessment to assign inmates to rehabilitation programs for at least six consecutive months.

CDCR began using the Correctional Offender Management Profiling Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) instrument to assess select inmates at all reception centers on November 5, 2007.  The current assessment process targets inmates with new commitments and parole violators with new terms, with longer than 240 days to serve.  Resources are not currently available to conduct assessments on this entire target population.  As of February 1, 2008, almost 5,400 assessments had been completed.  The Governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2008-09 includes resources to increase the number of assessments conducted.

The current classification and endorsement process is under review to enable use of COMPAS assessment information in making inmate assignments to prisons and programs.  Resources are also included in the Governor’s proposed budget for this purpose.

 

CDCR develops an Inmate Treatment and Prison-to-Employment Plan.

The Governor’s Rehabilitation Strike Team worked with CDCR to lay the groundwork for a “prison to employment continuum” to directly link behavioral, academic, and vocational education to job skills and available job opportunities in the community.  To develop this continuum, they reviewed various model prison-to-employment programs from around the nation and identified the key components of successful programs. 
CDCR is now developing a new program called New Start, which is modeled after the Texas Project RIO (Re-Integration of Offenders) program.  New Start will:

• Utilize linkages with existing workforce programs and systems, such as local workforce investment boards;
  
  
• Prepare standard “pre-employment” documents to expedite eligibility for employment and link ex-offenders to jobs; and
  
  
• Assess current academic and vocational programs to ensure that they are aligned with outside labor markets, and are filling voids in the specific communities to which offenders will return.
  
  

A prison-to-employment plan that fully describes these efforts has been completed and will be submitted to the Legislature during April 2008.

 

At least 300 parolees are being served in day treatment or crisis care services.

CDCR’s parole division is utilizing funds through the Recidivism Reduction program in the amount of $4 million in this fiscal year to provide services through cash assistance to 300 mentally ill parolees in their local communities.  The cash assistance is being used statewide to provide temporary housing, rehabilitation services and crisis beds.  The parole division is on schedule to serve 300 parolees by June 30, 2008.

 

 

 

 

California Rehabilitation Oversight Board (C-ROB), created pursuant to AB 900, is in operation for at least one year, and reviewing the CDCR’s programs.

The C-ROB was established and held their first meeting June 19, 2007.  Four additional meetings have been held since that time.  C-ROB has also released two reports, dated July 15, 2007 and January 15, 2008, as required by AB 900.  It is anticipated that this measure will be met.

 

Minimum of 75% of managerial positions are filled for at least six months.

In December 2007, CDCR had 110 career executive assignment or exempt positions at the level of warden/superintendent and above.  Of these positions, there are currently 25 vacancies, of which 11 are pending appointment.  CDCR’s organizational structure has evolved to meet the many challenges currently facing the largest agency in state government.  With a majority of CDCR’s management team now in place and fully committed to prison reform and rehabilitation, the agency is in position to implement  AB 900, and to complete a shift in focus of the organization.

 

CDCR develops and implements (by Jan. 15, 2008) a plan to address management deficiencies within the department.

CDCR submitted a management plan to the legislature on Jan. 15, 2008 to enhance management capabilities and achieve optimum managerial success by:

1. Filling key management vacancies utilizing a streamlined process;
   
   
2. Improving lines of accountability through performance measurements and reviews;
   
   
3. Standardizing and integrating business processes, such as reforming procurement, contracting and capital outlay procedures;
   
   
4. Improving communication and information sharing within the Department; and,
   
   
5. Aggressively implementing comprehensive plans for management of the prison inmate and parole populations.

 

CDCR increases full-time participation in inmate academic and vocational education programs by 10% from the levels of participation on April 1, 2007.

As of April 1, 2007, the baseline number of hours of inmate participation in academic and vocational programs are:  

• Academic hours = 787,316; and,
  
  
• Vocational hours = 527,607
  

This means that the current rate of inmates actually participating in programs in which they are enrolled is 50% for academic and 42% for vocational education.  A major initiative is underway to increase utilization of existing program capacity.  As part of the “Pathways to Rehabilitation Project,” and other initiatives CDCR is reducing time spent in lockdown at prisons and increasing time spent in classrooms. CDCR is on track to achieve and exceed this benchmark by the end of 2008.

 

CDCR develops and implements a plan to obtain additional
rehabilitation services pursuant to AB 900.

CDCR recently submitted a plan to the Legislature detailing efforts to obtain additional rehabilitation services for inmates and parolees.  The plan addresses:

• Development of a master plan for rehabilitative programming;
  
  
• Infrastructure development (i.e., facility space, human resources, and staff training);
  
  
• Increasing rehabilitative programming in specified areas (i.e., substance abuse programs and mental health day treatment and crisis beds);
  
  
• Changing the approach to delivering rehabilitation and treatments services (based on the Expert Panel’s recommended California Logic Model) [see chart on page 11]; and,
  
  
• Obtaining rehabilitative programming for inmates in the correctional system, including prisons, secure community reentry facilities, and in local communities during and after parole. 

CDCR is using a three-track approach to increase programming: (1) increasing utilization of existing academic and vocational programs; (2) testing the logic model through the “Pathways to Rehabilitation Project;” and (3) rolling out the added components of the “Pathways to Rehabilitation Project” at all prisons and other sites.

 

Vacancy rate for positions dedicated to rehabilitation and treatment services in prisons and parole offices (excluding medical, dental and mental health) are greater than the statewide vacancy rate for all state prisons.

CDCR’s Division of Adult Programs has identified rehabilitation and treatment job classifications and is dividing employees into the categories of custody, rehabilitation and treatment, and administrative.  Based upon these definitions, Adult Programs is in the process of determining the appropriate reporting dates, vacancy rates on those dates, and the comparable statewide vacancy rate.  At this point, CDCR can report that the statewide vacancy rate for the prior periods reviewed range from about 14% to 17%.  The next steps will be to:

1. Complete the baseline data collection for Adult Programs; and,
   
   
2. Work with Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) to define job classifications meeting the rehabilitation and treatment services definition.
   

Projected Completion Date: June 30, 2008.

 

CDCR reviews existing parole procedures.

CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations has reviewed existing policies and procedures guided by recommendations outlined in reports from the Expert Panel, Little Hoover Commission, the 2005 Independent Review, and the performance benchmarks identified in AB 900.  As a result of the review, the parole division has:

• Aligned field decisions to improve the consistency of the discharge recommendations for select non-violent and non-serious parolees at 12 months, and other offenders at 24 months, who have demonstrated good behavior and been violation free.  This will help to ensure that recommendations  are made in accordance with current state law;
  
  
• Developed a decision-making matrix instrument designed to improve consistency at the agent and supervisor level when faced with a violation of the terms and conditions of parole or the commission of a new crime.  This instrument is also designed to guide agents and supervisors to consider programming and remedial sanctions at all phases of the revocation process.  Field training and testing of the tool is anticipated to begin in April 2008.
  
  
• Developed an incentive-based “earned discharge” program designed to allow certain non-violent, non-serious parolees to be rewarded for positive, violation-free behavior with a possible referral to the Board of Parole Hearings for discharge consideration. An important aspect of this program is the development of a validated tool to assess a parolee’s risk for violent recidivism.  The parole division has worked with Dr. Joan Petersilia and UC Irvine to develop such an instrument specific to California, which is currently being reviewed by the CDCR Office of Research, and field testing began in April 2008; and,
  
  
• Presented multiple reorganization strategies designed to improve field level supervision, personnel accountability, and training of field agents, while examining regional support staff, supervisory and administrative personnel throughout the organization.  All proposals have varying fiscal implications, and are currently being considered by the CDCR executive and budget teams.

Phase II

Phase II construction is planned for a total of up to 16,000 beds.  Of these 16,000 beds, 6,000 will be within existing CDCR institutions and the remaining 10,000 will be reentry beds anticipated to be located in communities throughout the state.  The Phase II projects include up to:
   

• 4,000 beds within or adjacent to existing CDCR institutions plus support buildings, and programming space for rehabilitative programming, such as vocational, substance abuse treatment, employment programs, and pre-release planning for inmates;
  
  
• 2,000 beds for medical, dental, mental health treatment or housing; 


• 10,000 beds for the reentry program, anticipated to be located in communities throughout the state.

<<-- AB 900: Providing Solutions

Benchmarks Overview -->>