PRCS Resources
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) developed Postrelease Community Supervision (PRCS) training resources for County Probation staff to foster a better understanding of the Pre-Release process.
The California Identification Card Program
The California Identification Program (CAL-ID) Program provides a valid California Identification card to eligible inmates upon their release from prison in accordance with California Penal Code (PC) Section 3007.05. The purpose of the CAL-ID Program is to streamline access to support services such as medical, housing, and right-to-work documents. Please click on the hyperlink below to access the CAL-ID fact sheet.
Medi-Cal, SSI and VA Benefits
The Transitional Case Management Program (TCMP) provides pre-release benefit assistance to all eligible inmates releasing to parole or PRCS within 120 days prior to release from prison. TCMP benefit workers provide Medi-Cal, Social Security Administration (SSA), and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit application assistance.
Inmates receive an exit interview within 30 days prior to release and are provided:
- Copies of the benefit applications submitted on their behalf;
- Current benefit application status; and
- External benefit reporting addresses and instructions when necessary.
Receipt of benefit assistance program services is voluntary.
Direct Releases from Court
Pursuant to PC section 1170(a)(3), in any case where the amount of pre-imprisonment credit is equal to or exceeds the sentence imposed, the entire sentence is deemed served, and the offender is not delivered to the custody of CDCR.
The court will note in the AOJ that pre-confinement credits equal or exceed time imposed and the offender will be ordered to report to the local parole or probation office.
Per Appellate Court Decision in People vs. Ruiz, there will no longer be a 60 day limit to challenge supervision to DAPO or PRCS. If it is determined that an offender is being supervised in error by DAPO or PRCS, the case shall be transferred to the appropriate supervision within 60 days of discovery.
If determined that the offender is required to be supervised by county probation, DAPO shall ensure the RPS and certified sentencing court documents are delivered to the proper supervising county via email. Please email DAPO if you have any questions.
Transportation for Special Needs Offenders Being Released to PRCS
Currently, there is no statutory requirement regarding the transportation of offenders from the releasing institution to the designate County Probation office. However, in acknowledgement that some offenders may have special needs, CDCR and Chief Probation Officer’s of California (CPOC) developed an agreement with specific procedures which are excerpted:
- Offenders being released to a hospital for medical placement – CDCR will deliver.
- Offenders being released to a hospital for mental health placement (5150) – CDCR will deliver and Probation staff will meet them to assist. It is critical for probation to meet them there because upon release CDCR no longer has jurisdiction.
- Enhanced Outpatient Program (EOP) who cannot take public transportation due to their mental health status – CDCR will transfer to the closest institution to the county and Probation will pick up.
- Inmates in Security Housing Unit (SHU) will be transferred to an institution closest to the county prior to release when bed space is available. County may choose to pick up or offender will be released from that facility.
- While statute does not require either Probation or CDCR to transport the offender, both parties agree it is in the best interest of public safety that these agreements be made in special cases.
Please click on the hyperlink to view the Transportation of Special Needs PRCS CPOC & CDCR Agreement.
County staff should contact the Institutional PRCS Liaison located at the institution from which the inmate will be released to arrange appropriate and reasonable transportation arrangements. Please click on the hyperlink to the Institution PRCS Liaison contacts.