Audit: Effectiveness of COMPAS

As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the California State Auditor presents this audit report concerning the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations’ (Corrections) use of the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS), which is a software tool that helps to identify the characteristics that cause offenders to commit crimes so they can participate in rehabilitative programs and thereby lessen their likelihood of reoffending. Our report concludes that the benefits from Corrections’ use of COMPAS are, at best, uncertain.

Specifically, Corrections’ use of COMPAS in its reception centers—facilities where inmates entering the correctional system are evaluated and assigned to a prison—does not meaningfully affect its decision‑making concerning prison assignments, and by extension, the rehabilitative programs inmates might access at those facilities. Our discussions with staff from eight of Corrections’ 12 reception centers revealed that other non-COMPAS factors, such as an inmate’s security level and limited bed space at receiving prisons, play more prominent roles in determining where inmates can be housed...

Accountability Audit Review of CDCR (2010-2011)

This comprehensive accountability audit presents the results of the Office of the Inspector General’s annual follow-up of previous audit and special review recommendations issued to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Prison Health Care Services (CPHCS). In this accountability audit, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) assesses CDCR’s and CPHCS’ progress in implementing past recommendations from nine audits and special reviews affecting CDCR. We found that CDCR implemented 61 (or 82 percent) of the 74 recommendations we made that were still applicable and that were counted in our assessment. In addition, we separately made three recommendations to CPHCS in one of the nine reports and found that CPHCS implemented two (or 67 percent) of those recommendations...

Audit: Effect of CDCR Operations on the State Budget

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation:

Inmates Sentenced Under the Three Strikes Law and a Small Number of Inmates Receiving Specialty Health Care Represent Significant Costs

HIGHLIGHTS

Our review of California's increasing prison cost as a proportion of the state budget and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's (Corrections) operations revealed the  following:

• Inmates incarcerated under the three strikes law (striker inmates):
  • Make up 25 percent of the inmate population as of April 2009.
  • Receive sentences that are, on average, nine years longer-resulting in about $19.2 billion in additional costs over the duration of their incarceration.
  • Include many individuals currently convicted for an offense that is not a strike, were convicted of committing multiple serious or violent offenses on the same day, and some that committed strikeable offenses as a juvenile.
• Inmate health care costs are significant to the cost of housing inmates. In fiscal year 2007-08, $529 million was incurred for contracted services by specialty health care providers. Additionally:
  • 30 percent of the inmates receiving such care cost more than $427 million.
  • The costs for the remaining 70 percent averaged just over $1,000 per inmate.
  • The costs for those inmates who died during the last quarter ranged from $150 for one inmate to more than $1 million for another
• A significant portion of the increased workload due to medical guarding and transportation is covered through overtime.
• The large leave balances of custody staff, to which the furlough program has contributed a significant amount, will eventually cost the State from $546 million to more than $1 billion.

Continue Reading...

Notice of Intent to Run For Trustee of the CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund

 The CCPOA Benefit Trust Fund will hold an election for one (1), three (3) year trustee position during the upcoming CCPOA Convention (to be held December 6-7, 2010, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.) The term of this office will be from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2014. 

The election will take place on December 7, 2010. 

The nomination period is now open and will close on October 18, 2010. 

 The duties of a trustee are to assume the fiduciary responsibilities of the Health, Welfare and Benefit Plans available to CCPOA members. Included in these responsibilities is the willingness to learn and apply the principles of ERISA law, business management, accounting and auditing, contemporary health and welfare programs, and negotiations with insurance providers.   

Note: Beginning January 22, 2004, the election, training and educational requirements for this position have changed. Candidates must participate in a debate with other candidates to the assembled delegates at the annual convention. A newly-elected trustee must complete certain training (at Trust Fund’s expense), including education in fiduciary responsibility, HIPAA and privacy requirements, as well as complete the IFEBP New Trustee Training prior to assuming full voting rights on January 1, 2011.

Contracting Practices for Private Community Correctional Facilities, CDC

From the Introduction section of the Auditor's report:
In 1965, to provide needed housing, supervision, counseling, and other correctional programs for inmates committed to its institutions, state law authorized the department to establish, operate, and contract for "community correctional centers," commonly referred to as CCFs. The Community Correctional Facilities Administration, within the Institutions Division of the department, administers support functions, such as developing and processing CCF contracts. The department's Office of Contract Services also participates in contract matters, such as the administration of the original contract and any amendments.

Accountability Audit Review of 2000-2003 Audits for CYA

From the Executive Summary of the OIG's report:
In the past four years, the Office of the Inspector General has performed nine audits identifying deficiencies in the institutions and programs of the California Youth Authority and has issued 241 recommendations to address the problems. The Youth Authority agreed with nearly all the recommendations at the time the audits were issued and promised to fix the deficiencies. The Accountability Audit presented here determined that 57 percent of the previous recommendations have been fully or substantially implemented, but additional progress is needed. Many of the deficiencies that have not been corrected are central to the Youth Authority's core mission of rehabilitating the young men and women entrusted to its care. For example, my office found that some wards are still confined to cells 23 hours per day with little access to the education and counseling services that are so critical to rehabilitation efforts.

October-December 2005 Quarterly Audit

The Office of the Inspector General investigates and audits the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to uncover criminal conduct, administrative wrongdoing, poor management practices, waste, fraud, and other abuses. This quarterly report summarizes the audit and investigation activities of the Office of the Inspector General for the period October 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005. The report satisfies the provisions of California Penal Code sections 6129(c)(2) and 6131(c), which require the Inspector General to publish a quarterly summary of investigations completed during the reporting period, including the conduct investigated and any discipline recommended and imposed. To provide a more complete overview of the Inspector General's activities and findings, this report also summarizes audits, special reviews, and warden candidate evaluations conducted by the office during the fourth quarter.

Review: Salinas Valley State Prison, Quadrennial

The purpose of this audit was to satisfy our statutory requirement to audit each warden one year after appointment and to audit each correctional institution at least once every four years. The report revealed that Warden Michael Evans has a reputation for integrity and professionalism, and he has gained many supporters among the employees at SVSP. Managers and staff members alike describe Evans as an effective administrator who provides strong leadership...

Quadrennial Audit of CSP-Solano

The report presents four findings and 19 recommendations. Specifically, we identified wasteful warehousing and procurement practices that may have cost millions of dollars statewide. Some of these purchases were made by Health Care Services Division employees under the direction of the former receiver. Consequently, we have also sent a copy of the report to the receiver and his response is included as part of this report. In addition to the warehousing and procurement issues, we found that the insitituion was not effectively using its limited resources to rehabilitate inmates, the department's firearms training policies were deficient, and the institution was not adequately protecting inmate central files. Your response to these findings and recommendations is included in the report...

Accountability Audit Review of CDCR 2000-2007

Enclosed is the Office of the Inspector General's 2009 Accountability Audit of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. This two-chapter audit analyzes 114 open recommendations from ten prior reports and special reviews. Chapter 1 presents the results from our first follow-up audit of 94 recommendations made in three special reviews and one audit completed in 2007. Chapter 2 presents the results from our follow-up review of 20 recommendations made in six audits and special reviews issued from 2000 through 2006. Overall, we found that the department is making progress and has fully or substantially implemented roughly 60 percent of our recommendations. Work remains for forty-two of our recommendations, including the completion of changes that will ensure safe treatment and programming for juvenile offenders...

January-March 2009 Quarterly Audit

This quarterly report summarizes the OIG's audit and investigation activities for the period of January 1, 2009, through March 31, 2009. The report satisfies the provisions of California Penal Code sections 6129(c)(2) and 6131(c), which require the Inspector General to publish a quarterly summary of investigations completed during the reporting period, including the conduct investigated and any discipline recommended and imposed. To provide a more complete overview of our inspectors' activities and findings, this report also summarizes audit activities, warden and superintendent candidate evaluations, and facility and medical inspections completed during the first quarter of 2009. All the activities reported were carried out under California Penal Code section 6125 et seq., which assigns our office responsibility for independent oversight of CDCR.

Review: California Institute for Men, Quradrennial & Warden Audit

The purpose of the audit was to satisfy our statutory requirement to audit each warden one year after appointment and to audit each correctional institution at least once every four years. The report revealed that Warden Michael Poulos has a reputation for integrity and professionalism, and he gained many supporters among the employees at CIM. Interviews and surveys reveal that most staff members feel Poulos is an effective leader who is usually accessible to the staff and responsive to institution problems...

October-December 2008 Quarterly Audit

This quarterly report summarizes the OIG's audit and investigation activities for the period of October 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. The report satisfies the provisions of California Penal Code sections 6129(c)(2) and 6131(c), which require the Inspector General to publish a quarterly summary of investigations completed during the reporting period, including the conduct investigated and any discipline recommended and imposed. To provide a more complete overview of our inspectors' activities and findings, this report also summarizes audit activities, warden and superintendent candidate evaluations, and facility and medical inspections completed during the fourth quarter of 2008. All the activities reported were carried out under California Penal Code section 6125 et seq., which assigns our office responsibility for independent oversight of CDCR.

Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation: It Does Not Always Follow Its Policies When Discharging

As requested by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the Bureau of State Audits presents its audit report concerning the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's (Corrections) adult parole discharge practices. This report concludes that Corrections does not always follow its policies when discharging parolees. With the exception of deported parolees, its policies require parole agents to initiate a discharge review report for all eligible parolees. Corrections' data indicate that a total of 56,329 parolees were discharged between January 1, 2007, and March 31, 2008.

July-September 2008 Quarterly Audit

This quarterly report summarizes the OIG's audit and investigation activities for the period July 1, 2008, through September 30, 2008. The report satisfies the provisions of California Penal Code sections 6129(c)(2) and 6131(c), which require the Inspector General to publish a quarterly summary of investigations completed during the reporting period, including the conduct investigated and any discipline recommended and imposed. To provide a more complete overview of our inspectors' activities and findings, this report also summarizes audit activities, warden and superintendent candidate evaluations, and facility and medical inspections completed during the third quarter of 2008. All the activities reported were carried out under California Penal Code section 6125 et seq., which assigns our office responsibility for independent oversight of the CDCR.

Accountability Audit: Review of 2000-06 CDCR Audits

This comprehensive accountability audit presents the results of the Office of the Inspector General's annual follow-up review of previous recommendations issued to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). In this accountability audit, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) assesses the department's progress in implementing past recommendations from 37 audits and special reviews affecting the CDCR's Adult Operations and Programs, Division of Juvenile Justice, and Board of Parole Hearings. Overall, we found that the CDCR has improved its record for implementing our recommendations, but our audit also revealed that some critical recommendations remain unaddressed.

April-June 2008 Quarterly Audit

This quarterly report summarizes the OIG's audit and investigation activities for the period April 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008. The report satisfies the provisions of California Penal Code sections 6129(c)(2) and 6131(c), which require the Inspector General to publish a quarterly summary of investigations completed during the reporting period, including the conduct investigated and any discipline recommended and imposed. To provide a more complete overview of our inspectors' activities and findings, this report also summarizes audit activities, warden and superintendent candidate evaluations, and facility and medical inspections completed during the second quarter of 2008. All the activities reported were carried out under California Penal Code section 6125 et seq., which assigns our office responsibility for independent oversight of the CDCR.

California Prison Health Care Receivership 04/06-06/07

In April 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California gave the California Prison Health Care Receivership Corporation broad powers over the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's delivery of medical care to prisoners after the court found the department's medical care efforts were "horrifying" and "shocking." The court also found that continued medical malpractice and neglect existed within California prisons. As a result, the court suspended the department secretary's authority over California's prison medical system during the receivership and granted this power to the receiver. The court also ordered the department to pay all costs the receivership incurs in implementing policies, plans, and decisions to carry out its responsibilities...

January-March 2008 Quarterly Audit

This quarterly report summarizes the OIG's audit and investigation activities for the period January 1, 2008, through March 31, 2008. The report satisfies the provisions of California Penal Code sections 6129(c)(2) and 6131(c), which require the Inspector General to publish a quarterly summary of investigations completed during the reporting period, including the conduct investigated and any discipline recommended and imposed. To provide a more complete overview of our inspectors' activities and findings, this report also summarizes audit activities, warden and superintendent candidate evaluations, and facility and medical inspections completed during the first quarter of 2008. All the activities reported were carried out under California Penal Code section 6125 et seq., which assigns our office responsibility for independent oversight of the CDCR.

October-December 2007 Quarterly Audit

This quarterly report summarizes the OIG's audit and investigation activities for the period October 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007. The report satisfies the provisions of California Penal Code sections 6129(c)(2) and 6131(c), which require the Inspector General to publish a quarterly summary of investigations completed during the reporting period, including the conduct investigated and any discipline recommended and imposed. To provide a more complete overview of our inspectors' activities and findings, this report also summarizes audit activities, warden and superintendent candidate evaluations, and facility inspections completed during the fourth quarter of 2007. All the activities reported were carried out under California Penal Code section 6125 et seq., which assigns the OIG responsibility for independent oversight of the CDCR.