Report 2018-113 Recommendation 10 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 #10 To: Prison Industry Authority

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 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 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 the University of California, Irvine 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, CDCR would be the requester of the additional rehabilitative program funds due to CALPIA being a self-supporting state entity.

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

CalPIA released a recidivism report in November 2021. According to CalPIA's assistant general manager for external affairs, based on the positive findings of CALPIA's recidivism report, it will work with CDCR to ensure the appropriate level of funding is maintained for CTE programs.

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 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, 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

6-Month Agency Response

1. 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 meeting at all nine prisons where CALPIA offers vocational education.

CALPIA concurs. 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.

2. Corrections should also ensure it enrolls eligible inmates in CALPIA's vocational programs before filling spots in its own vocational programs.

CALPIA concurs. CALPIA's Workforce Development Coordinators are 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.

3. In addition, if the CALPIA recidivism study indicates that CALPIA's vocational programs are better at reducing recidivism than Correction's vocational programs, CALPIA should request funding from the Legislature to expand it vocational training program.

CALPIA concurs. 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, CALPIA may submit a request for additional funding to expand its vocational training program.

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

60-Day Agency Response

Since June 2018, CALPIA has been adding part-time Workforce Development Coordinators at each CDCR institution and whose function is to attend institution classification committees to secure inmate participants for CALPIA programs while enhancing any transitions of inmates released after having been in a CALPIA program. CALPIA currently has Workforce Development Coordinators assigned to all 34 prisons.

CALPIA currently has Career Technical Education programs at 12 of 34 prisons and traditional Correctional Industry programs at all 34 CDCR locations. CALPIA's Workforce Development Coordinators will work with CDCR through the inmate assignment committee process to ensure offenders are assigned to CALPIA's vocational programs. CALPIA's Workforce Development Branch will identify what programs have vacancies at each institution monthly and direct Workforce Development Coordinators to prioritize the filling of those vacancies.

CALPIA is reviewing the first draft of the recidivism report. We are currently assessing and vetting the report results. Based on the results of the review, CALPIA may submit a request for additional funding to expand its vocational training program.

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

All Recommendations in 2018-113

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.