Council to Get Update on Legislation to Alleviate State Prison Overcrowding

SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council at its September 19 business meeting will receive a report on legislation that has helped decrease the number of defendants sent to prison for violating probation.

Enacted in 2009, the Community Corrections Performance Incentives Act aimed to reduce prison overcrowding, improve public safety, and save money through effective supervision practices at the county level.

This most recent report shows:

• The percentage of the statewide felony probation population that was incarcerated—4% in 2022—continues to be significantly lower than the baseline rate of 7.9% in 2010
   
• More than $100 million per year that would have gone to state prisons to house inmates is being redirected to county probation departments
   
• A significant portion of redirected funding went toward the increased use of effective, evidence-based supervision practices implemented at the local level, which include the use of risk and needs assessments, management and supervision practices, referrals to treatment and intervention, and court collaboration.

Other Items on Council Meeting Agenda:

Remote Access to Electronic Court Records: The council will consider a proposed policy to guide its advisory bodies as they consider pending legislation, proposals for new legislation or rules of court, or other actions involving remote access to electronic court records.

Requests to Name Courthouses After Distinguished Justices: The council will consider naming the new downtown Sacramento courthouse under construction after former Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye. The council will also consider renaming the appellate courthouse in Santa Ana after former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso.

Courts Using Data Analytics to Improve Operations and Services: The council will get an update on the judicial branch’s pilot projects that are using data analytics to improve court operations, such as jury service and case management.

Chief Justice’s Civic Learning Initiative: The council will receive an update on the expansion of the Chief Justice’s key initiatives to increase civic learning, which include the statewide Civic Learning Awards and Judges in the Classroom programs.

New Court Rules and Forms: The council will consider more than 30 agenda items related to new rules and forms to help implement new legislation or improve case procedures. These include changes in the areas of appellate procedure, civil, criminal, domestic violence, protective orders, conservatorships, traffic, unlawful detainer, and family and juvenile proceedings.

The complete council meeting agenda and council reports are posted to the California Courts Meeting Information Center. A link to a live webcast of the meeting will be on the California Courts website on the day of the meeting.