Criminal Justice Realignment Resource Center

California’s criminal justice realignment represents one of the most significant changes in criminal justice policy since statehood.

Criminal justice realignment, enacted via the Budget Act of 2011 and various budget trailer bills, is intended to make changes to California's correctional system... "to stop the costly, ineffective and unsafe 'revolving door' of lower-level offenders and parole violators through our state prisons," according to Governor Jerry Brown. This site contains materials for the courts, justice partners, and public regarding current implementation efforts for criminal justice realignment.
 

Of Current Interest

The Frequently Asked Questions page has been updated to add a stand-alone FAQs document covering the Parole Revocation Proceedings which are effective July 1, 2013.

California County Jails House 1100 Long-Term Inmates. Don Thompson, Associated Press. (February 28, 2013)

"Prison Break" investigates the unprecedented and far-reaching efforts to overhaul California's prison system. Source: KQED California Report

2013-14 Budget: Governor’s Criminal justice Proposals, Legislative Analyst. (February 15, 2013)

Recent Budget Trailer Legislation: Summary of Criminal-Related Provisions (Senate Bills 1021and 1023) (July 5, 2012)

Letter sent by California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to all Presiding Judges detailing the sunsetting of the Civil Addict program by SB 1021.

Criminal Justice Realignment related bills that are currently under consideration in the California State Legislature. (September 14, 2012)

Actual and Projected Expenditure of FY 2011-2012 Funding for Workload Required by or Related to Criminal Justice Realignment (April 2012)

Criminal Justice Realignment and Related Videos
Sentencing After Criminal Justice Realignment Judge Richard Couzens (Ret), and Judge David Danielsen, discuss the application of these new sentencing provisions and review the recently passed legislation.

Evidence-Based Practices: Reducing Recidivism to Increase Public Safety Judge J. Richard Couzens (Ret.) discusses the principles of evidence-based practices, and the role of the courts and probation in implementation.