Rehabilitation programs: statewide evaluation.

Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to operate the state prison system. Existing law establishes various rehabilitation programs for inmates in the state prison, including literacy, education, and vocational training programs. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations regarding rehabilitation programs operated in state prisons. The bill would require the department, by January 1, 2022, to complete a statewide evaluation of assessment tools currently used to determine an inmate's recidivism risk and rehabilitation needs and, based on that evaluation, prepare a plan to update inmate receiving procedures, more effectively target rehabilitation programs, and improve performance measures, as specified. The bill would require the department to report its findings and plan to the Legislature by July 1, 2022.