Title: Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs
Headings: Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs
LAO Report
Improving In-Prison Rehabilitation Programs
Executive Summary
Introduction
Overview of State’s In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs
Primary Goal Is to Reduce Recidivism
Measuring Recidivism Rates
Eight Significant Criminal Risk Factors
State Funds Various In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs
Nonstate‑Funded Rehabilitation Programs
CDCR Operates 114,000 Rehabilitation Program Slots
In‑Prison Rehabilitation Program Budget
Majority of CDCR Rehabilitation Spending on Education‑Related Purposes
Inmate Risk and Rehabilitative Needs Inform Program Assignment
Top Five Rehabilitative Needs Identified by COMPAS
Current Oversight of CDCR Rehabilitation Programs
Key Principles for Reducing Recidivism
Key Principles for Rehabilitation Programs to Reduce Recidivism
Program Structure Should Be Evidence Based
Programs Should Be Evaluated for Cost‑Effectiveness
Programs Should Focus on Highest‑Risk and Highest‑Need Inmates
State‑Funded Programs Have Several Shortcomings
CDCR’s In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs Fall Short of Key Principles
CDCR’s In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs Fall Short of Key Principles
Unclear Whether Some Programs Are Evidence Based
Limited Evaluation of Cost‑Effectiveness
Pew‑MacArthur Results First Initiative Examination of Rehabilitation Programs
CDCR Not Effectively Targeting Highest‑Risk, Highest‑Need Inmates
Recent Policy Changes Impacting the Inmate Population
Inmates Do Not Always Attend Rehabilitation Programs
CDCR In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs Not Fully Attended in 2016‑17
Flawed Performance Measurement
Recommendations to Maximize Recidivism Reduction from Rehabilitation Programs
LAO Recommendations to Improve CDCR’s In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs
Require Programs Be Evidence Based
Measure Actual Cost‑Effectiveness of State‑Funded Rehabilitation Programs
More Effectively Target Programs to Highest‑Risk and Highest‑Need Inmates
Improve Efficient Use of Existing Rehabilitation Resources
Improve Performance Measures to Conduct Regular Oversight
Conclusion

Content: In addition to reducing recidivism, rehabilitation programs can also serve other related goals, such as making it easier to safely manage the inmate population, improving overall inmate wellbeing, and improving inmate educational attainment. These secondary goals can also result in direct and indirect fiscal benefits. For example, an easier‑to‑manage inmate population could result in fewer inmates needing to be housed in higher security units, which could minimize the need and costs for additional security staff. State Funds Various In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs
As discussed in greater detail later in this report, upon admission to prison, CDCR assesses inmates’ rehabilitative needs and assigns them to programs. The state funds six categories of in‑prison rehabilitation programs within CDCR. ( As discussed in the nearby box, there are also various nonstate funded rehabilita