Prisons

Health

Some of California best-paid employees will get bonuses of $40,000 or more in new contract

California prisons are badly understaffed when it comes to doctors and psychiatrists. A new contract attempts to boost retention with substantial bonuses.

By Kristen Hwang • September 6, 2023

WhatMatters

California lawmakers send caste discrimination bill to Newsom

From CalMatters state Capitol reporter Sameea Kamal: After many twists and turns  — intra-party drama, xenophobic comments against its author and division among some South Asian communities — the first-in-the-nation bill to ban caste discrimination in California’s housing and employment laws completed its journey through the Legislature Tuesday with a 31-5 vote in the Senate.  […]

By Lynn La • September 6, 2023

Justice

As California closes prisons, correctional officers land a $1 billion contract with raises and more

Gov. Gavin Newsom has closed two state prisons and he has plans to shut two more by 2025. A new contract for correctional officers offers new perks to the guards who stay.

By Byrhonda Lyons • August 29, 2023

Justice

Record numbers of people have died in California jails. Now lawmakers could crack down

Locally elected sheriffs manage California jails and are responsible for the safety of the inmates they hold. Record deaths in San Diego’s jail are shaping a plan for new statewide oversight.

By Nigel Duara • August 9, 2023

WhatMatters

How California voters don’t look like their state

From CalMatters’ state Capitol reporter Sameea Kamal:  California has taken a number of steps over the past decade to make voting easier: Mailing ballots to all registered voters, plus allowing early voting and same-day registration.  Yet, the electorate hasn’t shifted to match the state’s growing diversity: Frequent voters are far from representative of the majority […]

By Lynn La • August 9, 2023

Justice

California prisons have a drug problem. A strip search policy takes aim at visitors

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to make prisons a friendlier place for inmate families. An updated strip-search policy has some worried that families will face intrusive encounters during their visits.

By Anabel Sosa • August 8, 2023

WhatMatters

Does California provide enough food aid for the hungry?

“A catastrophic hunger crisis.” That’s the dire warning from the California Association of Food Banks, after federal pandemic food aid ended earlier this spring.  But why does a state with so much food — California produces nearly half the country’s fruits and vegetables — and that spends so much on food aid have so many […]

By Lynn La • August 8, 2023

Politics

Some of California’s best-paid public employees say they’re ready to strike. Here’s why

Almost half of the jobs for doctors and psychiatrists in California prisons are unfilled. Now, their union says it’s ready to strike over pay even as the state faces a steep budget deficit.

By Kristen Hwang • August 2, 2023

WhatMatters

The debate over flavored medicine for California kids

If you’re a parent, you know how difficult it can be to get your kids to take medicine that tastes bad.  Parents can remedy this by requesting their children’s prescription medicine to be flavored at the 3,000 pharmacies in California that are able to do so. But an unintended consequence of a 2019 law may […]

By Lynn La • August 2, 2023

Commentary

California Democrats keep spending money but fail to make sure it’s helping

California state Sen. Steve Glazer recently pointed out that his Democratic Party is prone to spending money on problems while ignoring whether it works.

By Dan Walters • July 24, 2023