California prisons handle complaints against officers poorly, audit finds

A state audit examining how California prisons handle complaints against staff members found deficiencies in how most cases were handled, and some facilities were has been slow to deal with sexual assault cases filed against employees.

As CalMatters’ Nigel Duara explains, the state’s inspector general of prisons released its latest audit last week, scrutinizing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s disciplinary and criminal cases involving prison officials. The report found that:

• At least 279 women have sued the department and at least 83 prison officials have been accused of sexual misconduct.
• 86% of the prison system’s workload is considered ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’, with ‘inadequate’ meaning there were significant problems with the investigation that compromised its final outcome.
• It took corrections department legal staff an average of nine months to refer cases to internal investigators.

Delayed investigations into sexual assault cases, the audit said, “significantly impair the integrity and effectiveness of the investigative process.” In one case involving a dozen women who accused a lieutenant of sexual assault, internal investigators took so long to review the allegations that the lieutenant was able to retire before facing discipline.

The audit, which is published twice a year, concludes a year that began with sensational conviction of a former guard at Chowchilla Women’s Facility. In January, Gregory Rodriguez was found guilty of 64 counts of sexual assault. He worked at the prison until 2022, but the earliest report against him since 2014. Rodriguez was sentenced to 224 years in prison.

Read more here.

MP Mark GonzalezDemocrat from Los Angeles, on Tuesday introduced a bill that would create a pilot program to restore the 988 suicide and crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ callers in LA County.

In July, the federal administration under President Donald Trump ended the dedicated LGBTQ+ counseling hotline, which was available to callers after dialing 988 and pressing 3. This prompted the state to partner with The Trevor Project for counselor training in California’s 988 call centers to better serve LGBTQ+ youth.

If González’s bill passes, the pilot program would allow callers in Los Angeles County to access a “988 press 3” option, serving as the initial de facto rollout to establish the option statewide.

• Gonzalezin a statement: “Prior to this reckless (federal) cut, 1.5 million contacts were made with Press 3. This doesn’t happen by accident – it happens because LGBTQ+ youth trust and rely on this lifeline in their darkest moments.”

The proposal comes as California’s own hotline — which provides toll-free 24/7 non-emergency mental health help to Californians — facing layoffs and limited services due to state budget cuts.

From CalMatters political reporter Maya S. Miller:

Committee for Democratic Political Action is accusatory U.S. Rep. Young Kim, R-Orange County, for failing to disclose nearly $50,000 in privately funded travel in violation of federal financial reporting requirements.

The group, End Citizens United, has asked the Office of Congressional Conduct, an independent and nonpartisan organization, to launch a formal investigation into why the congressman failed to include several privately funded trips — some of which were international and cost five figures — in required federal financial filings.

Members of Congress and staff are allowed to accept travel if they receive approval from the House Ethics Committee. But they must also report any of those trips that cost more than $480.

Kim’s team described the discrepancy as an administrative error and said the congresswoman corrected it as soon as it was brought to her attention. They also noted that she has approval from the House Ethics Committee to go on trips.

Kim is currently in a tight race against fellow incumbent Ken Calvert, the state’s longest-serving Republican, for the chance to represent one of California’s last remaining safe GOP seats.

The Office of Congressional Conduct, created in 2008, reviews allegations of misconduct against members and staff and may choose to refer any investigation to the Ethics Committee for further review.

A new state law requires online web browsers to add an opt-out signal that tells sites not to sell or share user data. CalMatters’ Colin Letcher and Director of Video Strategy Robert Meeks have a video segment on the law and why supporters say it may become a national standardas part of our partnership with PBS SoCal. Watch it here.

SoCalMatters airs at 5:58pm weekdays on PBS SoCal.