Prisons: classification.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sade Elhawary

AB 1759 commissions an independent study to redesign prison security classification to prioritize rehabilitation, reduce unnecessary confinement, and expand programming.

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.

#prisons #classification

AB 1759 (2025-2026) — Prisons: classification

Purpose and intent

AB 1759 would require a comprehensive review of California’s state prison security classification system. The bill aims to ensure that classification decisions reflect actual safety risk and do not unnecessarily confine incarcerated people to higher-security facilities. It also seeks to align classifications with rehabilitation goals and potential cost savings by expanding access to programming.

Key provisions and changes

Department obligation: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) must contract with an independent research entity to reassess the entire current security classification system. The study would cover:

Initial classification
Annual classification and reclassification
Methodologies used for annual reclassification point adjustments and the use of administrative determinants and overrides

Study objectives and policy recommendations:

Develop policy recommendations to enhance the classification system
Propose a new classification framework with goals to:
Expand access to rehabilitation
Reduce recidivism and violence
Ensure inmates are not housed at unnecessarily high security levels
Improve institutional safety by accurately identifying higher-risk individuals
Save state funds by enabling more programming credits that can reduce sentence length

Selection of research entity:

The Office of the Inspector General would select the independent entity
Eligible entities must have:
Research institutions affiliated with California State University (CSU) or the University of California (UC)
Governance by the UC Board of Regents
Experience partnering with government agencies
A commitment to equity and demonstrated expertise in CDCR policy and data

Reporting timeline:

A final report with findings and recommendations must be published on CDCR’s website and submitted to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2028
Reports must comply with Government Code Section 9795
The provisions would remain in effect only temporarily, repealing on January 1, 2029 (2031 in some date references), indicating a sunset provision contingent on the statutory language in the final version

Context and findings informing the bill:

The bill references concerns from a 2019 LAO study that the current security classification may over-restrict inmates and that its methodology has not been regularly reassessed

Who/what is affected

Primary: CDCR and incarcerated individuals in state prisons

Secondary: The Office of the Inspector General (selection authority for the study), the independent research entity, and the Legislature (receiving the study findings)

Broader impact: Potential changes to prison population placement, access to rehabilitative programming, and eligibility for programming credits

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative history shows committee referrals and approvals with a targeted study timeline

Key deadline: report due by January 1, 2028 (with compliance to Government Code timing)

Sunset: the bill includes automatic repeal provisions after the specified sunset date

Summary assessment

AB 1759 shifts the state’s approach from maintaining an existing, potentially outdated security classification framework to commissioning a rigorous, independent, academically tied study with explicit rehabilitation and safety outcomes. If enacted, it could lead to a redesigned classification system that prioritizes rehabilitation, reduces unnecessary confinement, and potentially lowers costs through expanded programming.