2026-27 California Budget Shows Money Wasted on Prisons and Policing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 13, 2026

Press Contact:

Ashley Chambers, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights

ashley@ellabakercenter.org, 925-953-2302

Ella Baker Center: 2026-27 California Budget Shows Money Wasted on Prisons and Policing

SACRAMENTO — After the recent release of the 2026-27 California budget, which shows continued investments in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and a $3 billion deficit, the Ella Baker Center released the following statement from Director of Programs James King:

“California is in a unique position to prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable communities by investing in community-based programs and resources that improve public safety. The Ella Baker Center commends the continued investments in rehabilitative programming for incarcerated people. However, the state budget continues to grossly reallocate more funding to policing and prisons, with $14.2 billion to CDCR. This administration is wasting taxpayers’ money on a costly prison system that has been proven to fail and all too often perpetuates the harm that the state purports to rehabilitate. With a $3 billion deficit, we urge this administration to underscore the cost savings and real human impact of prison closures—with three prison closures and plans to close CRC Norco this year saving the state $605.1 million alone. As the prison population continues to decline and building infrastructure crumbles, it is important that this administration gets serious about decarceration.”

“We know that addressing climate change is one priority for this administration, yet any plan to address and prepare Californians for climate hazards must also recognize the vulnerability of people incarcerated inside state prisons and implement measures to prevent further loss of life. Our climate disaster plans cannot leave our incarcerated loved ones behind. Additionally, California’s prison population is aging at a rapid pace with people age 55 and older making up 20% of those incarcerated. The state can and must safely reduce the prison population by releasing the aging population back into their communities, where they can receive the care and support they need from their loved ones rather than being locked up in cages.”

The proposed budget has no new prison closures or plans for decarceration, which would make a significant impact towards closing the $3 billion deficit. On the contrary, it further exacerbates California’s economic deficit by investing $78.5 million into the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Instead of making wasteful investments in prisons and policing, California could create significant savings by cutting the CDCR budget and refocusing those funds on programs that invest in re-entry and rehabilitation, housing, job development, youth programs, public health, and violence prevention—solutions proven to make our communities stronger and safer.

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