[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Judy Kerr
Spokesperson and Victim Liaison
California Crime Victims for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

On June 10, the California State Auditor revealed that the cost to construct the CIC (condemned inmate complex) at San Quentin will exceed Corrections' estimate of $356 million by $39.3 million and that the cost to activate the new CIC will reach $7.3 million.

The auditor went on to reveal that projections of the average revised staffing costs to operate the new CIC will increase to $58.8 million per year. This comes to an appalling total of roughly $1.2 billion over the next 20 years.

The report also mentions that the auditors have expressed concerns about the plan to double-cell death row prisoners. The auditor warns that if the plan to double-cell inmates is not a feasible approach, the CIC will reach capacity in 2014. This will occur less than three years after construction is completed.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Recent legislation among the reforms needed at the university

By Leland Yee, Ph.D.
Assistant President pro Tem
California State Senate

On Tuesday, the California State Auditor released a critical report of the California State University’s (CSU) executive compensation policies, further confirming what lawmakers, students, and faculty members have been publicizing for months.

Among the highlights, the audit revealed that the university failed to adequately monitor adherence to its compensation policies and that the CSU used questionable methodology to justify increasing top executives’ pay. In addition, the state audit found that high level managers received significant compensation after they were no longer providing services to the university.