History of the BSCC

The Board of State and Community Corrections was established in statute effective July 1, 2012 to serve as an independent body providing leadership and technical assistance to the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems. A central part of its mission is to oversee Gov. Jerry Brown’s prison and public safety realignment goals that keep non-violent, non-serious, non-sexual offenders in local control where support services can help them successfully re-integrate into their communities.

The BSCC’s history dates to 1944 when the Board of Corrections was established as part of Gov. Earl Warren’s system-wide reorganization that improved prison conditions and centralized management. In 2004 the Corrections Standards Authority replaced the BOC within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation following an independent panel’s finding that the prison system suffered from out-of-control costs and the highest recidivism rate in the nation.

The independent BSCC is vested with the CSA’s rights, powers, authorities and duties to set standards for the training of county corrections and probation officers. It also has a new mission to improve public safety through cost-effective, promising and evidence-based strategies and programs that manage and rehabilitate the statewide criminal and juvenile justice populations.

Statutes relating to authority, programs and mandates are in the California Penal and Welfare and Institutions Codes, with operating regulations in Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations and physical plant regulations in Title 24.