California Board of Corrections

I.	The purpose of the Corrections Standards Authority (hereinafter referred to as the "Authority" or "CSA") is to provide leadership and coordination in the field of local and state detention and corrections in the State of California in compliance with Section 6024, et seq. of the Penal Code. In carrying out its mandates, the CSA will seek to develop practical recommendations regarding correctional issues and to facilitate coordination of the various elements of the criminal justice system as they impact local and state corrections. It is the CSA's intent to provide maximum levels of assistance to assure that local and state correctional facilities and programs are designed, constructed, and operated in ways that promote the highest degree of public safety, the welfare and safety of personnel, and the humane confinement of persons consistent with executive, legislative, and judicial policy.

II.	These policies shall supersede and replace all prior statement of policies.

III.	The CSA shall, at its regularly scheduled meeting, after July 1, 2005, and annually each year thereafter, elect a Vice Chair from among its members, who shall serve a term of one year. To maximize each member's opportunity to serve in this capacity, no member elected as Vice Chair may serve more than two successive terms.

IV.	The Authority shall meet on the third Thursday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September, and November). These dates may be modified or additional meetings called, subject to the discretion of the Chair of the Authority and availability of a quorum. It shall be the policy of the Authority to encourage and stimulate public awareness of the concern for local and state juvenile and adult detention and corrections issues. It shall be the policy of the Authority to invite a broad spectrum of the public to its meetings in order that diverse concerns can be considered at the time public policy is being formed. In an effort to accommodate all potential participants and to ensure that the Authority completes its regularly scheduled agenda, it is the policy of the Authority that a 10-minute maximum be allocated to the presentation of each person or group wishing to address the Authority on an issue. The timeframe may be extended at the discretion of the Chair.

V.	Groups or individuals wishing to be placed on the agenda for a meeting of the Authority should:
	A.	Submit such a request in writing to the Executive Director of the CSA three weeks prior to the meeting date.
	B.	All written materials intended for distribution to the Authority regarding the issue should be delivered to the CSA's office in a final form no later than two weeks prior to the meeting date. Such materials may include: an overview of the problem or issue; a brief summary statement of remedies or alternatives that have been considered, tried, or rejected; relevant information as to the applicability of the issue or problem to other California jurisdictions or to the Authority; and a statement of the action the group or individual is requesting from the Authority.
	C.	By state law (Gov. Code § 11125.7(a)), the Authority can only take action on an item where such proposed action is contained in the published agenda.
	D.	Persons attending meetings of the Authority may request and be granted time to address the CSA on an issue not included on the agenda. Such requests shall be made to the Authority's Chair or Executive Director prior to the start of the meeting and will generally be honored at the conclusion of the regular agenda. The Authority may not take any formal action regarding such issue until a future meeting when the proposed action has been properly noticed.

VI.	Periodically, the Chair may find it necessary or desirable to establish ad hoc committees or work groups to advise and make recommendations to the Authority on matters of policy. At the discretion of the Chair, such committees or work groups may include recognized experts from the field, persons affected by the policy or issue, members of the public, or be limited to Authority members only. In all cases, the Chair will select a representative from the CSA to preside over the committee or work group, including such times when the composition of the committee or work group has been mandated by law.

VII.	The CSA shall address legislative issues relating to juvenile and adult detention, construction and operation of detention facilities, the selection and training of corrections personnel, local and state corrections systems that address juvenile and adult offenders and higher risk pre-delinquent youth. The CSA impacts legislation in California by two methods: (1) developing and sponsoring new legislation, and (2) taking formal positions on bills proposed by other organizations or individuals. In both cases, positions proposed by the CSA are forwarded to the Governor's office for review and approval before they become official CSA positions.

VIII.	To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and to facilitate effective service delivery in the total continuum of criminal justice services, the CSA shall stimulate and foster open lines of communication and coordinate with and among other local and state criminal justice agencies, including, but not limited to: local sheriffs, probation, police, corrections departments, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation programs and divisions, Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, and Judicial Council. Interagency loans of staff may be utilized to further this objective, subject to the approval of the Chair or the Executive Director, if such approval has been delegated by the CSA.

IX.	Members of the Authority shall be reimbursed from the CSA's budget for actual and necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with State travel and per diem policies. For purposes of reimbursement, such duties shall include, but not limited to: Authority meetings, subcommittee meetings, hearings sponsored by the CSA or at which a member is asked to testify by virtue of membership on the Authority, and such other duties as approved by the Chair. The Chair may delegate such approval to the Executive Director.

X.	It shall be the policy of the Authority that all members who tour facilities, attend meetings, or represent the CSA in other official capacities make available their observations to the full Authority, if the Authority so desires. As a matter of courtesy, members of the Authority who tour facilities shall provide advance notice to, and attempt to work out such visits at the convenience of, facility commanders, wardens, or superintendents. CSA staff will make such arrangements at the request of any member.

XI.	A volunteer is defined as a person with special expertise who serves in an advisory capacity without compensation. The CSA frequently finds the need to use professionals to serve as volunteers. The use of volunteers enhances the unique experience and knowledge available to members and staff, and in addition, provides a channel of communication among the CSA, corrections professionals, the interested public, and local and state government. It is the intent of the Authority to include volunteers in an advisory capacity in the establishment of policy and procedures, regulations development, and in special problem identification and solution efforts. The CSA's staff is directed to establish written rules and procedures to implement this policy in compliance with Chapter 8.5, Division 5, Title 1 of the Government Code.

XII.	When otherwise in compliance with applicable law, any or all of these policies may be temporarily suspended or modified, for necessary and sufficient reason, by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present at the meeting.