ARTICLE 2. Wardens [2078. - 2090.]

Cal. Penal Code - PEN 2.
in effect

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2078. Section 2078.

It shall be the duty of the department to prosecute all suits, at law or in equity, that may be necessary to protect the rights of the State in matters of property connected with the prisons and their management, such suits to be prosecuted in the name of the department.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2080. Section 2080.

A copy of the rules and regulations prescribing the duties and obligations of prisoners shall be furnished to each prisoner in a state prison or other facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2081. Section 2081.

The director shall cause to be kept at each institution a register of institution violations and what kind of punishments, if any, are administered to prisoners or inmates; the offense committed; the rule or rules violated; the nature of punishment administered; the authority ordering such punishment; the duration of time during which the offender was subjected to punishment; and the condition of the prisoner’s health.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2081.5. Section 2081.5.

The Director of Corrections shall keep complete case records of all prisoners under custody of the department, which records shall be made available to the Board of Prison Terms at such times and in such form as the board may prescribe. Case records shall include all information received by the Director of Corrections from the courts, probation officers, sheriffs, police departments, district attorneys, State Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other interested agencies and persons. Case records shall also include a record of diagnostic findings, considerations, actions and dispositions with respect to classification, treatment, employment, training, and discipline as related to the institutional correctional program followed for each prisoner. The director shall appoint, after consultation with the Board of Prison Terms, such employees of the various institutions under his control as may be necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Board of Prison Terms, and when requested shall also have in attendance at hearings of the Board of Prison Terms, psychiatric or medical personnel. The director shall furnish, after consultation with the Board of Prison Terms and the Director of General Services, such hearing rooms and other physical facilities at such institutions as may be necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Board of Prison Terms.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2082. Section 2082.

The Director of Corrections shall within 30 days after receiving persons convicted of crime and sentenced to serve terms in the respective prisons under the jurisdiction of the Director of Corrections, except those cases under juvenile court commitment, furnish to the Department of Justice two copies of a report containing the fingerprints and descriptions, including complete details of marks, scars, deformities, or other peculiarities, and a statement of the nature of the offense for which the person is committed. One copy shall be transmitted by the Department of Justice to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The director shall notify the Department of Justice whenever any of the prisoners dies, escapes, is discharged, released on parole, transferred to or returned from a state hospital, taken out to court or returned therefrom, or whose custody is terminated in any other manner. The Director of Corrections may furnish to the Department of Justice such other fingerprints and information as may be useful for law enforcement purposes. Any expenditures incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section shall be paid for out of the appropriation made for the support of state’s prisons or the Department of Corrections.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2084. Section 2084.

(a) The department shall provide each prisoner with a bed, sufficient covering of blankets, and with garments of substantial material and of distinctive manufacture, and with sufficient plain and wholesome food of such variety as may be most conducive to good health and that shall include the availability of plant-based meals. (b) The department shall develop a plan to make available the plant-based meals described in subdivision (a) on an overall cost-neutral basis. (c) For the purposes of this section, “plant-based meals” shall mean entire meals that contain no animal products or byproducts, including meat, poultry, fish, dairy, or eggs.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2084.3. Section 2084.3.

(a) Incarcerated persons shall be permitted to shower at least every other day, unless access to a shower is prohibited as provided in subdivision (b). (b) (1) Whenever a request for a shower pursuant to subdivision (a), or a request for a shower at any other time, is denied, the decision to prohibit showering shall be approved by the facility manager or their designee, and the reason or reasons for prohibiting an incarcerated person to shower shall be documented. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if showers are temporarily unavailable or otherwise limited in frequency, staff shall provide written or electronic notification that includes the reason showers are unavailable or limited. The notice shall be made available to any incarcerated person in the affected housing unit and shall be conspicuously posted in the affected housing unit.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2084.5. Section 2084.5.

(a) A state prison or youth residential placement or detention center operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall provide persons in their custody and confined in a correctional or detention facility with accessible, functional voice communication services free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall have operational discretion in implementing this subdivision such that free voice communication services do not interfere with necessary programming. (b) A state agency shall not receive revenue from the provision of voice communication services or any other communication services to a person confined in a state correctional or detention facility.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2085. Section 2085.

The department shall keep a correct account of all money and valuables upon the prisoner when delivered at the prison, and shall pay the amount, or the proceeds thereof, or return the same to the prisoner when discharged.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2085.5. Section 2085.5.

(a) If a prisoner owes a restitution fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as operative prior to January 1, 2025, or subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4 of this code, the secretary shall deduct a minimum of 20 percent or the balance owing on the fine amount, whichever is less, up to a maximum of 50 percent from the wages and trust account deposits of a prisoner, unless prohibited by federal law, and shall transfer that amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for deposit in the Restitution Fund. The amount deducted shall be credited against the amount owing on the fine. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of the payments. (b) (1) If a prisoner is punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 and owes a restitution fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as operative prior to January 1, 2025, or subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4 of this code, the agency designated by the board of supervisors in a county where the prisoner is incarcerated is authorized to deduct a minimum of 20 percent or the balance owing on the fine amount, whichever is less, up to a maximum of 50 percent from the county jail equivalent of wages and trust account deposits of a prisoner, unless prohibited by federal law, and shall transfer that amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for deposit in the Restitution Fund. The amount deducted shall be credited against the amount owing on the fine. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of the payments. (2) If the board of supervisors designates the county sheriff as the collecting agency, the board of supervisors shall first obtain the concurrence of the county sheriff. (c) If a prisoner owes a restitution order imposed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or subdivision (f) of Section 1202.4 of this code, the secretary shall deduct a minimum of 20 percent or the balance owing on the order amount, whichever is less, up to a maximum of 50 percent from the wages and trust account deposits of a prisoner, unless prohibited by federal law. The secretary shall transfer that amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for direct payment to the victim, or payment shall be made to the Restitution Fund to the extent that the victim has received assistance pursuant to that program. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of the payments made to victims and of the payments deposited to the Restitution Fund pursuant to this subdivision. (d) If a prisoner is punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 and owes a restitution order imposed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4 of this code, the agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner is incarcerated is authorized to deduct a minimum of 20 percent or the balance owing on the order amount, whichever is less, up to a maximum of 50 percent from the county jail equivalent of wages and trust account deposits of a prisoner, unless prohibited by federal law. The agency shall transfer that amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for direct payment to the victim, or payment shall be made to the Restitution Fund to the extent that the victim has received assistance pursuant to that program, or may pay the victim directly. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of the payments made to the victims and of the payments deposited to the Restitution Fund pursuant to this subdivision. (e) In any case in which a parolee owes a restitution fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as operative prior to January 1, 2025, or subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4 of this code, either the secretary or, if a prisoner is punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner is incarcerated may collect from the parolee any moneys owing on the restitution fine amount, unless prohibited by federal law. The secretary or the agency shall transfer that amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for deposit in the Restitution Fund. The amount deducted shall be credited against the amount owing on the fine. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of the payments. (f) In any case in which a parolee owes a direct order of restitution, imposed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 1202.4, either the secretary or, if a prisoner is punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner is incarcerated or a local collection program may collect from the parolee any moneys owing, unless prohibited by federal law. The secretary or the agency shall transfer that amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for direct payment to the victim, or payment shall be made to the Restitution Fund to the extent that the victim has received assistance pursuant to that program, or the agency may pay the victim directly. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of the payments made by the parolee pursuant to this subdivision. (g) If a prisoner has both a restitution fine and a restitution order from the sentencing court, the department shall collect the restitution order first pursuant to subdivision (c). (h) If a prisoner is punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 and that prisoner has both a restitution fine and a restitution order from the sentencing court, if the agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner is incarcerated collects the fine and order, the agency shall collect the restitution order first pursuant to subdivision (d). (i) If a parolee has both a restitution fine and a restitution order from the sentencing court, either the department or, if the prisoner is punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner is incarcerated may collect the restitution order first, pursuant to subdivision (f). (j) If an inmate is housed at an institution that requires food to be purchased from the institution canteen for unsupervised overnight visits, and if the money for the purchase of this food is received from funds other than the inmate’s wages, that money shall be exempt from restitution deductions. This exemption shall apply to the actual amount spent on food for the visit up to a maximum of fifty dollars ($50) for visits that include the inmate and one visitor, seventy dollars ($70) for visits that include the inmate and two or three visitors, and eighty dollars ($80) for visits that include the inmate and four or more visitors. (k) (1) Amounts transferred to the California Victim Compensation Board for payment of direct orders of restitution shall be paid to the victim within 60 days from the date the restitution revenues are received by the California Victim Compensation Board. If the restitution payment to a victim is less than twenty-five dollars ($25), then payment need not be forwarded to that victim until the payment reaches twenty-five dollars ($25) or when the victim requests payment of the lesser amount. (2) If a victim cannot be located, the restitution revenues received by the California Victim Compensation Board on behalf of the victim shall be held in trust in the Restitution Fund until the end of the state fiscal year subsequent to the state fiscal year in which the funds were deposited or until the time that the victim has provided current address information, whichever occurs sooner. Amounts remaining in trust at the end of the specified period of time shall revert to the Restitution Fund. (3) (A) A victim failing to provide a current address within the period of time specified in paragraph (2) may provide documentation to the department, which shall verify that moneys were collected on behalf of the victim. Upon receipt of that verified information from the department, the California Victim Compensation Board shall transmit the restitution revenues to the victim in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (c) or (f). (B) A victim failing to provide a current address within the period of time specified in paragraph (2) may provide documentation to the agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 is incarcerated, which may verify that moneys were collected on behalf of the victim. Upon receipt of that verified information from the agency, the California Victim Compensation Board shall transmit the restitution revenues to the victim in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d) or (f).

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2085.6. Section 2085.6.

(a) When a prisoner who owes a restitution fine, or any portion thereof, is subsequently released from the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or a county jail facility, and is subject to postrelease community supervision under Section 3451 or mandatory supervision under subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the prisoner shall have a continuing obligation to pay the restitution fine in full. The restitution fine obligation and any portion left unsatisfied upon placement in postrelease community supervision or mandatory supervision is enforceable and may be collected, in a manner to be established by the county board of supervisors, by the department or county agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner is released. If a county elects to collect restitution fines, the department or county agency designated by the county board of supervisors shall transfer the amount collected to the California Victim Compensation Board for deposit in the Restitution Fund in the State Treasury. (b) When a prisoner who owes payment for a restitution order, or any portion thereof, is released from the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or a county jail facility, and is subject to postrelease community supervision under Section 3451 or mandatory supervision under subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the prisoner shall have a continuing obligation to pay the restitution order in full. The restitution order obligation and any portion left unsatisfied upon placement in postrelease community supervision or mandatory supervision is enforceable and may be collected, in a manner to be established by the county board of supervisors, by the agency designated by the county board of supervisors in the county where the prisoner is released. If the county elects to collect the restitution order, the agency designated by the county board of supervisors for collection shall transfer the collected amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for deposit in the Restitution Fund in the State Treasury or may pay the victim directly. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of payments made to the victim and of the payments deposited into the Restitution Fund. (c) Any portion of a restitution order or restitution fine that remains unsatisfied after an individual is released from postrelease community supervision or mandatory supervision shall continue to be enforceable by a victim pursuant to Section 1214 until the obligation is satisfied. (d) If a county elects to collect both a restitution fine and a restitution order, the amount owed on the restitution order shall be collected before the restitution fine. (e) If a county elects to collect restitution fines and restitution orders pursuant to this section, the county shall coordinate efforts with the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to Section 19280 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (f) Pursuant to Section 1214, the county agency selected by a county board of supervisors to collect restitution fines and restitution orders may collect restitution fines and restitution orders after an individual is no longer on postrelease community supervision or mandatory supervision or after a term in custody pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170. (g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) “Restitution fine” means a fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as operative prior to January 1, 2025, or subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4. (2) “Restitution order” means an order for restitution to the victim of a crime imposed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or subdivision (f) of Section 1202.4.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2085.7. Section 2085.7.

(a) When a prisoner who owes a restitution fine, or any portion thereof, is released from the custody of a county jail facility after completion of a term in custody pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the prisoner has a continuing obligation to pay the restitution fine in full. The balance of the restitution fine remaining unpaid after completion of a term in custody pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170 is enforceable and may be collected, in a manner to be established by the county board of supervisors, by the department or county agency designated by the board of supervisors in the county in which the prisoner is released. If a county elects to collect restitution fines, the department or county agency designated by the county board of supervisors shall transfer the amount collected to the California Victim Compensation Board for deposit in the Restitution Fund. (b) When a prisoner who owes payment for a restitution order, or any portion thereof, is released from the custody of a county jail facility after completion of a term in custody pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the prisoner has a continuing obligation to pay the restitution order in full. The balance of the restitution order remaining unpaid after completion of a term in custody pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170 is enforceable and may be collected, in a manner to be established by the county board of supervisors, by the agency designated by the county board of supervisors in the county in which the prisoner is released. If the county elects to collect the restitution order, the agency designated by the county board of supervisors for collection shall transfer the collected amount to the California Victim Compensation Board for deposit in the Restitution Fund or may pay the victim directly. The sentencing court shall be provided a record of payments made to the victim and of the payments deposited into the Restitution Fund. (c) The amount of a restitution order or restitution fine that remains unsatisfied after completion of a term in custody pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170 is to be enforceable by a victim pursuant to Section 1214 until the obligation is satisfied. (d) If a county elects to collect both a restitution fine and a restitution order, the amount owed on the restitution order shall be collected before the restitution fine. (e) If a county elects to collect restitution fines and restitution orders pursuant to this section, the county shall coordinate efforts with the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to Section 19280 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (f) Pursuant to Section 1214, the county agency selected by a county board of supervisors to collect restitution fines and restitution orders may collect restitution fines and restitution orders after an individual has completed a term in custody pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170. (g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) “Restitution fine” means a fine imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as operative prior to January 1, 2025, or subdivision (b) of Section 1202.4. (2) “Restitution order” means an order for restitution to the victim of a crime imposed pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 13967 of the Government Code, as operative prior to September 29, 1994, subdivision (b) of Section 730.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or subdivision (f) of Section 1202.4.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2085.8. Section 2085.8.

(a) Compensatory or punitive damages awarded by trial or settlement to any inmate, parolee, person placed on postrelease community supervision pursuant to Section 3451, or defendant on mandatory supervision imposed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h) of Section 1170 in connection with a civil action brought against a federal, state, or local jail, prison, or correctional facility, or any official or agent thereof, shall be paid directly, after payment of reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation costs approved by the court, to satisfy any outstanding restitution orders or restitution fines against that person. The balance of the award shall be forwarded to the payee after full payment of all outstanding restitution orders and restitution fines, subject to subdivision (c). (b) The department shall make all reasonable efforts to notify the victims of the crime for which that person was convicted concerning the pending payment of any compensatory or punitive damages. For any prisoner punished by imprisonment in a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, the agency may make all reasonable efforts to notify the victims of the crime for which that person was convicted concerning the pending payment of any compensatory or punitive damages. (c) (1) The secretary shall deduct and retain from any prisoner or parolee settlement or trial award an administrative fee that totals 5 percent of any amount paid from the settlement or award to satisfy an outstanding restitution order or fine, unless prohibited by federal law. (2) The agency may deduct and retain from any settlement or trial award of a person previously imprisoned in county jail an administrative fee that totals 5 percent of any amount paid from the settlement or award to satisfy an outstanding restitution order or fine, unless prohibited by federal law. (3) The secretary or the agency shall deposit the administrative fee moneys in a special deposit account for reimbursing administrative and support costs of the department’s or agency’s restitution program, as applicable. The secretary, at his or her discretion, or the agency may either retain any excess funds in the special deposit account for future reimbursement of the department’s or agency’s administrative and support costs for the restitution program or may transfer all or part of the excess funds for deposit in the Restitution Fund.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2086. Section 2086.

The wardens may make temporary rules and regulations, in case of emergency, to remain in force until the department otherwise provides.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 2090. Section 2090.

The department is hereby authorized to receive from the Federal Government any federal prisoner and to charge and receive from the United States, for the use of the State, an amount sufficient for the support of each such federal prisoner, the cost of all clothing that may be furnished, and one dollar ($1) per month for the use of the prisoner. No other or further charges shall be made by any officer for or on account of such prisoners.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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