LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 3Pt. 2.5Ch. 1Art. 14§ 12838 Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation

§ 12838 Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 12838 Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation

Key Takeaways

  • •There is a big group in the state government called the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The boss of this group is picked by the Governor and approved by the Senate.
  • •This department has many parts, like Adult Operations, Health Care Services, and Juvenile Justice. Each part does different jobs to help people in prisons and kids who got in trouble.
  • •The Governor can also pick three helpers for the boss. Each helper has a special job: one for paperwork, one for health care, and one for running things.
  • •There are also two special chiefs: one to help victims of crimes and one to keep prisons safe. The Governor picks them too.

Example

Imagine a kid named Alex who made a big mistake and got in trouble with the law.

The Juvenile Justice part of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would work with Alex. They might help Alex learn from the mistake and get back on track instead of just punishing him. The Chief for the Office of Victim Services would also make sure that anyone hurt by Alex's mistake gets the help they need.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12838 Department Of Corrections And Rehabilitation

(a) There is hereby created in state government the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to be headed by a secretary, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall consist of Adult Operations, Adult Programs, Health Care Services, Juvenile Justice, the Board of Parole Hearings, the Board of Juvenile Hearings, the State Commission on Juvenile Justice, the Prison Industry Authority, and the Prison Industry Board. (b) The Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, may appoint three undersecretaries of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, subject to Senate confirmation. The undersecretaries shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor. One undersecretary shall oversee administration, one undersecretary shall oversee health care services, and one undersecretary shall oversee operations for the department. (c) The Governor, upon recommendation of the secretary, shall appoint a Chief for the Office of Victim Services, and a Chief for the Office of Correctional Safety, both of whom shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. (Repealed and added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 337, Sec. 7. (SB 823) Effective September 30, 2020.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

Department of Corrections and RehabilitationsecretaryGovernorSenate confirmationundersecretariesChief for the Office of Victim ServicesChief for the Office of Correctional Safety

Related Statutes

  • § 12838.11 Governor Appointees Transfer
  • § 12801 Secretary Appointment And Salary
  • § 12838.4 Board Of Parole Hearings Creation
  • § 11148.5 Small Business Liaison Requirements
  • § 12086 Director Of Community Services And Development

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 12838.
View Official Source