Leaders Promise To Rein In Prison Budget

New leaders at the Department of Corrections and California Youth Authority are promising to rein in rogue employees and a runaway budget.

But state senators say the agencies too often appear to use the state´s civil service disciplinary process to punish whistleblowers and protect wrongdoers.

Whistleblowers are supposed to file complaints with the State Personnel Board.

But board officials say they have neither the time nor staff to do more than review the paperwork to see if an obvious problem exists.

The corrections agencies have a new zero tolerance policy for employees who retaliate against whistleblowers. Senators say the state also needs to strengthen the powers of the state Inspector General.