Connect with us

Published

4 months ago

on

SACRAMENTO, Calif. After decades of unsuccessful efforts to improve California prison conditions ruled unconstitutional and blamed for record-high suicides, advocates and a federal judge are betting that bonuses and better work accommodations will finally be enough to attract and keep the mental health providers needed to treat prisoners.

This story also ran on The Sacramento Bee. It can be republished for free.

The funds come from nearly $200 million in federal fines imposed because of Californias lack of progress in hiring sufficient mental health staff. They are being used for hiring and retention bonuses, including an extra $20,000 for psychologists and psychiatric social workers roles with the highest vacancy rates and $5,000 boosts for psychiatrists and recreational therapists.

I think its important to point out that this is the money that the state saved by not hiring people for these positions, said Michael Bien, an attorney representing the roughly one-third of California prisoners with serious mental illness in a class action lawsuit. And we know that not hiring caused suffering, harm, and even death.

The cash is aimed at countering a scarcity of mental health workers in California and across the country. State officials blame this dearth of workers for their chronic inability to meet hiring levels required by the long-running suit a failure that led a federal judge to hold top officials in contempt of court last year. The funds are being distributed after an appeals court upheld the contempt order in March, saying staffing shortages affect whether prisoners have access to essential, even lifesaving, care. The spending plan was jointly developed by attorneys representing prisoners and state officials.

Janet Coffman, a professor at the University of California-San Francisco Institute for Health Policy Studies, said planned improvements in working conditions should help with hiring, but she was skeptical of the impact of bonuses.

What I dont see is the sustained increases, the increases in salaries over the long term, which is what I think is probably more effective for retention than one-time bonuses, Coffman said.

The state did not take that view. Its expert witness, labor economist Erica Greulich, testifying during the 2023 trial that led to the fines, said that higher salaries were unlikely to meaningfully increase hiring. Email Sign-Up

Subscribe to KFF Health News' free Morning Briefing. Your Email Address Sign Up

Facing a $12 billion deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom in May proposed $767 million in salary reductions across state government that would make it extremely difficult to fill chronically vacant mental health positions, said Abdul Johnson, chief negotiator for the bargaining unit representing health and social service professionals in prisons and other agencies. He said he believes California should add longevity pay to retain veteran workers and pay more in areas with higher costs of living.

On the face of it, the salaries for mental health positions at California prisons are competitive with the private sectors. For example, the range for a prison psychologist is $133,932 to $162,372, while the annual mean for psychologists in California ranged from $117,630 to $137,540 last year. The most recent state contract with prison psychiatrists already includes 15% bonuses, on top of other sweeteners, with a state salary range topping $360,000, nearly $34,000 above the California mean salary.

But California prisons are competing for behavioral health workers amid a roughly 40% shortage of psychologists and psychiatrists in the state, and that shortfall is expected to get worse. For more than a year before the courts contempt ruling, the vacancy rate for psychologists never fell below 35% the state is currently recruiting for nearly 300 such positions while vacancies among social workers ranged from 17% to 29%.  The court ruling said the state oversaw adequate staffing for psychiatrists and recreation therapists but only periodically succeeded in reducing the vacancy rate below the 10% maximum allowed. Officials are in the process of adding several new positions that are eligible for the bonuses.

Further complicating the hiring push is that other organizations recruiting these professionals can offer more competitive packages, which can include signing bonuses and other perks, according to testimony during the 2023 trial.

The state is also adopting a new hybrid work policy that allows mental health staff to spend part of their time working remotely. The policy will let the state better compete with the private sector, particularly in the remote areas where many prisons are located, Coffman said.

Money from the fines will also go to improving a working environment that the appellate decision said often took the form of windowless converted cells in old and unheated prisons. One-time payments ranging from $50,000 to $300,000 are going to various prison mental health programs for things like new furniture and improvements to treatment and office spaces.

Working in a prison is difficult and dangerous work, Johnson said. Our members constantly face threats, physical assaults, and extremely high caseloads.

Angela Reinhold, a supervising psychiatric social worker at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, said during the 2023 hearings that her office was in a closet, featuring furniture from 1970s at best.

She compared her situation with that of a co-worker who had recently left for a safer, higher-paying job in the private sector.

Shes very excited that she gets a bathroom with two-ply toilet paper, not to mention the other office equipment thats state-of-the-art, and treatment space, and an office that has a view, Reinhold said. Shes not risking her safety with her patients, and she gets to telework three times a week.

Alexandra David, chief of mental health at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, described working in buildings without adequate heating or cooling, with leaky ceilings and flooded clinical offices.

You know, its an old prison. There are smells and sometimes rodents, David said during the same hearings.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not respond to requests for comment on the spending plan.

In what Bien characterized as a bid to avoid ill will, all prison mental health workers will benefit from the new expenditures, with current employees and new hires each receiving one-time $10,000 bonuses. All corrections department employees, not just mental health workers, are also eligible for $5,000 bonuses for referrals leading to new hires in understaffed areas. The state estimates that the bonuses will cost about $44 million, although the projection does not include the referral bonuses or bonuses paid to new employees hired during the year.

Future bonuses and other incentives are likely to depend on recommendations from a court-appointed receiver who is developing a long-term plan to bring the prison mental health system up to constitutional standards.

We do think they have to do better with money, but money alone is not the answer here, Bien said. And so thats why were trying to do these working-conditions things, as well as bonuses.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Republish This Story Related Topics California Courts Health Industry Mental Healh States Cost of Living Prison Health Care Contact Us Submit a Story Tip

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Sports

Skubal ties Tigers record with 14 Ks in G1 win

Published

2 hours ago

on

September 30, 2025

By

Skubal ties Tigers record with 14 Ks in G1 win

  • ESPN News Services

Sep 30, 2025, 04:55 PM ET

CLEVELAND — Tarik Skubal tied a franchise postseason record with 14 strikeouts and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 on Tuesday in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series.

Will Vest recorded the final four outs for Detroit, surviving a tense ninth inning after Cleveland star Jose Ramirez got hung up between third base and home for the second out.

The Tigers, who struggled down the stretch, allowing Cleveland to secure the AL Central title, can advance to the division series round for the second straight year with a win Wednesday.

“It means a lot to take the ball in Game 1,” Skubal said. “To have the trust in our whole organization, it means a lot. And it doesn’t really matter how we got here. We’re up 1-0 in a best of three.”

Detroit scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when Zach McKinstry‘s safety squeeze scored Riley Greene from third.

Ramirez led off the ninth with an infield single and advanced to third when shortstop Javier Baez threw wide of first base. Vest struck out pinch-hitter George Valera, then Kyle Manzardo hit a grounder to Vest. Ramirez broke for home but was cut off by Vest, who chased him down and tagged him out.

“That ball’s two feet either way, he scores,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “It just happened to go right back to Vest. So we play aggressive. We always do. We run the bases aggressive. I wouldn’t play that any other way.”

C.J. Kayfus then hit a flyout to Baez in shallow left to end it.

Skubal, who is favored to win his second straight AL Cy Young Award, set a career high for strikeouts. He was dominant and unfazed as he pitched on the same mound where one week ago, he threw a 99 mph fastball that struck Cleveland designated hitter David Fry in the nose and face during the sixth inning.

“I thought my outing was coming to a close,” Skubal said when asked about being allowed to continue on into the eighth inning. “But I was ready to go back out there. I’m never going to take myself out of a game, and I don’t ever really want the handshake.”

The right-hander went 7 2/3 innings and threw 107 pitches, one off his career high, including 73 strikes. He allowed one run on only three hits, with two being infield singles, and walked three. His fastball averaged 99.1 mph, 1.6 mph above his season average.

Skubal outdueled Cleveland starter Gavin Williams, who was just as effective but hurt by a pair of Guardians errors. Williams allowed two unearned runs in six-plus innings on five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.

“I was just worried about doing my best to execute each pitch,” Skubal said, “and just do what makes me a good pitcher, and that’s getting ahead, and getting guys into leverage.”

Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Kerry Carpenter scored on Spencer Torkelson’s two-out bloop single to left field. Carpenter got aboard on a base hit to right but advanced to second on a fielding error by Johnathan Rodriguez.

The Guardians finally got to Skubal in the fourth by not having a ball leave the infield.

Angel Martinez hit a slow grounder between Skubal and second baseman Gleyber Torres to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on Ramírez’s walk.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Gabriel Arias hit a high chopper over Skubal. The ball landed on the infield grass between the mound and second base. Skubal fielded the ball as Martinez rounded third. Martinez’s left hand touched the plate before Detroit catcher Dillon Dingler applied the tag.

Martinez was originally ruled out on the head-first slide, but it was overturned by instant replay to tie the game at 1-1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

Washington: Angels not picking up my contract

Published

2 hours ago

on

September 30, 2025

By

Washington: Angels not picking up my contract

  • Alden GonzalezSep 30, 2025, 04:54 PM ET

    Close

      ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.

Ron Washington, who missed the majority of the 2025 season after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery, will not be returning as manager of the Los Angeles Angels in 2026, he told The Athletic on Tuesday.

Interim manager Ray Montgomery also will not get the full-time manager role in 2026, a source confirmed to ESPN, as the Angels will search for their sixth manager in nine years.

Washington told The Athletic that general manager Perry Minasian told him that the team’s decision to not pick up his contract option was based on the team’s performance — the Angels went 36-38 prior to him leaving — rather than the manager’s health.

“You know, when you’re a competitor, and you’re in charge, none of that stuff comes into play,” Washington told The Athletic. “Sometimes you’ve got to make chicken salad out of chicken s—.

“I have to accept that. I can’t go back to argue with them to try and tell them different when they’ve made a decision. … We were starting to perform better.”

Washington told The Athletic that he never had the opportunity to talk about the team’s decision with Angels owner Arte Moreno.

The Angels finished with a 72-90 record, accounting for their 10th consecutive losing season. They’ve made the playoffs just once since 2009.

After Mike Scioscia stepped down at the end of the 2018 season, ending a 19-year run that included the franchise’s only World Series championship, the Angels went through Brad Ausmus, Joe Maddon and Phil Nevin as managers over a five-year stretch. None produced more than 77 wins.

Washington, the former Texas Rangers manager and highly regarded infield instructor, was brought in ahead of the 2024 season in hopes that he could mentor a young nucleus headlined by Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, Nolan Schanuel and Jo Adell. However, the team finished with a franchise-record 99 losses.

The 2025 team showed some promise but wound up finishing last in the American League West for the second straight year, 25½ games out of first.

“I think I had the team going in the right direction, I really did,” Washington told The Athletic. “And it was just too bad that my health came into play. There’s nothing that I can do about that.

“It was my team. I think the team took on my personality. We were definitely showing that. In this business, this is the kind of stuff that happens to you. When everything goes not the way people wanted, you take the blame for it. And I’m OK.”

Washington, who turns 74 in April, was the oldest manager in the majors this past season and last managed a game on June 19, when he left the Angels after experiencing shortness of breath and appearing fatigued during a four-game series against the New York Yankees.

He eventually underwent quadruple-bypass surgery but stressed last month that he was in good health and wanted to return as the Angels’ manager in 2026.

“What happened to me saved my life,” Washington said earlier this season, adding that he has quit smoking, changed his eating habits and is sleeping better.

Overall, Washington was 99-137 in two seasons with Los Angeles.

Montgomery’s option also will not be picked up. The rest of the Angels’ coaching staff also had 2026 options, but their status is not yet known.

Perry Minasian, who just finished his fifth season as the Angels’ general manager, is under contract through 2026, though the team has not made a formal announcement about his status.

Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter, two decorated former Angels who currently serve as special assistants with the team, are considered strong candidates to become the next manager — unless owner Arte Moreno seeks someone with more experience.

Washington was the winningest manager in Rangers history, compiling a 664-611 record from 2007 to 2014. He led them to their first two World Series appearances, in 2010 and 2011. After initially returning to the Athletics organization for the 2015 and 2016 campaigns, Washington joined the Atlanta Braves‘ staff from 2017 to 2023 and was part of their 2021 World Series championship team.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

Rays’ sale finalized; stadium search to restart

Published

2 hours ago

on

September 30, 2025

By

Rays' sale finalized; stadium search to restart

  • Associated Press

Sep 30, 2025, 04:15 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A group led by Florida-based real estate developer Patrick Zalupski closed on its purchase of the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, finalizing the sale of the team from former owner Stuart Sternberg.

Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the transaction last week. The price was not disclosed.

“It’s an incredible honor to become the stewards of the Tampa Bay Rays, a franchise with a proud history and a bright future,” Zalupski said in a statement. “We’re all energized by the responsibility to serve Rays fans everywhere and this great game. … We will work hard to earn the respect and confidence of our fans and new MLB partners, and we are excited about the upcoming challenge to deliver a world-class experience on and off the field.”

Zalupski’s group, which also includes Bill Cosgrove and Ken Babby, is expected to restart the search for a new ballpark. The Rays in March withdrew from a $1.3 billion project to construct a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, citing a hurricane and delays that likely drove up the proposal’s cost.

“Major League Baseball is pleased to welcome Patrick and his partners to the ownership ranks,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. “Their collective experience and passion for the game will serve the Rays well as they enter this exciting new chapter.”

Sternberg took control of the team from founding owner Vince Naimoli in November 2005 and rebranded it the Rays from the Devil Rays after the 2007 season. The Rays won AL East titles in 2008, 2010, 2020 and 2021 and twice reached the World Series, losing to Philadelphia in 2008 and to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.

Continue Reading

Trending