California Judge Orders Investigation Into Whistleblower Report Alleging That State Falsified Data On Timely Treatment

On November 13, 2018, the judge overseeing California’s compliance with a consent decree to improve prison mental health care ordered an investigation of a whistleblower report submitted by the chief psychiatrist with the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The report, filed by Michael Golding, M.D., alleged that CDCR falsified data about its compliance with court-mandated deadlines for providing timely treatment to prisoners with mental illness. The court publicly released the report on October 31, 2018. The report was released just as the plaintiffs’ attorneys were prepared to enter an agreement with CDCR that would allow . . .