California state prisoners use the CDCR 602 form to file grievances. Here's a step-by-step guide to the process, deadlines, and common pitfalls.
California state prisoners file grievances using the CDCR 602 form (or CDCR 602-HC for healthcare grievances). The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has a two-level review process: first at the institution level, then at the headquarters level.
Submit the CDCR 602 to the Appeals Coordinator at your institution within 30 calendar days of the incident. The institution has 30 working days to respond at the first level and 30 working days at the second level.
If you are not satisfied with the institution's response, you can appeal to CDCR headquarters in Sacramento. This must be done within 30 calendar days of receiving the institution's final response.
Healthcare grievances use the CDCR 602-HC form and go through a separate process managed by California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS). The deadlines and procedures are similar but the forms and routing are different.
Our team of formerly incarcerated advocates and contributors with BOP and DOC experience gives you the right forms, deadline tracking, and step-by-step instructions — so you never miss a deadline.
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