Case Study: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation achieves paperless, streamlined HR workflows with DocuSign

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Embraces a Paradigm Shift with DocuSign eSignature

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), a 63,000‑employee agency with roots dating to 1851, faced a deeply entrenched reliance on paper-based processes across 35 facilities. When COVID-19 forced rapid digitization, EIS Manager Dave Howley stepped up as the agency’s DocuSign administrator to replace wet signatures and paper workflows with electronic alternatives, while building governance, training and a prioritized rollout plan.

CDCR implemented DocuSign eSignature starting with high‑volume timesheets and expanded to HR forms, vaccine consent PowerForms for 23,000 employees, bulk sends for facility closures and even electronically signed search warrants. With intensive training, a growing template library and close partnership with DocuSign’s success team, adoption jumped from a few hundred envelopes to tens of thousands, eliminated paper record retention for timesheets and delivered faster, more scalable workflows—targeting 20,000 monthly users by Q1 2022.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Dave Hawley

EHS Manager & Agency DocuSign Administrator