CDCR History
CDCR California prison history explores the stories of the people, places and programs that shaped the current state penal system. Within the CDCR History category, there are two sub-categories. The Unlocking History series uses extensive research culled from historical records while CDCR Time Capsule republishes historical documents as originally written.
Richard "Dick" Nelson began his career as a Correctional Officer at Folsom State Prison in 1959. He retired in 1998...
As part of an ongoing effort to tell the forgotten stories of early prison staff, Inside CDCR takes a closer...
Read More About Guard HC Herrill exemplified community involvement
Connecting through shared experiences, especially holidays, is seen as part of the rehabilitation process. Since the early years at California's...
Read More About Revisiting spirit of prison Christmases past
In 1891, three incarcerated men sat for their photos, later to become permanent records in the San Quentin archives. Each...
Read More About San Quentin archives: Accountant, teen, Civil War veteran
A mid-1990s report penned by San Quentin Associate Warden Dick Nelson looks closer at the inmate identification numbering system and...
Read More About By the numbers: History of the inmate numbering system
During the 1980s and '90s, California expanded the prison system. The original 12 prisons were supplemented with new facilities ranging...
Read More About Photo Timeline: CSP‑Corcoran activated in 1988
A piece of art came to Inside CDCR's attention. Originally believed to have been purchased at a San Francisco art...
Read More About Behind the Photo: SF Giants artwork from Folsom Prison
CDCR's photographic archive often leaves staff with more questions than answers. One such photo is that of First Lady Eleanor...
Correctional Officer Charles H. Jolly gave up his first career as a grocer after a devastating fire destroyed the Folsom...
Read More About Officer Jolly walked toughest beat for 33 years
Tiburcio Vasquez, an outlaw who plundered Central and Southern California for two decades, may owe his capture to a long...
Read More About Notorious bandit’s fate tied to failed Army camel corps