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The Unlocking History series uses extensive research culled from historical records while CDCR Time Capsule republishes historical documents as originally written.
The first female correctional officers maintained public safety while overcoming challenges from leaders, coworkers and incarcerated.
Read More About First female Correctional Officers opened doors
San Quentin State Prison is well known today but during its early days, the prison was known by a different...
Read More About San Quentin wasn’t always known by current name
A correctional system established in the California Gold Rush was upended by an unlikely source – the infamous Yacht Bandit...
Read More About 1940s Yacht Bandit scandal shaped today’s CDCR
A 1938 mural at Folsom State Prison is beginning to show its age but behind the scenes, volunteers are trying...
Read More About Retired Folsom Prison staff try to restore historic chapel mural
Nearly 70 California Department of Corrections (CDC) employees from throughout the state gathered on May 20, 2005, on the West...