Unlocking History
Using extensive research culled from historical records, Inside CDCR explores the rich history of the people, places and programs that helped shape the modern state correctional system.
From retired CDCR Secretary Scott Kernan to Parole Agent Harvey Watson, some choose to follow the career paths of their...
As technology advances, the world tries to keep pace, including the state prison system. Today's incarcerated population has opportunities to...
Those who walk the toughest beat in the state deal with people who made very poor choices. From car thieves...
Rehabilitation and reentry have long been goals for corrections, even if it meant employment on a ship ferrying supplies to...
Read More About Early 1900s ship captain advocates parole, reentry
In the 1880s, John Joseph Smith worked on his father’s farm, but seeing a low return on investment, he decided...
Read More About Warden plants seeds of rehabilitation at Folsom prison farm
From Broadway actresses to silent screen stars, early performers tried to raise awareness about efforts to turn incarcerated people into...
Read More About Silent screen stars gave voice to rehabilitation
Joseph Wess Moore was a 15-year-old farm boy who joined the Union Army to fight in the Civil War. Decades...
Read More About Incarcerated Civil War veteran helps others earn parole
In 1913, Woodrow Wilson became the 28th President of the United States and the Ford Motor Company instituted the world’s...
Read More About San Quentin doctor pushes prison medicine into 20th century
Arts have long played a major role in rehabilitation efforts of California's incarcerated population and music is no exception. A...
Read More About Take a closer look at Preston’s Mother Lode Band
An anonymous letter from someone incarcerated at San Quentin led to performances from a band and world-famous escape artist Harry...