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.
The first female correctional officers were hired to work in California's male prisons in the early 1970s. But, women have...
Since establishing the state prison system in the 1850s, good-hearted neighbors have voluntarily stepped inside to help the incarcerated population....
While working to earn his law degree, Walter Gordon Jr. became Berkeley's first African American police officer in 1919. Gordon...
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...
Connecting through shared experiences, especially holidays, is seen as part of the rehabilitation process. Since the early years at California's...
In 1891, three incarcerated men sat for their photos, later to become permanent records in the San Quentin archives. Each...
A piece of art came to Inside CDCR's attention. Originally believed to have been purchased at a San Francisco art...
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...