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.
Our fourth Cemetery Tales looks at farmer-turned-double-murderer George Biggs and Judah Benjamin, a self-proclaimed king. Both men ended up in...
Read More About Cemetery Tales: The farmer and a self‑appointed king
In our third installment of this year’s Cemetery Tales, we take a closer look at two men who died a...
Read More About Cemetery Tales: Strange, Noyer buried a century ago
Two cooks, incarcerated at different times and institutions, are the subjects of the second installment of this month’s Cemetery Tales....
A swindling dentist and a deadly feud between neighbors are the first featured stories in this month’s Cemetery Tales series....
Read More About Cemetery Tales: Swindling dentist; Deadly feud
A photograph taken seven years ago inside a shuttered youth facility has reunited a former incarcerated person with a trophy...
Read More About Photograph reunites former incarcerated youth with trophy
Just outside the granite walls of Folsom State Prison is the Big House Museum, boasting a collection rich in corrections...
Read More About Folsom Prison’s Big House Museum preserves history
On March 22, 2010, Terri Gonzalez became the first female warden at California Men's Colony (CMC). At the time, she...
Read More About Terri Gonzalez was first female warden at CMC
Juneteenth, the holiday marking when enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, came nearly two months after the Civil...
Caring for pets is one way to teach people how to be responsible while also offering companionship, whether inside or...
In this installment of Unlocking History, Inside CDCR takes a closer look at teachers and vocational instructors who made a...