300 Prison Road
Represa, CA 95671
P.O. Box 71
Represa, CA 95671
(916) 985-2561
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Folsom
State Prison - Mission Statement
California's second oldest prison, Folsom primarily
houses medium security
Level II and III inmates. Inside its walled security perimeter
encompasses four general population cell blocks and an Administrative
Segregation Unit. This portion of the prison includes one of the
state's best-known prison industries, the license plate factory. Folsom
Prison also operates a minimum-security unit and a transitional
treatment facility.
Institution Statistics
Folsom State Prison was opened in 1880, and covers 40
acres. As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, the following statistics apply:
|
Number of custody staff:
|
623
|
|
Number of support services staff:
|
376
|
|
Total number of staff:
|
999 | |
Designed Bedspace & Count
|
|
Facility
Level
|
Design
Capacity
|
Count
|
|
I
|
264
|
794
|
|
II
|
754
|
583
|
|
III
|
955
|
2,443
|
|
Ad Seg
|
92
|
203
|
|
Total
|
2,065
|
4,023 |
Special Historical Notes
The California Legislature authorized the
construction of Folsom State Prison in 1858. Twenty years later, in
1878, construction began on one of the nations first maximum-security
prisons. On July 26, 1880, Folsom received its first 44 inmates. The
inmates were transferred by boat from San Quentin State Prison to
Sacramento and then by train from Sacramento to the prison.
Folsom State Prison's location was selected due to
an unlimited amount of native granite stone for building the prison.
Also, the American River offered ample water and formed a natural
boundary. Inmate laborers built the first dam and canal on the
American River, which led to the first hydroelectric power generation
for the Sacramento area.
Originally designed to hold inmates serving long sentences,
habitual criminals, and incorrigibles, Folsom State Prison quickly gained the reputation
of being the end of the line.
Prior to the completion of the granite wall in the 1920's, the prison
witnessed numerous escape attempts; the first one occurring shortly
after the first inmates arrived in 1880. Throughout Folsom's violent
and bloody history, numerous riots and escape attempts have resulted in
both inmate and staff deaths.
The Folsom Museum is located near the entrance of
Folsom Prison. Run solely through the support of volunteers, the museum
contains an abundance of documents and artifacts from throughout
Folsom's long and colorful history.
INMATE PROGRAMS
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PIA:
Administration, license plate factory, maintenance, metal fabrication, sign shop, and furniture factory.
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Vocational:
Auto body & fender, auto mechanics, building maintenance, electronics, graphic arts, janitorial, landscape
gardening, masonry, mill and cabinet, office services, and welding.
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Academic: Adult
Basic Education, High School/GED, English as a Second Language,
Literacy Program, Computer Assisted Instruction.
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Other:
Community Service Crews, Youth Diversion Program, Religious Program, Folsom Project for the visually impaired, Arts in
Corrections.
VISITATION and DIRECTIONS
Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.
Friday: 12:00 noon to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Visitor Processing begins 1/2 hour prior to each day's visiting start
time and ends 1 hour prior to each day's visiting closing time. For
information regarding Administrative Segregation Appointments or
lock-down information, please call Folsom State Prison's main telephone
number at (916) 985-2561 and follow the prompts for visiting
information.
Directions:
From Sacramento:
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Take Hwy 50 east to
Folsom Blvd exit
Turn left on Folsom Blvd.
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Continue 2.7 miles
past three traffic lights until you see Natoma Street
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Turn right on Natoma
Street
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Follow Natoma Street
for approx. 1.5 miles through numerous stop signs and traffic lights (note:
watch for the Police Station on your left)
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Pass the Police Station and make a left turn at the next light. There will be a
"Folsom State Prison" sign.
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Follow the Prison
Road until you reach the parking lots on your left
CAUTION: There is a RIGHT turn on Prison Road at the flag pole
DO NOT turn right unless you intend to go to CSP-Sacramento
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Park your vehicle in
the far left parking lot. If you have a Handicap License Plate or Placard,
there is designated Handicap parking available in the right parking lot.
-
The Visitor
Processing is the building next to the parking log. Please report here for
visitor processing.
Folsom State Prison
is located 25 miles East of Sacramento, and approximately 100 miles North East
of San Francisco. For additional
directions, go to