Folsom State Prison
The Folsom State Prison is a federal prison in Folsom in the U.S. state of California. It lies about 30 km from the California capital Sacramento.
It is one of 33 prisons operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ( CDCR ). In 2006, the prison housed about 4000 prisoners and had approximately 1,000 employees, of whom about 600 law enforcement officers.
History
1858 gave the Californian government permission for the building of the prison; with the construction of the building on the American River began in 1878, the opening took place on 26 July 1880, 44 prisoners who were transferred from the neighboring prison San Quentin.
The Folsom State Prison in San Quentin is the oldest prison in California and was in the time after the gold rush infamous for the harsh treatment of prisoners. It was one of the first high-security prisons in the U.S.; 93 prisoners were hanged between 13 December 1895, the December 3, 1937 here, after the executions in the gas chamber at San Quentin were made. Today, the prison prisoners predominantly medium security houses.
The license plate of the State of California have been manufactured since the 1930's in Folsom State Prison; The facility also houses a metal factory, a printing shop and a museum.
Famous prisoners
The most famous prisoners of Folsom State Prison were Charles Manson and Erik Menendez, the psychologist Timothy Leary, actor Danny Trejo, the radio musician Rick James, hip- hop producer Suge Knight and the figurehead of the Hells Angels Sonny Barger.