Public Confinement Review

A flyer was provided titled “Folsom State Prison Family Day Tour.” Subsequently, the following link was provided to access general information about Folsom State Prison: Link to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Folsom State Prison Website. The tour lasted approximately three hours and jurors inspected various living quarters, vocational facilities, and the exercise yard area. The “New” Folsom Prison, formally known as California State Prison, Sacramento, began operations on October 1, 1986, accepting inmates in the highest security levels. The Grand Jury toured “New” Folsom Prison on November 20, 2025. No written material was distributed during the tour, but subsequently the following link was provided to access general information about the “New” Folsom Prison: Link to the California State Prison, Sacramento Website. The tour lasted 2 to 3 hours and the Grand Jurors inspected the facilities and yard. Although located within the city limits of Folsom, the mailing address for both institutions lists Represa, California. 6 OPERATIONS “Old” Folsom is a minimum (level I) to medium (level II/III) security facility, while “New” Folsom is a maximum-security facility. “Old” Folsom offers various services and activities through the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (previously the Prison Industry Authority). During the tour, jurors were able to interact directly with inmates participating in various vocational training and work. An incident occurred in the exercise yard area while the jurors were touring and inmates complied with correctional officer orders. “Old” Folsom is well known as the sole site of automobile license plate production in California. There are additional vocational training and activities in welding, metalworking, Computer-Aided Design, forest firefighting, and Braille translation. The California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority has an employment placement program that works with many companies and employers seeking skilled workers in these and other trades, as well as with employers willing to hire people discharged from custody. “New” Folsom Prison is a distinct facility with its own leadership and staff. The inmate population at this facility needs the highest levels of security, which are Medium Security (level III), and Maximum Security (level IV). The rehabilitation opportunities and options are fewer at this facility compared to those at the “Old” Folsom Prison. When the Grand Jury toured, the “New” Folsom was under lockdown following an inmate-on-inmate incident in the exercise yard. PERSONNEL ”Old” Folsom has 550 sworn correctional officers, and 509 civilians. “New” Folsom has 912 sworn correctional officers and 584 civilians. POPULATION ”Old” Folsom has 2685 incarcerated inmates. “New” Folsom has 2158 incarcerated inmates. CONCLUSION Between “Old” and “New” Folsom Prisons, much effort is made to provide a safe environment and, to a degree, rehabilitation for a population ranging from minimum- security shorter-term inmates to those with the highest level of security needs, who may be incarcerated for many years.