CDCR – Folsom State Prison (FSP)

CDCR – Folsom State Prison (FSP) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 916-985-2561

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Folsom State Prison located at 300 Prison Rd in Represa, CA are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

Folsom State Prison (FSP), is California's second-oldest prison located next door to the California State Prison at Sacramento, both are managed by the CDCR for adult male state felons in Represa CA primarily designated to Medium Security General Population Level II institutions.

Folsom also houses Minimum Security Level I male inmates within a minimum-security facility located just outside of the main security perimeter. Folsom offers Rehabilitative programs, to include academic courses and career technical education, which are provided through Folsom’s Greystone Adult School. Until recently, Folsom only housed male offenders, now it has begun housing women in a separate stand-alone facility.

Folsom prison as the subject of a Johnny Cash song entitled "Folsom Prison Blues". This facility has also housed some of the most infamous inmates including, Suge Knight, Rick James, and Charles Manson. This facility is responsible for manufacturing the vast majority of California license plates. This institution has also been an on-site filming location for several movies. Folsom Prison has a rich history and dates back to the late 1800s, it was also the first correctional facility ever to have electricity.

CDCR – Folsom State Prison (FSP) – Visitation Guide
CDCR – Folsom State Prison (FSP) – Inmate Packages
CDCR – Folsom State Prison (FSP) – Parole Information

Inmate Programs

• PIA: License Plate Factory, Sign Shop, Furniture Shop, Metal Fabrication, Print Shop and Digital Services (Mapping).
• PIA Modular Building Enterprise and Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
• Vocational: Masonry, Building Maintenance, Office Services, Welding, (AWS Standards), and Auto Mechanics (ASE Certification).
• Academic: Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Education Development, (GED), Adult High School (AHS), English as a Second Language.
• Other Programs: Correctional Learning Network (CLN), Community Crews, Self Help Groups (AA/NA), Youth Diversion, Parenting, Fitness For Life, Healthful Living, Parenting, Library, correspondence courses, Military Veteran's Group, and college programs.
• Alpha Re-Entry Program: Offers life skills that include parenting, a celebration of recovery, alcohol, drug, and other addictive behaviors, preparing inmates for re-entry into their families and communities.
• California New Start Prison to Employment Transition Program: A pre-release employment program for eligible inmates. The program consists of a 4-week 70-hour curriculum consisting of: transition planning, job search techniques, job applications, resume writing, interview preparation, financial literacy, and One-Stop Career Center orientation.

DRP Programs

CDCR's Division of Rehabilitative Programs offers a wide range of programs for inmates. See which programs are offered at this institution.

Family Liaison Service Specialist

CDCR provides through a contract with a community-based organization an on-site Case Manager as a family reunification liaison for inmates and family members, to assist with an inmate's pre-release preparation; and conduct Parenting and Creative Conflict Resolution classes for inmates. Please call the Institution to contact the Family Reunification Liaison.

visitation Info

CDCR – Folsom State Prison (FSP) – Visitation

Visiting a CDCR facility must be conducted in a manner that maintains order, safety, and security of the people and facility. Failure to comply with the established regulations and policies may result in a warning or termination, suspension, or revocation of your visiting privileges.

Recommended Steps Before Visiting:

1. Read Visitation Guidelines to understand what you can expect and what is expected of you
2. Find out in which facility your inmate is housed
3. Schedule a visit online using the VPASS system
4. The day of your scheduled visit, check the Visiting Status to ensure the institution is accepting visitors

 Visitation Guidelines

• Guidelines for Visiting Adult Prisons 
• Guidelines for Visiting Juvenile Facilities

Refer to the Department's current policies and regulations in Title 15and the Department Operations Manual if you want to know more.

 Locate Inmate

Use the Inmate Locator to find an inmate and what facility they are housed in.

 Schedule Visit

Sign-up or log into VPASS to schedule an inmate visit. VPASS stands for Visitor Processing Appointment Scheduling System. Note: this requires creating an online account.

 Check Visiting Status

You can find out the visiting status of a CDCR facility in one of two ways:

• Call the Visiting Status Hotline at 1-800-374-8474
• Check the VPASS Visiting Status; locate the facility you plan to visit.

You should always do this the day you plan to visit, because visitation can sometimes be unexpectedly cancelled.