San Quentin - Definition and Overview

San Quentin State Prison is located on 432 acres (1.7 km²) on Point Quentin in Marin County, California, north of San Francisco. San Quentin State Prison was opened in July 1852, and is the oldest prison in California. It was built by inmates who slept on the prison ship Waban overnight during the construction. San Quentin housed both male and female inmates until 1933 when the women's prison at Tehachapi was built. The state's male death row is located at San Quentin, as well as its only gas chamber.

Designed to house 3,317 inmates, it currently has nearly twice that number.

Johnny Cash famously performed to inmates live at San Quentin.

Metallica recorded the music video "St. Anger" at San Quentin.

Noted Inmates

• Stanley Williams - founder of the Crips street gang
• Sirhan Sirhan - assassin of Robert F. Kennedy
• George Jackson of the Black Panther Party
• Ramon Salcido - Sonoma County spree killer
• Richard Ramirez - serial killer alias the "Night Stalker"
• David Carpenter - the "Trailside Killer"
• Richard Davis - kidnaped and murdered Polly Klaas

• Note: As of December of 2004, Scott Peterson, convicted and sentenced to death by a jury for the murder of his wife, Laci and unborn son, Connor, is expected to be incarcerated on Death Row at San Quentin beginning in 2005.

Former Inmates

• Merle Haggard - The noted country singer, served 15 years time starting at age 19 for grand theft auto and armed robbery.
• Caryl Chessman - convicted sex offender, was given the death penalty in 1948 and executed in 1960.
• Charles Manson - leader of the Manson family. Transferred to Corcoran State Prison in 1989. [1] (http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/manson/25.html?sect=22)

External links

• California Department of Corrections: San Quentin State Prison (http://www.corr.ca.gov/InstitutionsDiv/INSTDIV/facilities/fac_prison_SQ.asp)
• rotten.com > Library > Crime > Prison > San Quentin State Prison (http://www.rotten.com/library/crime/prison/san-quentin/)