San Quentin News

Valley State Prison holds inaugural YOP graduation

May 17, 2018 By Marcus Henderson

Valley State Prison (Chowchilla) celebrated a milestone earlier this year when it hosted its inaugural Youth Offender Program (YOP) graduation. The ceremony recognized 97 young prisoners who lived up … Read Full Article about Valley State Prison holds inaugural YOP graduation

The passion of running stretches beyond the prison walls

May 15, 2018 By Rahsaan Thomas

From the yard inside San Quentin State Prison, Chris Schuhmacher used to look up over the walls at Mt. Tam, thinking one day I’m going to get there. Now on parole, he’s arrived and he continues using … Read Full Article about The passion of running stretches beyond the prison walls

Solitary Watch offers inmates photographs beyond a gray wall

May 13, 2018 By Achilles Williams

The day he learned his solitary confinement would be extended, 17-year-old Benjamin Van Zandt killed himself in a New York prison. To bring awareness and bridge the gap between the public and those in … Read Full Article about Solitary Watch offers inmates photographs beyond a gray wall

Death Row inmate freed after serving more than 25 years

May 11, 2018 By Rahsaan Thomas

A man who spent 27 years on Death Row walked out the prison gates on April 17, 2018. “He appeared amazed to be on the other side of the wall,” Public Information Officer Lt. Sam Robinson said. About … Read Full Article about Death Row inmate freed after serving more than 25 years

Youth offenders graduate Pre-Apprentice Program

April 28, 2018 By William Tolbert

STOCKTON -- Ten youth offenders graduated with a marketable job skill after completing the first Pre-Apprentice Construction Labor Program at the N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility. After … Read Full Article about Youth offenders graduate Pre-Apprentice Program

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Legal Stories

June San Quentin West Block housing unit

“Tough On Crime” Billionaire Indicted

Henry Nicholas III, co-founder of Broadcom Corporation, was indicted on 21 charges including drug possessions, drug distribution, and spiking drinks of unknowing victims with the drug ecstasy. Nicholas is the one who funded the last minute effort […]

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SQ’s Law Libraries Serve All

San Quentin has two fully compliant law libraries plus three satellite partial law libraries to serve the prison’s diverse population. The Main Law Library is now located in a renovated section of the old laundry building on the lower yard […]

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Integrating Prison Cells

California’s prisons have long been integrated. Women’s housing, dining rooms, camps, classrooms, programs, work assignments, yards, visiting and dorms already have integration policies in place. The Integrated Housing Program will give us more versatility in housing male inmates, […]

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Executions Resume

On April 16, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that lethal injection as practiced in Kentucky is not “cruel and unusual punishment” under the U.S. Constitution. The case is […]

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Death Row Stories

Condemned Inmate Found Dead

Death row inmate Edward Dean Bridges, 55, dies Thursday morning of suicide. (Photo provided by California Department of Corrections)A condemned inmate at San Quentin State Prison was found dead in […]

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Appeals Court Upholds Death Penalty Delay

The 1st District Court of Appeal refused to overturn a Marin County judge’s ruling resulting in additional delays of executions at San Quentin State Prison. The Department of Corrections and […]

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Recent Deaths On the ‘Row’

Michael Dee Mattison, 55, received on death row from Los Angeles County on April 14, 1980, died of natural causes at an outside hospital facility on July 17, 2009. Fred […]

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Outside View of Death Row – Marin Magazine Takes a Stand

Nearly 700 convicted murderers await an execution at San Quentin State Prison, in the heart of Marin County. If just one of these men was executed by lethal injection a […]

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