Inside San Quentin’s Death Row | KQED Newsroom

California has nearly 750 inmates on death row, more than any other state in the nation. The vast majority are in San Quentin. KQED and other media were recently granted a rare opportunity to tour the prison’s death row and speak with inmates. It was the first such tour in over a decade.

[@skips_tnikey5146]

The gang member forgot to mention he shot a 10 year old

[@benjiarehart2878]

"I've been in prison 35 years" A statement I pray I never have to say. I keep being a law abiding citizen, and hearing this just makes me want to be an even better person.

[@danni1993]

It cracks me up when I hear serial killers say "I don't believe in the death penalty". SMH.

[@Dino-Hrnic.]

Yea jodi arias said that 2 like no self awerness 0

[@boddared2426]

@Walter White alright Walter chill on the bean cakes.

[@orphanrafferty1955]

They actually give themselves the right to articulate that.

[@zachbills8112]

Seems like they know more about the act of killing than pretty much anyone else and know first hand how well it deters killing. Doesn't seem that ridiculous to me.

[@jasontruckinaround5033]

"I've made some friends in here but most of them are dead now💀"

[@cloakofanonymity]

Big tough gangster kills 4 including a 10 yr. old boy and he's scared to die. True definition of a coward.

[@11bravo82]

Yea well im pretty certain that 10 yr. old little boy was a little scared to die to, especially tortured by the hands of a murderous monster. Hold on! Let me ay the violin for this demand!

[@lltinyraggtime2459]

Bet he'll whoop yo ass and take yo booty you tell him that to his face!!!

[@dremunoz2600]

They usually are

[@PJES-tr8jx]

His from ROLLIN 20 bloods of south central LOs Angeles there was a feud going against the ES13 and this shit happen a lot of bloodshed

[@GuessMyName234]

Definitely

[@slip-yp6hg]

Once you read the convictions, you don't believe a word of their dribble.

[@hotlegshoolihan1779]

I like watching these vids before I walk into my shitty job. It makes me think I dont have it so bad. Besides, nobody is forcing me to be here. I can just walk out if I want to.

[@ruendyibarra2037]

That Charles Ray guy killed my 10 year old friend I clearly remember that day when the massacre happened I was there a couple of seconds after the shooting happened.

[@larrylechat3358]

I would rather die than spending my life in prison

[@b.e.2754]

Get busy livin or get busy dyin

[@chrisd4655]

Isn’t death row the best of both worlds?

[@jmc7365]

You say that but ask everyone on death row, death or prison most of them would say prison

[@LeeRaldar]

You lack patience lol.

[@jasonmitchell31680]

Pussy

[@carlista2010]

"Death row ain't no joke ,it can humble the hardest of prisoners".

[@geoffpoole483]

Unlike their victims the prisoners are alive to be humbled.

[@La_to_the_Bay]

You know life messed up when you jamming to a harmonica

[@Squadchieff]

La to the Bay marry me you’re gorgeous hahah

[@nappyhead187]

Right bout that lol

[@comanchedase]

La to the Bay fly home, fly home. Fly like a motherfucker! Fly home!

[@TerryCrodgedy]

La to the Bay ... unless youre sat on a riverbank in southwest england 😎🌾🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿✌️

[@trifulquita15]

dat gurl is absolutely rite 😐🎶

[@abelaldrich967]

this makes u realize our lives arent that bad Praise The Lord

[@matthewviramontes3131]

Everyone has a death penalty. Most of us just don't know how or when it's gonna happen.

[@anjdog2003]

What death penalty? Guys on death row 10,20 30, years.

[@t.m7999]

John Paul True!

[@mohamedisak1900]

In China you get a bullet in the back of the head once your sentenced to death. Probably 30 min after the verdict.

[@barryfohn4385]

It costs a lot of money to imprison these people. Then it costs money to execute them. By the time one of these people gets put down they have cost us taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Between court costs, which are astronomical, prison fees and execution fees it's insane. The other thing is that most of these people contributed nothing to the economy before they got convicted.

[@sp769]

I'll have to remember how hard it is for these guys when I'm on my way to work at 6am

[@canucksfan7332]

Working in construction is like a prison sentence hahaha

[@plutoplatters]

I love watching these videos when i'm feeling a tad bored. It makes me feel better.

[@ybj2x740]

plutoplatters same

[@chondominguez6995]

plutoplatters same here.

[@geraldfahey2681]

These guys are bummin

[@joefran619]

I feel so sorry for none of these killers.

[@leobasic2288]

2:16 that is a pretty good drawing i have to admit

[@JuiceOg1]

How can someone be on death row for over 30 yrs. hell thats just a life sentence lol wtf.

[@tesswilson7186]

Louisiana Like That Too🤦🏾‍♀️

[@optimisticcosmic]

Appeal process.

[@michaeldavis5775]

Send them to Texas! we have monthly executions here. California only executed 13 since 1978.

[@paradox9240]

"In a closed society where everybody is guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world full of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity." - Hunter S. Thompson

[@drewscagnetti6225]

Need more New prison footage in 2019 i miss MSNBC LOCKUP

[@drewscagnetti6225]

Thanks shout outz from Drewdogg87 Canada

[@eightysbaby8798]

Word. What happened to lockup raw. That's my shit. We were watching it in prison believe it or not.

[@federicobaena9405]

I still don''t understand why people avoid death row when being alive spending years in jail is more of a torture.

[@tamielestage1741]

Whoever put that happiest place on Earth thing on the wall is a sadistic. 🤣🤣🤣

[@NorCal-Killa]

Damn. Can’t live thinking I’ll get out, can’t live thinking I’ll stay for life, somehow I have to find a resolution for both. Those are some heavy f-kin words. I was looking at a life sentence and ended up getting an 11 year term and during that time I was at San Quentin twice, once for 3 months and again for 3 years. I can somewhat relate to this but simultaneously I cannot imagine the amount of stress these lifers have to live with. Jesus. My advice to anyone that is living a lifestyle that is leading you in that direction, is to take a step back and do a self examination. Prison is not the glorified place some make it out to be; that place is Hell

[@robertm2000]

It is not a matter of revenge. It is a matter of justice. There are crimes against property and crimes against people. The first, you can compensate your victims by replacing or paying for what you stole or broke. But If you change someone's life irrevocably, by murder, rape, egregious assaulty, and such, there is no compensation that you could give. The only way for you to provide to society anything close to what you owe is for your own life to cease.

[@GenuwineG]

Can’t wait to hear Chris Watts and Jodi Arias 30+yrs from now pleading 🥺

[@CanikPlease]

Not familiar with Jodi Aria's I'll have to Google it but I'm familiar with Chris watts fuck that prick.

[@bctesla]

FYI neither one got the death penalty

[@dantegood2195]

Osiris 56 - Surprised you never heard of Jodie Arias. That was one the biggest stories of the year. Her story was everywhere

[@XxchampaignxX]

Richard Ramirez was in there

[@ElectricWarior]

No doubt he is the one and only who deserved a death penalty, the rest are not true evil like ramirez.

[@jonhambo3979]

Chuck Norris you should google what the old man did.. 😂

[@bnwo]

Ramirez really played the part, too. He was a like a made for TV killer.

[@nicolairomanoff4652]

Do not justify the legitimacy of death-penalty when you killed mercilessly

[@kadz060]

It’s so funny how these ppl believe in god as soon as they caught

[@stever6894]

I wouldn't have a moral problem with executing most of those guys, but the problem is that the wrong people have been executed many times in the past. It's not an easy problem to fix, either. Lazy or incompetent cops are not that uncommon. Closing cases looks good on their records, leads to promotions, raises, status, etc.

[@ozkrpalminteri9431]

U take someone's life, they take yours. Even Steven baby, don't cry

[@t.m7999]

“I don’t think there should be a death penalty” says a serial killer.

[@user-xn9fe1jr6y]

I know what a joke he deserves nothing but the worst thing possible.

[@emilegriffith1473]

He wasnt a serial killer?

[@nancylotton7526]

I didn't hear one of these men claim to be innocent. Either get on with it, California, or do away with the death penalty. It is cruel to dangle justice before the families of the victims.

[@pocahontaspocahontas714]

What makes us different is we know right from wrong

[@jamalginsburg7277]

It's very important that they state why the inmates who they let speak are in prison. They are harmful to society. PERIOD.

[@HWYHOG1]

There's always an harmonica in jail.

[@KristenKimberly]

🤣😂😂 Ikr?

[@tylerdurden5150]

4:24 what kind of push up is that 😂

[@chrishulk1]

That prisoner at 0:39 directly in front of the camera with the CDCR prisoner printed Jacket is Scott Peterson the animal that killed his wife Laci and their unborn child on Christmas Eve 2002. I know this because a few seconds before this was filmed he was playing ball he then saw the film crew and turned his back and stopped playing in an effort to display that he was not involved in activities and as such was having a bad time in jail. He is very guilty of his awful crime as he's not very clever and was found living in his car with $15,000, dyed hair\beard with his brothers license. Actions of a man with no guilt? Eye right and I'm a China man. Scott had another woman that was bought up to speed by her friends telling her that her new boyfriend is all over the news for murder of his wife and and son. How lucky is she? He's about due to be executed soon which will hopefully give Laci's loved ones some kind of closure.

[@tina3102]

And i was about to post where is Scott Peterson. Horrible crime

[@kit2130]

That one guy got death row for sharpening a knife for the killer.

[@FrancisofMaine]

This is where Scott Peterson is. He deserves what he gets.

[@georgecorrea8530]

Why do they take so long to execute people on death ⚰️row. If someone is clearly guilty well why wait. I understand the appeals process but this is ridiculous inmates lingering in prisons for too long on taxpayer's expense.

[@proud2bpagan]

You realize how futile sentencing someone to death is when you realize that Scott Peterson will probably die of old age on death row.

[@ladylsacanada8837]

The length of time reflects the crime. Time to reflect on choices is a little too late after the fact. Sad but true!!

[@leep3935]

It’s such a shame these guys could’ve been such a positive impact on ppls lives It is encouraging though.... Some of the rehab stories are awesome

[@lucky5853]

The way i see it, is if you kill a member of the society you live in ,then such society has the right to protect its remaining members from you, unfortunately it is forced to eliminate such threat, in this way society is saving lives, not taking a life.

[@charliebubbles9501]

Personally I strongly object to my taxes being used to keep these creatures fed and housed for decades after they have admitted to murdering other people. Found guilty or admit guilt @10:00 am...shot in the head @10:15. We have to understand that we are not doing society any service by not executing these things.

[@Cvoor]

When you've been on death row 25 yrs, that is not a death sentence, other countries would laugh at us

[@natemcdonough5385]

35 years in a cage? Damn lol

[@mudimabiriani6467]

Nate McDonough My Age 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Uncleellroy]

My man said "hurted"

[@brianmeldon4564]

yes being a condemned man and dying of old age and the victims have no voice such a shame

[@crazyeric2327]

That micky mouse clock tho!! The happiest place in the world. Haha that's some piss take 😂👌

[@nicparker3809]

I love that clock.

[@nativearizona1]

I thought that was Disneyland!

[@kennethsouthard6042]

@@nativearizona1 well it's as close to Disneyland as any of these guys are ever going to get

[@jacobcrabbe9011]

@Mike Debrocky a joke

[@jacobcrabbe9011]

The clock is obviously there to mess with theyre heads or to idk lighten them up every time they walk past it

[@mikeraia2605]

He's no longer evil because he got caught and is locked up where he can't he evil no more

[@badmanarnie2456]

your clueless

[@jakegoodnight5660]

And you arent?? ^^

[@hardwirecars]

spoken like someone that has never been washed in the blood of the lord. there is hope there is grace when you feel you can't change God can change you but you have to allow it.

[@huntermurphy9017]

They’re on death row for a reason, and I don’t have any remorse for them. I know there is some in there that are innocent, there’s a decent percent of people in prison that are innocent.

[@haydencato6786]

So police kill the man you take hostage and you get charged with his murder. Loooooooool

[@williamlange6960]

regardless that inmate is 100 percent responsible for that mans death. He put that innocent man in that situation. He would still be alive had he not taken him hostage. Don't you get that? Not to mention shooting he also shot the clerkin the head and stabbed a security guard. Damn right he deserves death!

[@haydencato6786]

so i other words its a license to kill

[@haydencato6786]

***** dumb law

[@1MNUTZ]

No police accountability happens all the time the city just pays out a lawsuit using taxpayer money. It was a Sheriffs dept Sharpshooter that shot the guy after he thought he was the hostage taker

[@3ddiagnosis654]

Hayden Cato Yes, by law if someone dies in the commission of a crime the criminal is responsible. He wouldn't be dead if the suspect hadn't grabbed him.

[@sirismart9541]

I went on a tour of this prison. The Warden was a CoWorker's Father. Went out on the yard, talked to many inmates, & saw Death Row. I wasn't afraid of them.

[@rogerbarrett7701]

In 1968, Johnny Cash gave a live concert at San Quentin Prison. That's where he performed the song "A Boy Named Sue". The song is based on a true story! Read up.

[@chsjenkins]

I didn't know the old man from Jurrasic Park was such a pervert. The more you know.

[@donjohnson9066]

I thought my life was shit these blokes take the cake

[@rickyray2794]

Which California Prison has the rooftop yards?

[@dragon672]

"I WAS an evil person". But I'm all good now.

[@whatsgoingon07]

Dragon 67 you don’t believe in redemption?

[@naui_diver9290]

Found jeebus trist ad mide lawb n sabeya

[@eddamonsta4887]

Hell na he still a killer Karma is a bitch there all doomed

[@nativearizona1]

Yeah they all see the light in there !

[@dfwboxingisback9173]

13 have been executed since 1978? Wow. Here in Texas we do 13 every 3-4 months. Real shit.

[@mikeheck7485]

"Don't mess with Texas"

[@damonbigsbyschannel7948]

@4:32 I remember hearing about the sunset strip killer

[@razbitshit]

didnt know clark douglas was there and I watched a few documenteries about him

[@2serveand2protect]

"I am no longer evil? - Why?? - because I accepted Jesus Christ!" Yeah - right! My fucking heart bleeds. :D

[@witheringliberal2794]

I know this won’t be popular, but I don’t think we are getting it right as a society if we can’t provide a path for redemption. That includes even the worst of us.

[@sissyblackwidowspider7529]

I always wonder if this change of heart would have happened if they never got cought ?

[@fenwaypark1725]

Hard to believe Randy Kraft is still living there. He didn’t admit to the dead marine that was beside him in his car. Body count- 60 something.

[@TerryCrodgedy]

2:52 min Absolutely

[@isaurodominguez6055]

But each and one of you are still alive and breathing and the people you killed or not And the suffering you caused I’m sorry but you deserve what you get

[@geoffpoole483]

Exactly. They're not in there for unpaid speeding tickets.

[@florentinosalinas3623]

At least they admit they made a mistake and they have to pay te consequences

[@selenavelez3550]

I can't even imagine

[@beniteztheconman]

Wow that is douglas clark now...was watching the sunset strip madness the other day.

[@riririri5472]

Richard Ramirez was living there???

[@magicpelo9258]

Yes.

[@eduardoa41]

I can’t believe I have a family in death roll at that same place uhh what a place to spend your whole entire life.

[@Iceis_Phoenix]

Sean Penn was in there his cell was next to Ramires. Penn hated Ramires. Madonna loved Ramires 😆

[@deanmark6176]

Once you end another persons life you have lost all and any rights you had. Do these killers expect sympathy because they feel bad about killing?

[@ManahManah77]

The fact that someone can sit on death row for 20 years is enough evidence to show that the system is a mess. The waiting can be torture for the victim's family. That being said, with all of the people who have been (and are still being) exonerated, we don't want to go too fast and execute the wrong people. Maybe we just shouldn't have a death penalty until our society evolves to the point where it can be carried out humanely, without error, and efficiently.

[@shaunaghroberts3226]

I'm happy to think in my mind that this is Scott Peterson's Home 👌😃

[@Yorkie610]

I thought the thumbnail was Tom hardy LOL

[@maureenwatson683]

I often wonder what goes wrong in a person's life for them to kill, shoot, rape etc nobody is born bad, some take the wrong path in life, but something as to trigger them to be so bad, it's sad to see a young person who is doing OK in life to turn into a monster

[@steviejanowski2439]

Isnt that the dude from Jurassic Park?

[@ballantine58]

LMAO

[@ZzzZzz-fg9hx]

Stevie, is that my fucking underwear??

[@kennethsouthard6042]

He is a pretty bad dude who ever he is given the fact that his cell in that white room is what's known as The Adjustment Center. The adjustment Center is like a prison within a prison with in death row. Given that he's been there since 1980s any silly adjustment Center he's got some issues over and above the rest of the death row inmates.

[@grahamallen934]

They get Convicted for Murder... And then get handed down the Death Sentence 💀.. But they then sit and wait for years in jail knowing there fate.. No way out...That's why alot of Suicides happen in that jail...It costs a lot of money to house these criminals... Carry out the Execution Sooner rather than later..

[@ronniebishop2496]

They didn’t keep Alvin Karpis in Alcatraz but 30 years and he got patrolled and he was just the leader of the Bloody Barker gang in on multiple murders and everything else. It’s crazy!!!

[@deeplover3359]

Every time I feel like shit or don’t feel good about my life I pack a fat ass bowl pack grab my bag of Doritos with a nice beer and watch prison documentaries to remind me that life ain’t all that bad

[@olivastallonechannel4444]

It's so important to protect mind I just put my trust in God. I was close to get into this.

[@cahmon3y338]

Holy shit the sun strip killer seems like he could be anyone's loving grandpa

[@macanmurda2001]

It costs 100k more to house a death row inmate then a regular inmate serving life , an I have been to Quentin an heard 3 or more guards telln me this

[@sbrother176]

and yet dirty cops that kill innocent civilians get a leave from the job or worst case scenario gets fired and never charged and put in jail.

[@Modellux]

@@thecoffeehouse5714 he has a Point you Moron. Continue being a good little Slave in this Police State.

[@bonescdxx]

@@Modellux The only point he has is that HE is the moron. As for you, keep drinking your antifa kool-aid, dumbass

[@joebates2368]

Ole dude playing a harmonica to pass the time.

[@samdatech]

When you killed 4 women.. I'm sure someone gave him that eye patch in prison

[@KristenKimberly]

We can only hope so. Smh 🙏🏽

[@zoesdada8923]

Everyone who goes to jail "finds" Jesus. It's so rediculous it's a damn joke.

[@nickie7874]

If they'd of known him BEFORE they did the crime, they might be free today. Jesus makes a difference.

[@reeses5212]

Does anybody know if Richard Ramirez was allowed to go outside?

[@magicpelo9258]

If I'm not wrong, I think he was allowed but at the end of his life, he didn't want anymore to go out of his cell.

[@tracyquick166]

No one should spend 30 or more years waiting on executions speed the process up this is inhuman

[@canucksfan7332]

For a second I felt kinda bad until I read what they did lol

[@RSTI191]

Amazing how only at the end of the line does one find God.

[@MrsBraxtonChrist]

That's everyone babe, we all fall short, some just get caught up in devastating situations, I absolutely feel your statement though

[@_knighted]

These are people that have done horrible things, but they are still people like you and me, and people can change. I hope we find a better solution in the future.

[@keith3915]

Damn right. I don't care what they "deserve", putting someone in a cell for 30 years awaiting their death is wrong.

[@eddyspagetti9899]

what about the victims, and victim's families? what about justice for them? Until you've had an INNOCENT loved one murdered in cold blood, you shouldn't speak on their behalf.

[@keith3915]

"Justice" is such a human thing though. What matters is what is objectively right. Hell, you should agree with us. If the family really suffers from the inmate being alive then why would they lock them up for decades in solitary confinement while using your tax money to do so? Death row is such a horrible system and it shouldn't exist. Oh and speaking of innocent people murdered, 4-5% of death row inmates are innocent. State sanctioned murder is no better than any other form of murder.

[@eddyspagetti9899]

"locking them up for decades" …? so, you are against the lengthy appeals process ? Are you suggesting the condemned be killed immediately..no due process? Death row inmates aren't in 'the hole'. They may be kept separate from gen. pop., but they aren't in 'solitary'. lol..you say "objectively right" …? what the hell does that mean? Are you the 'authority' on what is 'right' ?

[@keith3915]

I don't personally think they should be handed a death sentence, but keeping them in cells awaiting their death is the most immoral thing we could do. There absolutely should be due process, what kind of a dumbfuck would think otherwise? No they aren't technically in 'the hole' but are put under the same conditions, and can be sent to actual solitary at any time. And you are contradicting yourself. If I was the authority on what is right, it would be subjective. You clearly have no clue what the word objective means.

[@oneanddone7992]

What an uplifting place to work.

[@davidjohnson3103]

So sad that these people didn't find Jesus BEFORE they committed these heinous acts.....but they can still be saved if they truly love and belong to HIM.

[@vsonic86]

Been to the prison up to 35 years and yet still isn't released. How fuck up is that?

[@thomasnorman9536]

Count time count time stand at your cell bars with your cell lights on count time