Reports & Research
Condemned Inmate Complex Project
- Purpose and Need for the Project
- Project Description
- Environmental Review
- Public Review Period
- Public Hearing
- What should you do?
Also see Related Links in the navigation panel at left for a link to the full text of the EIR
Purpose and Need for the Project
San Quentin was established in July 1852 at Point Quentin in Marin County on approximately 432 acres. San Quentin’s first condemned row was established in 1893. North Block was built in 1934 and housed all males sentenced to death in the State of California. San Quentin’s original condemned unit was designed to house 68 inmates based on California demographics and average stay of a condemned inmate (less than 3 years) when the facility was first established.
Even though San Quentin State Prison has the capacity to house over 6,200 inmates, today, San Quentin State Prison houses approximately 5,850 total inmates, which includes California’s condemned male population. The prison includes a reception center that houses approximately 3,000 new commitments and a main facility that houses approximately 600 condemned inmates, approximately 1,900 medium and low security inmates, and approximately 265 minimum security inmates.
As a result of today’s lengthy sentence and appeal process and the increase in number of individuals convicted under the sentence of death, the number of condemned inmates has exceeded the reasonable design capacity of facilities suitable for this use. Court intervention has also resulted in the classification of condemned inmates based on the level of management required, escape risk, and level of allowed interaction, all resulting in the need for additional condemned facilities.
The condemned inmate population largely consists of violent and aggressive individuals that must be separated from the remainder of the inmate population. Because of the aggressive nature of these individuals, condemned inmates should be classified and housed in small, manageable groups that are physically separated from one another. However, the design of San Quentin State Prison and the growing population of condemned inmates in California have forced the California Department of Corrections (CDC) to house condemned inmates in four separate housing areas with other institutional inmates rather than in one isolated and managed area. Furthermore, the design of the existing facilities provides physical barriers limiting the ability of CDC to maintain the appropriate controls, separation, and security required to house condemned male inmates.
To address these issues, CDC has determined that a new housing complex and associated support facilities should be built to house the condemned male inmate population at San Quentin State Prison.
Project Description
CDC proposes to construct a new condemned inmate complex (CIC) on approximately 40 acre site on the westerly side of the grounds San Quentin State Prison. The facility would be constructed in an area currently developed with minimum security, warehouse, and other support buildings. The CIC would include 1,028 cells capable of housing up to 1,408 condemned male inmates at maximum capacity. Facilities will be designed to provide maximum security and will be within a secured perimeter that includes a lethal electrified fence. Primary access to the site will be from the existing Main Gate in San Quentin Village.
The proposed CIC would consist of two semi-autonomous maximum-security facilities providing a total of approximately 618,000 square-feet of housing, service, and support space. The CIC would be separated from the rest of the prison by an outer patrol road, electrified fencing and an inner patrol road.
Environmental Review
As Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), CDC has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) that discusses the potential for significant environmental impacts from building a new CIC. CDC has identified the following areas where the Project may have an impact on the environment: Visual Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Land Use and Planning, Cultural Resources, Earth Resources, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Noise, Employment, Population and Housing, Public Services and Utilities and Transportation. Alternatives to the project consist of the No Project Alternative, Offsite Location Alternative and the San Quentin Vision Plan/Relocation of SQSP Alternative. Click on the Environmental Impact Report to review the Draft EIR.
Public Review Period
In compliance with CEQA, CDC has established a 45-day public review period beginning September 28, 2004, to solicit comments and input on the DEIR. To ensure that all environmental issues are fully identified and adequately addressed, written comments are invited from all interested parties. Written comments regarding the scope and content of information in the DEIR, or any questions regarding the DEIR, should be submitted no later than November 12, 2004, to:
Ms. Cher Daniels
Supervising Environmental Planner
California Department of Corrections
Facilities Management Division
501 J Street, Room 3004
P.O. BOX 942883-0001(mail only)
(916) 323-0731
Alternatively, comments can be submitted via e-mail to the following address: SQSPDEIRComments@edaw.com
Responses to comments received during the 45-day public review period will be included in the Final EIR.
Public Hearing
Public hearing on the proposed project and DEIR will be held at the following time and location:
November 4, 2004
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Marin County Civic Center
Board of Supervisors Chambers, Room 330
3501 Civic Center Drive
San Rafael, CA 94903
Individuals who require special accommodations (American Sign Language Interpreter, special seating, documents in alternative formats, etc) are asked to contact Cher Daniels, at (916) 323-0731 at least 10 days prior to the public hearing to help ensure availability. TDD users may contact the California Relay Service at 711.
What should you do?
Please review the DEIR. We welcome your comments. If you have concerns regarding the proposed project, please attend the Public Hearing or send in written comments by mail or by email. Copies of the DEIR and all documents referenced in the DEIR are available for public review during regular business hours at the office of CDC identified above (501 J Street, Room 304). Copies of the DEIR are also available for public review at the following locations and at the local planning departments as shown below:
City of Larkspur
Planning Department
400 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur, California 94939
(415) 927-5110
County of Marin
Community Development Department
3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 308
San Rafael, California 94903
(415) 457-2801
Corte Madera Public Library
707 Meadowsweet Dr.
Corte Madera, Ca 94925
(415) 924-3515
City of San Rafael
Community Development Department
1400 Fifth Avenue (3rd Floor of City Hall)
San Rafael, California 94901
(415) 485-3085
San Rafael County Library
1100 E. Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 485-3323
Larkspur Public Library
400 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur, CA 94939
(415) 927-5005