San Quentin State Prison (SQ)
Robert L. Ayers, Jr., Warden
San Quentin, CA 94964
(415) 454-1460
San Quentin State Prison - Mission Statement
San Quentin is California's oldest and best known correctional institution. The prison today includes a reception center for new commitments, a parole violator unit, general population units, and a minimum security work crew unit. The state's only gas chamber and death row for all male condemned inmates are located at San Quentin.
Institution Statistics
San Quentin State Prison was opened in July 1852, and covers 432 acres. As of Fiscal Year 2006/2007, the following statistics apply:
Special Historical Notes
San Quentin was established in July 1852 at Point Quentin in Marin county as an answer to the rampant lawlessness in California at the time. During its construction, inmates slept on the prison ship, the Waban, at night and labored to build the new prison during the day. San Quentin housed both male and female inmates until 1933 when the women's prison at Tehachapi was built.
Inmate Programs
- PIA: Furniture manufacturing, mattress manufacturing
- Vocational: Dry cleaning, electrical, graphic arts and printing, landscaping, machine shop, plumbing, sheet metal
- Academic: Adult Basic Education, High School/GED, Pre-Release, English as a Second Language, Literacy Program
- Other: Community Service Crews, Youth Diversion, Religious, Arts in Corrections, Victim Awareness, Drug Treatment/Diversion, Joint Venture, Computers for Schools, Eyeglass recycling, Bicycle repair
Family Reunification Liaison:
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.Visiting Hours and Directions
Non-Legal Visiting Schedule
Thursday
Visiting Staff Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday
(Condemned and Reception Center)
Visiting Staff Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
General Population: H-Unit and North Block will be
visiting
in the Main Visiting Room (no Ranch visiting).
Processing starts at 1:30 p.m. and stops at 2:30 p.m. for count.
General population visiting hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
Visiting Staff Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
non-contact
12:30 p.m.
non-contact
12:30 p.m.
9:45 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m.,
12:15 p.m., 12:30 p.m.
(North Segregation)
10:45 a.m.
Attorney Visiting Schedule
Monday thru Wednesday
12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
Thursday
12:30 p.m.
Friday
Visiting Assistance:
A CDCR funded Visitor Center is at the institution operated by a community-based organization under contract to CDCR. The Visitor Center provides visiting assistance to family members and friends including a sheltered place to wait before and after visits, transportation to and from local transit terminals, childcare, clothing appropriate for visits on loan, and information about local resources, visiting rules and regulations.For information on how to get to San Quentin State Prison, visit this link to customize your driving directions.