San Quentin State Prison

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 were housed on the prison ship Waban during the construction. San Quentin held both male and female inmates until 1933 when the women's prison at Tehachapi was built.

Former inmates

• Caryl Chessman - Convicted sex offender, was given the death penalty in 1948 and executed in 1960.
• Juan Corona- Convicted of killing 25 people and sentenced to life without parole. Transferred to Corcoran State Prison.
• Merle Haggard - The noted country singer, sentenced to 15 years time (he served 3 years) starting at age 19 for grand theft auto and armed robbery.
• George Jackson of the Black Panther Party, killed in San Quentin in 1971.
• Charles Manson - Leader of the Manson family. Transferred to Corcoran State Prison in 1989. http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/manson/25.html?sect=22
• Kevin Mitchel - Age 12; the youngest prisoner in California history (Incarcerated 2003)
• Wallace Fard Muhammad - Founder of the Nation of Islam.
• Sirhan Sirhan - Assassin of Robert F Kennedy. Has since been transferred to Corcoran State Prison.
• Actor Danny Trejo.

Source for all inmates: Los Angeles Times Article: "San Quentin"

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