San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
San Quentin, California, United States
San Quentin State Prison is California's oldest correctional institution, located on the shore of San Francisco Bay in Marin County. It formerly housed the state's only male death row.
At a glance
- Security / category
- Maximum
- Operator
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- Capacity
- 3,082
- Opened
- 1852
- Type (listing)
- Male Adult
What type of prison is San Quentin Rehabilitation Center?
Official listing data describes San Quentin Rehabilitation Center as Male Adult under Maximum security.
Overview
San Quentin State Prison is California's oldest correctional institution, located on the shore of San Francisco Bay in Marin County. It formerly housed the state's only male death row.
History
Opened in 1852, San Quentin is the oldest prison in California. Built aboard the prison ship Waban, it has a rich and complex history spanning over 170 years. In 2023, Governor Newsom announced plans to transform the facility into a rehabilitation centre.
Notable Inmates
San Quentin has housed many notable inmates including Charles Manson, Sirhan Sirhan, Scott Peterson, and Richard Ramirez. The prison's death row held some of California's most infamous criminals.
Prison Life
San Quentin is known for its numerous rehabilitation programmes including the San Quentin News newspaper, coding bootcamps, college degree programmes, and various arts initiatives.
How to visit San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Visiting hours are on weekends and holidays. Visitors must be on the prisoner's approved visitor list and must present valid photo identification. Visit arrangements vary by facility, so always confirm directly before booking.
Planning a prison visit to San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Most jurisdictions require you to book visits through an official channel, and slots can fill quickly. Read the establishment’s published visitor rules well ahead of time—ID, dress codes, and what you may bring are not standardised across sites. Expect real differences between prisons: what applies at one location may not apply at another, even within the same country.
For a step-by-step overview, read how prison visits work — then confirm every rule with the operator for this establishment.
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center facility details
Postal address and telephone lines are not listed for this profile. Use the official establishment or government prison finder for up-to-date contact details.
Where is San Quentin Rehabilitation Center located?
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center is based in San Quentin, in the California area of United States. Coordinates: 37.9396, -122.4862.
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