The view from death row
Posted: Friday, May 09, 2008 8:40 AM by Sarika Dani
Richard Adams, a producer in TODAY's Los Angeles bureau, visited California's San Quentin State Prison as part of this week's Access Granted: TODAY segment. Here, he offers observations from the trip.
It’s a view that people would pay millions for, but for now, it's reserved for those who would rather be almost anywhere else. California’s only Death Row happens to be located in one of the country’s most expensive real estate markets. Tucked into a cove of San Francisco Bay, the San Quentin State Prison offers panoramic views across the water, and of Marin County’s Mt. Tamalpais to the north. WATCH VIDEO
In Larkspur, the next town over, the average two-bedroom home costs more than a million dollars. One can only imagine the frustration and envy that real estate developers have felt over the years, looking over this 432-acre site that houses a prison complex. But there’s little chance this place will change hands anytime soon.
As the site of all the state’s executions, the prison is justly infamous for housing notorious killers and high-profile convicts. The list includes former Crips leader Stanley “Tookie” Williams, Richard Alan Davis (the man convicted of killing Polly Klaas), and serial killer Richard Ramirez, or the notorious “Night Stalker” of Los Angeles.
Scott Peterson is here too, but one gets the impression that people here are tired of talking about him. Contrary to some reports, some of the guards told us that Peterson has adjusted pretty well to prison life, and by this point has become just another guy on Death Row.
But the 654 prisoners on Condemned Row are only a small part of San Quentin’s population. The vast majority of inmates here are not considered the “worst of the worst.” With the exception of Condemned Row, San Quentin is not a maximum-security prison. In practical terms, that means that most inmates aren’t actually behind bars for most of the day. Some guys we met said they’re up and out of their cells by 6:30 in the morning and don’t come back until the 9 p.m. lockup. What do they do all day? Many have full-time jobs, (making furniture, for example). There are art classes to take, bands to play in, a full range of religious services – including a sweat lodge for those followers of the Native American Church – and even yoga.
Still, I must admit feeling a bit nervous at times, especially in the dining hall and in the dormitories where our camera crew is free to roam about and film amongst some 400 inmates. It's not like I expect anyone to hassle us, but there’s a nervous, edgy energy in the room, and it tends to follow the camera around. Also, I know we won’t be able to interview everyone, and I’m sure some people will end up feeling slighted.
In fact, the people we meet are friendly and happy to see us. I’m a little surprised by how many of the inmates we meet turn out to be fans of TODAY. (It probably shouldn’t have surprised me – our viewers really are everywhere.) One gentleman serving an indeterminate life sentence tells me that we’re his favorite morning show – he doesn’t bother with the others. Even if the Nielsen ratings people don’t count San Quentin, it feels good to know that we’re bringing this guy a piece of the outside world. (Like everyone else, he especially likes “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?”!)
