Governor Gavin Newsom praises progress in transforming San Quentin State Prison

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that a major milestone had been reached in the transformation of San Quentin State Prison into a new education and rehabilitation facility.

Newsom first went public with his plan to transform San Quentin into a rehabilitation and reintegration facility last March.

Built in 1852, the facility is California's oldest prison and once housed the largest active death row in the United States. The last execution at San Quentin took place in 2006; Newsom ordered a moratorium on executions in California in 2019.

The press release from Newsom's office said the historic effort at San Quentin would “serve as a nationwide, evidence-based model to promote a more effective justice system that creates safer communities.”

“California is transforming San Quentin – our state's most notorious prison – into the nation's most innovative rehabilitation facility focused on building a better, safer future,” Newsom was quoted as saying in the press release. “We are literally tearing down walls to reimagine our prison system, promote true rehabilitation, and end the cycle of violence and crime. Brick by brick, we are building a new future that makes us all safer.”

The announcement provided an update on work being done at the facility. Demolition of Building 38, which formerly housed the prison's furniture factory, was recently completed. This fall, workers will begin construction of the new Education and Career Center on the same site.

This week, demolition of an interior wall – the so-called south wall – also began to improve access to the new facility.

“By demolishing this interior wall, which has separated parts of the facility since 1856, the new complex will be opened up to the existing facility and create a campus-like atmosphere,” the statement said.

It was also pointed out that the demolition of the inner wall had no impact on the safety of the facility.

“The establishment of this new rehabilitation centre is a crucial step in promoting real change in our prison system,” Jeff Macomber, California's Secretary of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said in the announcement: “We are not just rebuilding walls, but paving the way for recovery and rehabilitation for those in our care.”

The San Quentin Transformation Advisory Council released its final report in January of this year with several recommendations for transforming San Quentin. The full report is available online.