a model of what san quentin hopes to build. in san quentin, death row inmates never visit a dining hall. in new folsom the men eat on tables bolted to the floor. but the idea did not get far. everyone agrees that dozensover men are added to death row and very few are executed. a condemned men arrives here with a death warrant issued by the sentencing judge. but an inmate can then file appeals. some appeals are automatic under state law. those appeals are what fill these boxes on the top tier of east block. the state does not schedule an execution until a prisoner's appeals run their course. >>> still to come on a second look, we talked to the correctional officers who work every day with the condemned inmates on california's death row. >> it's always on the back of my mind that there's something that is a little different and it's all processed in of what you and i might have. >> a sit down interview with the man that is now san quentin's oldest death row inmate. >>> tonight we're taking a second look at voters get ready to weh

. >> our first ever extended stay series was shot at california's fabled san quentin prison.00 inmates. it was home to more than 5,000. when we shot there, robert ayers was san quentin's warden. >> we are grossly overcrowded, which is just totally unacceptable for the inmates, and the staff. >> been here before? >> no. >> all right, come over here and stand on the fence right there. >> the incoming population at san quentin was relentless, with staff releasing 150 inmates each week, but welcoming in 350 new ones. >> let's go, gentlemen. let's go, let's go, let's go. clear the door. >> many of them wound up in the gym, which had been converted into a huge, overflow housing unit. >> when i first walked in to the dorm at san quentin, i was taken aback by how many people were packed into this small area. it was very loud. ♪ >> attention, everybody, james, report to the lieutenant's office upstairs. >> there's always people talking, people yelling. some people in there were trying to read and some people in there were trying to sleep. so you'll have a big group of people having a

we were shooting san quentin, alpine section, down on the ground floor.ddenly i felt something hit me on the top of my head. and i had the worst thought, oh, my god i had just been gassed. luckily it turned out to be a banana peel. >> when we visited the stateville correctional center in illinois, we encountered another bizarre practice involving human waste. >> feces, spreads it on everything. clean it off every day. every day he puts it right back on. >> in the segregation unit at the stateville correctional facility. basically this is where they have people, being extra bad in the facility come and be locked up. they urinate, bowel movement everywhere, i think they just kind of have gone crazy, prison life is probably getting to them. >> but we have never seen a more bizarre display of the gut churning activity than at california state prison corcoran. it happened during a routine shoot at the prison hospital. >> we were there for like ten minutes. did a couple interviews with a couple doctors. initially it seemed like it was going to be mundane and go

when we go inside the walls of san quentin, it is not just black inmates. it is hispanic, pacific islanders, white, native americans, it is everybody. when they leave that room, they go back to their communities that are segregated. they, too, do not like it. it is a barrier that has to be torn down. i know it works. being in there for the last four years, we make it a point that everybody mixes up, even the seating. you do not just sit with a black person or a white person. it is about all of us, or none of us, and that is the bottom line. it has to be that mentality. >> it is a way to control the prisoners. it takes the pressure off the guards and everybody else. they say we want to stop violence, but you promote a violence by segregating. when an individual comes, the first in the asking, where are you from? what is your nationality? that is how to divide and conquer. that is the way the united states is made up. that is how you work. north and south vietnam, for instance. they divide people so that the pressure will not be on them. that is how i see the

>> i've been going inside san quentin since 2007 as a report because the first time i went inside sanen who had committed murder. it was a mistake. i wasn't supposed to be in the room, but i was by the public information officer, and the men i met in that room that day, men serving life sentences, unlike scott peterson who is serving a death sentence for committing murder. >> right. >> these men were serving life sentences with the possibility of parole. >> we want to talk about them in just a second. you go inside death row on that occasion. you have a camera obviously. you were allowed to take picture. what were the reactions from the inmates on death row? were they opposed to that? did they embrace you? how did they feel about you being there in. >> it's very interesting because there had been no reporters on death row in california in almost a decade, so it took me years to build a relationship with the california department of corrections where they actually trusted me to be the first reporter to go in. >> and when you started taking these pictures, i think we should tell our vie

i work at san quentin prison. they

i work at san quentin prison. they segregate inmates based on color and gangs. why do prisons not work on educating inmates on social relations, racial tolerance, and why don't they find a way so the different races can get to know each other? >> i would like to enter that. segregation has -- i would like to answer that. segregation has always been a problem in this country. i grew up in new orleans. we believe that education is the key. we all need to sit at the table. i do not believe in segregation

. >> this is california's san quentin state prison, one of the first prisons ever profiled on "lockup >> for a photographer, san quentin was a really interesting place to shoot because it's the old-style tiers and the big exercise yard and there's a lot of corners and shadows and things to attract your lens. so it was just as a photographer, it was really an interesting place to shoot. it can be a very dangerous place because it's got incredibly dangerous or infamous history as a dangerous place. >> on our first day of shooting here, we got a stark introduction to the constant security threats posed by gang warfare. >> we're basically getting ready to feed the level four, which are the maximum security inmates. tonight we're expecting some type of problems possibly. so we have extra coverage tonight to provide security. >> let's go. >> the correctional staff received a tip that a gang-related attack might occur at dinner. >> hispanic inmates, the gang members specifically, are doing what is called cleaning house. anyone that does not want to participate in their gang activity, if they

we met christopher carrillo inside a heavily graded cell at san quentin. >> you give respect, you get respect. a lot of people say these guys don't treat us right. at times they don't, but it's hard when you've got a lot of people in here. can't be happy too much in prison. it's not disney land. >> but an inmate at another california prison had a much harsher view of the cos. >> i hate cops. they're diabolical. they're petty. they present to the public that they're law and order, this and that but in here they'll stab you in the back. they write false write-ups. they got a hidden agenda. they want to keep us locked up in here so they make money. you know, this is a prison industrial complex. it's all about money. >> there is one place, however, where trust is put to the ultimate test. it's the prison kitchen. >> everything back here could be made into a potential weapon. those sheet pans are very thin and they're sharp on the edges. it only takes one of these guys to pick one of those up and they could almost cut my head off. >> we met officer epperson at the kern valley state prison

we go inside of san quentin, we go inside of the county jail, the juvenile justice system. all entities -- the whole family is incarcerated. we want to kill the whole family. that is why we go when -- we want to heal the whole family. that is why we go in. we believe in empathy, we believe this violence is a learned behavior. restored of justice does work. -- restorative justice does work. [applause] >> elizabeth, you have been on both sides. as a teenager, you were a recipient of services. today, you are working in youth development. what do you think the answer is in reducing gang violence? >> i want to give thanks for another day here and an opportunity to share this space with everybody. all of the beautiful courage that it takes to be up here. a lot of energy to the healing circle as well. as a juvenile, i was in juvenile hall and i went through that whole system myself. i have worked with tattoo removal, i went to other development programs. through personal experience and being raised by a single mom and being proud of my dad imprisoned and now pursuing my education,

we go inside of san quentin, we go inside of the county jail, the juvenile justice system. all entities -- the whole family is incarcerated. we want to kill the whole family. that is why we go when -- we want to heal the whole family. that is why we go in. we believe in empathy, we believe this violence is a learned behavior. restored of justice does work.

herman tine is on death row in san quentin but a few weeks ago to this area so he could show them where more bodies may have been buried. >>> prosecutors in a san francisco hit and run case played cell phone video in court today of a late-night crime. surveillance video shows a confrontation inside a jack in the box restaurant last thanksgiving. 24-year-old here steps forward. his defense attorney calls the peacemaker in a fight involving cal fire firefighter albert. in court today prosecutors played a cell phone video that's heard saying yo i'm going to go run him over. prosecutors say minutes later used his randall's cart to nearby shell gas station. he remains in a coma. >>> the parents of a burlingame teen who died after drinking on a bus new law. 19-year-old brett smashed his car dropped off by a party bus two years ago. starting january 1st, companies must require chaperons. no people under 21 will be on the bus and if they suspect underage drinking. at a news conference outside their home today the studebakers said the bill introduced by jerry hill is an honor to their son's memo

the other bridges, if you're traveling on the short freeway towards san quentin, everything is moving fine right now. after yesterday's incident near the civic center bart station, everything is back on time. no longer any bart delays. for more on your weather forecast, we sent lawrence up to the roof. >> we have fog and low clouds. delays at sfo and more on that in a moment. a few clouds have managed to sneak into the valleys. mostly sunny but temperatures are really mild for this time of year. still 80 showing up well inland. low pressure will help keep the temperature's down. we have plenty of clouds outside and delays of over one hour on arriving flights at sfo. we should see plenty of clearing towards the afternoon. thunderstorms in houston and chicago. around the bay, the temperatures are looking nice in the afternoon. 81 in morgan hill and 69 in a word. inside the bay will find temperatures in the low sixties in san francisco. on the skies in daly city. the next couple of days the temperatures might be creeping up a little bit on tuesday and wednesday. much cooler temperatures

. >> darryl "big d" wright is serving hard time at california's aging san quentin state prison. >> we have three barbers in here. we're pretty steady. you know, they come in. one of us try to be here at all times. so we all have to know how to cut all kind of hair. >> as with any barber, it's important to keep the customers satisfied. that's especially true when your clients are inmates. >> you know, occasionally guys, they drop by and want to give you a little something if you give a good haircut, you know? want to give you a soup or something like that or a canned good or something like that. it's not a mandatory thing but they won't let you refuse them. you know what i'm saying? they won't let you refuse them. >> barber shops have been a favorite stop for "lockup" crews at prisons nationwide. >> any man that walks through the door can get a haircut and he'll get a good haircut. he might not get a whole lot of layers and feathers and all that, but he'll get a good haircut. >> we met willard lucas at indiana state prison. he had been working the same chair for 26 years. >> my s

that's what charles pelham, an inmate at san quentin discovered about the tattoo on his forehead.>> i had an accident, i fell off of a moving freight train and the wheel ran over me, crushed my foot. >> then he showed us the troublesome tattoo. >> it's a tattoo of a nazi flag. you know, it's supposed to mean that i represent the nazi clan. the rest of the brothers of the lodge, so to speak. i had this put on my face when i was a youngster. you understand? i wanted to make a political statement. i also wanted to impress my girlfriend, but it impressed her the wrong way and she got rid of me. >> why do you wear the hat? >> because there's people in here that tell me the thing on my face is not cool and they don't want to have to look at it. so i wear the hat and that's peace in the valley. does that explain anything? >> but none of our crews ever had a tattoo encounter quite like the one at utah state prison. >> i will never forget the moment that i first set eyes on curtis algire. it's really quite shocking to see the ss lightning bolts, swastikas, nazi imagery, and with the tattoo

when we visited san quentin state prison, we discovered how committed some of the 5,000 inmates wererkouts. the state of california banned free weights from the rec yard for security reasons, but that didn't deter anyone from lifting. >> it's weights. >> yeah? >> that's how we work out. we got water bags. >> how much does it weigh? >> about 30 pounds. >> not very much. >> there it is. >> some of the challenges of working out in prison aren't only about the access to the equipment you have or don't have, but it's also the kind of restrictions you have. oftentimes these prisons go on lockdown and people are kept in their cells or housing units for long periods of time and not really allowed out. but they still always find a way to work out. >> this is about 55 or 60 pounds. >> and in a world where fist fights are all too real, many inmates incorporate shadow boxing into their workouts. but jamie, a former jujitsu instructor doing time at indiana state prison went beyond just punching air. >> this is a makeshift punching bag since we're in our cell 23-plus blankets a day. i took a wool

. >> joseph de la cruz is a gang dropout, serving nine years for attempted murder at california san quentinte prison. when we first met him, authorities had just discovered that he had been assaulted inside his protective custody cell. >> this morning, you come out of your cell, we did a sweep to find out how many people stayed behind. you were discovered with injuries. and here's the medical report. >> despite obvious injuries, de la cruz refused to give correctional staff any information about the attack. >> we're trying to find out who -- i want to tell them what happened. >> any specific individuals you know are your enemies? >> no, sir. >> how about any prison weapons offenses? >> no, sir. >> do you belong to a gang? >> no, i don't. >> aside from what you're being accused of being a victim, are you involved in any other batteries in your history? >> no. >> due to this evidence, you're deemed a threat to the safety and security of the institution, to staff and inmates. >> escort! >> without good information about what prompted the attack and whether this attack could lead to others the

he told the stockton rorpd he was taken from -- record he was taken from his san quentin death row cell at 3:00 in the morning last month. an escort of up to ten guards took him to the town of lyndon to point out where the old wells. he told the newspaper because he's revealing burial sites fellow inmates are now threatening his life. he says he will get paid $1 thown for -- $1,000 if his information about the sites is confirmed. >>> a scrort of california's three -- majority of california's three strikes inmates are add dicks. s that -- addicts. researchers say close to 70% of offenders convicted on a third strike need substance abuse treatment compared to 48% of all inmates. experts say the findings show the need for effective substance abuse programs in state prisons. >>> the postmaster general says the postal service is on the brink of bankruptcy. the agency today is going to default on a $5 billion payment to the treasury. the postmaster general says his agency would be profitable right now if it weren't for lawmaker delays. the postal service has asked congress for more than a yea

. >>> coming up, never before seen photos that show scott peterson inside california's san quentin prison on death row. they're images that give a rare glimpse of his life there. we'll talk to the woman who took those images. first, this is "today" on nbc. i like to score my designer shoes and handbags early. so i shop at t.j.'s. i get my favorite brands without having to wait for them to go on sale someplace else. done! fashion direct from designers. savings direct to you. t.j.maxx. >>> coming up, why some of the money you think is going to charities may actually be going to telemarkets. >> then, are you wasting your money if you take daily fish oil supplemen supplements? and natalie's go-to play list. >> hit it. >> oh, that's a good one. >> anything police. a very eclectic mix. >> i thought we were going to walk down '80s lane with you today. >> you're going to deliver on your olivia newton-john promise too. >> yes. >> after your local news. ♪ and even one you can plug in ♪ so hop on in and give one a spin ♪ ♪ and let's hum, hum, hum, hum ♪ ♪ let's hum ♪ a prius for everyone [ femala $1