had the opportunity to view this issue from every point of view, having been the warden at san quentin state prison. i am absolutely impassioned about the fact that it is time to end the death penalty in this state. life without possibility of parole is the real sentence. hold people accountable and gives them the opportunity to change within the prison system, and they can give back by working within the prison system, giving restitution to family members and working on behalf of the state of california on a variety of projects that go on inside prisons. i also want to echo what the process said -- please join, please help -- i also want to echo what natasha said. talk to 10 of your friends, send e-mails, send letters. thank you. [applause] >> 1985, when i was sentenced to death for a crime i did not commit, i thought right away that this would be rectified. i was convicted of two different crimes. it took 18 years. it took me seven execution dates. i watched 12 then be executed while i was there -- i watched 12 and then be executed while i was there. i'm not in a position to say whether either of

. >> 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 order. >> 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

. >> darryl "big d" wright is serving hard time at california's aging san quentin state prison.n a no frills shop. >> 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 fo

>> among the nation's most notorious institutions, san quentin state prison. our cameras spent months documenting life on the inside where gangs, drugs, and sheer boredom make up a violent mix. this is "lockup: san quentin -- extended stay." as the oldest prison in california, san quentin is steeped in a violent history. >> out in the yard. take a hole. >> taking in and distributing inmates from 17 counties, its criminal population changes almost every day. >> just keeping this place functional is an enormous effort. >> the prison uses a set of regulations and procedures to maintain order. but inmates often operate under a different code of conduct. >> the inmates have what they call prison politics here and the gangs control all of that. they have literally written rules and regulations and the repercussions for not following those rules are serious. >> anyone that's active, they are beginning to hit me if they see me. they are going to kill me, try to slice me. >> sir, sir, sir, back up, back up, back up. watch where you're walking. >> the inmate had a seriou

. >>> some inmates of san quentin state prison traded their jump suits for costumes today all in theame of theater. 13 inmates turned actors performed shakespeare third night. the inmates spent 10 months practicing for the performance set in the 1960s with music from the beatles. the cast includes convicted murders and some of them told ktvu the play enables them to express themselves. >> we can use things from our own lives perhaps sad things or things that made us angry and transform those things for a moment. >> for a short time you're not in prison. you are physically but not mentally. >> reporter: the shakespeare company began the shakespeare program in san quentin eight years ago. >>> some good news tonight, the same fears and sell offs are making gasoline cheaper. the national average which is $3.75 a gallon could fall up to 30-cents a gallon over the next month. here in the bay area drivers are already seeing a difference. the average price for a gallon of regular in san francisco is $3.89. that's down a cent from last week. in oakland prices also dropped a penny to $3.81 a g

. >>> some inmates of san quentin state prison traded their jump suits for costumes today all in thename of theater. 13 inmates turned actors performed shakespeare third night. the inmates spent 10 months practicing for the performance set in the 1960s with music from the beatles. the cast includes convicted murders and some of them told ktvu the play enables them to express themselves. >> we can use things from our own lives perhaps sad things or things that made us angry and transform those things for a moment. >> for a short time you're not in prison. you are physically but not mentally. >> reporter: the shakespeare company began the shakespeare program in san quentin eight years ago. >>> some good news tonight, the same fears and sell offs are making gasoline cheaper. the national average which is $3.75 a gallon could fall up to 30-cents a gallon over the next month. here in the bay area drivers are already seeing a difference. the average price for a gallon of regular in san francisco is $3.89. that's down a cent from last week. in oakland prices also dropped a penny to $3.81 a

>> our cameras were at california's san quentin state prison when officers received word that a 20-year-old inmate was suffering severe chest pains. >> be advised, medical emergency. >> the thing you have to realize about san quentin is that this is -- this prison was built prior to the civil war and the cells are stacked five stories high. no elevators. so of course the emergency that we were covering, it was on the fifth floor. so not only did we have to haul our stuff up there but so did the responding correctional officers. >> up on the fifth tier, officers tend to the inmate inside his cell. >> you're going to have to take some deep breaths, man. i know you might be in pain, but you're going to have to help me. >> moments later the paramedics arrive on the tier. >> the paramedics had to make the five-story climb as well and it's difficult to respond right away because of that. was getting the inmate out of his cell and back down all of those stairs. >> hospital door carson 2 be advised, we have inmate in stretcher, en route to the urgent care clinic. getting him down using the stretche

originally constructed to relieve overcrowding at san quentin state prison, folsom housed some of the most dangerous inmates of the time. today its history of a more violent time has not been forgotten. >> folsom, just the aura of this place hangs above us like a fog hangs over this place. >> daniel bell is a newcomer, only on the yard for four months. >> i mean you're like totally in awe of the fact that you're actually here, and so many men have died and lost their lives on this very yard right here, at the very spot we're standing, i mean, you know, men have got killed, so it's like you're terrified. >> this is my first time here. don't like it. i don't like it. >> a lot of people getting stabbed, you know. i've seen people's throats get sliced. my first night in this building behind me here, when i woke up in the morning to gunshots on the tier, you know. >> you always have a fear factor when you walk through those gates. anybody would be lying to you if they told you that they weren't scared when they were in here. >> there's not anyone who walks into folsom that looks at those g

. >> state prisons are currently at 180% of capacity with about 144,000 inmates housed in the state's 33 prisons. >>> the quality of mercy is apparently not strained at san quentinll perform shakespeare's 12th night for their fellow prisoners. the director is a pro from the outside. from the marin shake shakespear company. photojournalist shows us how even in prison life can really be a stage. >> would you have a love song or a song of -- >> are you a comedian? >> shakespeare is timeless. from love to loss, to finding yourself again. i've never done acting before. i'm a musician and i play in three different bands and the best part is playing a guitar and singing. >> going to make the audience laugh. we're going to do a little tears. you know, it's going to be good. >> i will. >> i'm having a ball. i'm having a good time. this character allows me to actually be somebody else just for a short time. for a short time. ♪ i can't get no -- >> i have 12 years now and i have to do another 17 years. i'm a three striker. i did a first degree burglary in 1999 in mill valley, california, under the influence of drugs. >> let my eyes not see. >> it will be great if other sha