Surviving San Quentin: America’s Most Dangerous Prison

Welcome to the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, better known as San Quentin State Prison. From the twisted minds of serial killers to the cold calculations of gang leaders, the eerie hallways of San Quentin have seen it all. This isn't just any prison. It's the end of the line.

00:00 San Quentin: America’s Most Dangerous Prison
02:01 Early History of San Quentin
04:37 Surviving San Quentin
10:01 Life on Death Row
11:43 Survival Tips
14:38 Violence in San Quentin
16:35 Death Penalty Moratorium and Reform

Produced by the makers of What If. Check out our other channels:

Whether it’s an earthquake, mudslide or shark attack, survive whatever awaits you. How To Survive shows how to endure life-threatening moments with science and survivor stories.

Note: This video is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen on this channel. If you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor, the ambulance or the police immediately. Underknown does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in this video. Reliance on any information provided by Underknown is solely at your own risk.

[thomasryan]

I was hired by corrections just when turning 22. After 6 days, I was watching inmates while alone. I was clueless. Certain inmates called me aside and gave me advice how to run a smooth floor. This wasn't manipulation. They were giving me histories of what works and what doesn't. Inmates are not our friends, but some have gone out of their way to help me. We worked lots of overtime and I was still attending college. I fell asleep in a chair one night. An inmate awoke me to say a lieutenant was entering the floor. This saved me from getting written up. I made sure that inmate got a phone call anytime he wanted.

[joser]

I was a correctional officer at San Quentin for 26 years and 7 months. I could write a mini book/short stories on just the haunted experiences my fellow coworkers and I have had there.

[DiscoverTheSecretss]

I’ve heard about San Quentin before, but this video made it feel more real than ever. It’s not just a prison — it’s a place where time seems frozen, and people fight not just each other, but their own minds.
I can’t imagine how I’d survive in a place like that. This video really made me reflect on life, guilt, and the true cost of freedom.

[Biff.Bogardus]

I definitely have a prison survival story. I was in Centinela State Prison from 2007-2009. It was one of the worst experiences I've ever had along with all my life's worst experiences. I was constantly overly stressed and constantly in fear. First experience, I am in a cell with someone who is doing life. He's a level four prisoner, but the point system of his former prison, Calipatria, allowed him to transfer to a less security level because of some "good behavior." Well this guy turns out to be a freaking violent bully. We were doing razor exchange, when the prison hands out free razors in exchange for your old ones. I gave this dude four razors to exchange for me and he gave me three back. "Where's my other razor?" I asked. What razor, he said. I said, I gave you four razors, you only gave me three back. Where's my fourth razor? I don't know what you are talking about, he responded. I quickly sensed what he was doing and said, hey man, i ain't playing around, give me my last razor dude. He got a sheet from his bed, he began twisting it into a rope formation and began tying it around the toilet and around this part of the cell door that would prevent it from opening. One of us isn't leaving this cell, he told me. Now this dude is covered in Aztec style tattoos and that usually means he's stabbed and killed a lot of people. Plus he's doing life, so he doesn't care about anything. As soon as I realized what he meant, i told him it wasn't a big deal. He could keep the razor. I wasn't willing to fight over something that pathetic. Plus I only had about 6 months left of my sentence left, which felt like forever. Second experience, I get moved to another cell. I end up in a cell with another level four guy. His points also dropped so he's now a level 3. One day he tells me and describes the way he reacts when he smells blood. He said it smells like copper and that it drives him mad in a murderous way. One day I was exercising in the cell. After exercising I cleaned my sweat off the floor, but I left some traces of water and that pissed him off. He took my shoes and threw them against the cell door. He stares at the water for a few seconds, then looks at me. I say nothing. That was that. I thought I was gonna have to defend myself, but nothing happened. Third and last experience, I end up in a cell with another level 4 minded dude. We get into a disagreement, and he suggested that we stab each other. He told me if I keep going the way I'm going only one thing is going to happen to me. I went through some other serious stuff in prison, like a prison riot, and that was crazy. It was my first time in prison. I was released in 2009. I only went back on a small parole violation charge but it was nothing. I was only locked up for a couple of months in 2011 and that was it. I have not gone back. Life is way way different now. I don't do the things I used to do anymore. I can't believe I went through all that crazy stuff. Prison is no fun. Not at all. I strongly believe I am done with that life.

[susanmergenhagen]

Please don't call these criminals animals, it's an insult to animals

[kixigvak]

A friend of mine was the physician for death row at San Quentin. He said "If society will look the other way for 24 hours I'll do em all."

[Elmanko]

that guy that became a manager of the tech company has to be there best accomplishment story in this world

[McNasty]

As someone who worked for the California Department of Corrections for the better part of a decade, San Quentin gets the most media attention, but I've heard more horror stories from the women's prison in Corona (CIW) than all the other prisons put together. Correctional officers don't often have a choice of where they're posted, but those of us that aren't chose NOT to work at CIW.

[demonsaint]

A good idea for corrections in the US would be to use the El Salvador CECOT model.

[michaelnaretto]

My only prison story that I have is that I have never been to prison.

[RaeBattleRapsMood]

Wait a minute, if you’re an officer and you’re taken hostage, they won’t negotiate your release? Oh heck no!😂

[sluggodna]

Reform starts with issuing a budget. The budget is used to build a department. Managers get their pay and budget to hire on more managers. Houses, cars, clothes, Executive lunches, etc. By the time any budget is spent on fixing a jail, 99% of it is already spent.

[tonymontona]

I remember getting sent there at only 19 and it was definitely an experience I will never forget

[Cpt-Pugwash]

I got out of Quentin 2 years ago. it's not anywhere near as bad as you make it out to be, yes i was hardcore in the early 90s but is a different place now. its a very chill. if youre respectful and peacefully do your own thing you will fit in with everyone else. if you act the clown or act tough you will get checked fast though.

[Scorpionking]

I wouldn't wanna go there even on a field trip

[Imreallylikethat-blk]

I was misunderstood and ended up in San Quentin
In 2017 to 2020
It’s a haunted scary violent place

[kaibilbalam]

“Yeah I have a survival story! I just never get caught “……😂

[nilsnyman]

It was around 1981 and I was a child and ward of the state of California. I lived in many, many different foster homes and some are hard to remember but one that I was in at that time I won't ever forget. The couple that had temporary custody of me also had 5 other boys from the state. They were in their 70s and totally insane Bible thumpers. One day they packed all 6 of us in the Winnebago and drove us to San Quentin where their REAL son was being released after a 6yr sentence. The guy had long black hair in a ponytail, a long fumanchu type beard and mustache and covered in gang tattoos. Before we were even back home he was calling all the kids "little b*tches and punks" and was physically assaulting us. Knowing how this would end up I immediately called my case worker and informed her that our foster parents had us housed with a known criminal and ex convict. We were all replaced to different homes with days. Hahahahaha

[snafuthegreat]

Fun Fact: Danny Trejo did time in San Quentin.

[paulbrungardt]

In the 1980's, I was an idealistic young recent graduate from Optometry School. I believed I could make a difference by taking a position nobody else would take --- 1 day per week working in a California Prison. All other doctors, other than me, graduated from foreign medical schools.The level of medical care was deplorable. I doubted some of them actually had graduated from medical school ; in some countries, medical credentials could be purchased. I lasted 3 years before I gave up. It was hopeless.