Calif: Governor approves new San Quentin Death Row [View All]

[Kadie]

Governor approves new San Quentin Death Row

Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has given the go-ahead for construction of a new Death Row at San Quentin State Prison by vetoing legislative restrictions, an action that a Marin County lawmaker called both unwise and illegal.

While announcing $489 million in cuts Tuesday from the state's 2009-10 budget, Schwarzenegger said he was saving additional, unspecified amounts by rejecting language added to the budget that would have delayed the Death Row project.

Legislators approved $356 million last year for a 768-cell housing unit for condemned prisoners, tentatively scheduled to open in late 2011. It would replace a section of the 150-year-old prison that now holds nearly 670 inmates, the nation's largest Death Row.

In a critical June 2008 report, the state auditor's office predicted a $39 million cost overrun and questioned the state's plans to place two inmates in each cell.

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