History of Soledad Prison: Correctional Training Facility

By Jeff Soars

The Correctional Training Facility, better known as Soledad State Prison, was the fifth prison built in California. Located in Monterey County between King City and Salinas, the storied history of this prison reaches far beyond its fences and gates. On January 13, 1970, a fight on the infamous O-wing yard between Black and White inmates erupted. Three Black inmates were shot and killed. One Black and one White inmate were shot and wounded. The officer manning the roof gun post was a White officer. Shortly after the Monterey County District Attorney's office announced that the shooting was justified, the first White officer was murdered in retaliation. In the short span between 1970 and 1971, three White officers and a program administrator would be murdered. Jonathan Jackson, the brother of Inmate George Jackson, one of the inmates suspected of murdering Officer John Mills, the first officer murdered at Soledad, planned on freeing his brother from prison and went heavily armed to the Marin County Hall of Justice. Arming other inmates in the court they took a judge, jurors and a Deputy District Attorney as hostages in exchange for George Jackson's release. A shootout in the parking lot erupted killing three of the hostage takers and the judge. The murders continued as George Jackson and other inmates known as the Soledad Brothers were transferred to San Quentin State Prison to stand trial for the murders of the officers at Soledad. Inmate George Jackson was able to smuggle a gun into the San Quentin Adjustment Center where the Soledad Brothers were being housed taking the housing unit officers hostage. He opened the cells for the other Soledad Brothers and they proceeded to murder two inmates and three officers before staff were able to gain access to the Adjustment Center. Using a Thompson sub-machine gun, staff were able to quell the takeover and free the remaining hostages. This book goes into detail about the murders as well as much more history of the prison.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DFCNRC3B
• ISBN13: 9798336625080
• Release Date: August 2024
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 331 Pages
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"