Section 3600.

(a) Every male person, upon whom has been imposed the judgment of death, shall be delivered to the warden of the California state prison designated by the department for the execution of the death penalty, there to be kept until the execution of the judgment, except as provided in subdivision (b).

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law:

(1) A condemned inmate who, while in prison, commits any of the following offenses, or who, as a member of a gang or disruptive group, orders others to commit any of these offenses, may, following disciplinary sanctions and classification actions at San Quentin State Prison, pursuant to regulations established by the Department of Corrections, be housed in secure condemned housing designated by the Director of Corrections, at the California State Prison, Sacramento:

(A) Homicide.

(B) Assault with a weapon or with physical force capable of causing serious or mortal injury.

(C) Escape with force or attempted escape with force.

(D) Repeated serious rules violations that substantially threaten safety or security.

(2) The condemned housing program at California State Prison, Sacramento, shall be fully operational prior to the transfer of any condemned inmate.

(3) Specialized training protocols for supervising condemned inmates shall be provided to those line staff and supervisors at the California State Prison, Sacramento, who supervise condemned inmates on a regular basis.

(4) An inmate whose medical or mental health needs are so critical as to endanger the inmate or others may, pursuant to regulations established by the Department of Corrections, be housed at the California Medical Facility or other appropriate institution for medical or mental health treatment. The inmate shall be returned to the institution from which the inmate was transferred when the condition has been adequately treated or is in remission.

(c) When housed pursuant to subdivision (b) the following shall apply:

(1) Those local procedures relating to privileges and classification procedures provided to Grade B condemned inmates at San Quentin State Prison shall be similarly instituted at California State Prison, Sacramento, for condemned inmates housed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 3600. Those classification procedures shall include the right to the review of a classification no less than every 90 days and the opportunity to petition for a return to San Quentin State Prison.

(2) Similar attorney-client access procedures that are afforded to condemned inmates housed at San Quentin State Prison shall be afforded to condemned inmates housed in secure condemned housing designated by the Director of Corrections, at the California State Prison, Sacramento. Attorney-client access for condemned inmates housed at an institution for medical or mental health treatment shall be commensurate with the institution's visiting procedures and appropriate treatment protocols.

(3) A condemned inmate housed in secure condemned housing pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be returned to San Quentin State Prison at least 60 days prior to his scheduled date of execution.

(4) No more than 15 condemned inmates may be rehoused pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(d) Prior to any relocation of condemned row from San Quentin State Prison, whether proposed through legislation or any other means, all maximum security Level IV, 180-degree housing unit facilities with an electrified perimeter shall be evaluated by the Department of Corrections for suitability for the secure housing and execution of condemned inmates.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 934, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)