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Fingerprinted. >> starting with your right thumb, roll your fingers. >> eating. >> in an effort to avoid violent confrontations later, every inmate is evaluated and classified according to his history of violence outside and inside the penal system. >> enemies? >> none. >> gang-banger? >> share a cell with another man, no problem? >> it's all right with me. >> okay. thank you. >> as long as you're compatible. >> i wish we could make that call for you. you'll find out when you get to the house. thank you. >> flores. >> once evaluated the newcomers are placed in one of san quentin's four cell bl...

Inefficient design. officers are always having to climb stairs. >> where are the elevators? >> we're the elevators. a human elevator. >> but at its worst, the design of san quentin's cell blocks expose officers to inmate assault. >> with the age of the building, the way it's set up, almost anything you do, you're in direct contact with the inmates. >> hey how are you doing? >> when it's time for the inmates to go to the showers or the dining hall, an entire tier is released simultaneously. and astonishingly only two officers are assigned to orchestrate it. >> fifth tier is going down right now...

Gassed like i was back in '92. >> incredible as it may seem, officers at san quentin say that there's an attempted assault on their lives almost every day. >> they look for vulnerable spots. they look for times when you do let your guard down. >> this is death row. in fact, this is california's only male death row where the method of execution is lethal injection. this is where you'll find such vicious killers as richard ramirez, the so-called night stalker, and richard allen davis, the killer of polly klaas. today, the condemned population has grown to a staggering 581, well beyond san quenti...

>> yeah, i know that. >> i'll come see you. that guy there is a straight killer machine. you know what he's in here for? they say he has aggravated discharge firearm on four people. he's a frequent flier. he's a regular here. >> there's a large number of inmates coming in, going out. it's kind of like a revolving door. after coming in so many times, they end up building a rapport with a lot of our guys. >> what did you get? drugs? nah, you stay in here, man. >> as long as you're fair with these guys, you're firm with these guys, they'll earn a respect from you. and that carries along with they...

>> no, you ain't walking. >> those particular charges that i charged the inmate with were insole lens, disobey ing a direct order, assault, he attempted to spit on me and turn around on me. this inmate will go to an adjustment hearing, a panel of hearing officers and plead his case against my disciplinary report that i give him and that will do whatever is just. >> reporter: while this inmate received an extended term in segregation, combative inmates risk suffering physical consequences as well. wherever inmates congregate, common areas, cell blocks, the yard or cafeteria, this is usually an ...