Darren Monahan, a former correctional officer with experience at San Quentin and Solano State Prison, shares candid insights into law enforcement life and his transition from prison guard to police officer. Monahan describes the stark contrasts between San Quentin, a tightly run prison with a strict code of conduct among inmates and officers alike, and Solano, which he found disorganized and less disciplined. Reflecting on death row, he recounts the extensive, often drawn-out legal appeals that delay executions—even when inmates prefer to expedite the process.

After leaving corrections, Monahan pursued a career in law enforcement but initially failed the California Highway Patrol’s background check due to undisclosed steroid use. Eventually, he became an undercover cop in Richmond, California—one of the nation’s most violent cities with the highest murder rates. Monahan’s unique prison and law enforcement background underscores the challenges of policing America’s toughest environments and combating violent crime at its source.