‘I saw the moon’: Former Death Row inmate, 72, tastes freedom for first time in 38 years

CURTIS LEE ERVIN had not seen the moon in 38 years. He was arrested in November 1986, and — until about a year ago — had lived inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center’s East Block and North Seg housing units since 1991.

Those buildings are where California’s more than 600 condemned prisoners were housed — a place commonly known as Death Row. Today those buildings are empty, and Ervin and approximately 84 other prisoners from “The Row” — a name they use — were housed at California Health Care Facility in Stockton.