Clinton Truman Duffy [SEP] date of death
Clinton Truman Duffy
Clinton Truman Duffy (1898 – 1982) was the warden of San Quentin State Prison between 1940 and 1952. He was a prominent opponent of capital punishment.
Life.
His father was a guard at San Quentin, he was raised on the prison grounds, and his wife's father was also a San Quentin guard.
The 1954 film "Duffy of San Quentin" tells his story as a warden. His accomplishments during his tenure as warden include:
- Elimination of corporal punishment
Teets began his career in correctional service as a guard in various federal penitentiaries. He reached the level of lieutenant before being hired as a captain at California's Folsom State Prison in the 1940s. He became associate warden under Clinton Duffy at San Quentin State Prison, and succeeded Duffy as warden in late 1951. Teets remained warden until his sudden death from coronary thrombosis in 1957.
In the 1930s, San Quentin had a reputation as a violent and corrupt institution. Duffy had done much to reform San Quentin during his