Monterey County (Calif.). Sheriff's Office.

The Jail Register, Monterey County, 1850-1872, provides a unique window on Monterey County and on Monterey, the county seat, during the period of transition to American law and government. This historical record also offers evidence of the method and conduct of law enforcement in Monterey during a sometimes turbulent and violent time of social and economic transformation.

The Register clearly documents who was prosecuted and for what actions they were jailed (and sometimes hanged). More than six hundred inmates are recorded. Some "broke jail." And, in a few instances, citizen's broke into the jail to hang an inmate..

Beginning in April 1850, the Jail Register records those inmates who were incarcerated in the adobe jail, which had been built under the supervision of Alcalde Walter Colton. On September 1, 1854, the Monterey Sentinel reported that the new granite block jail, also built by Colton, featured several security measures, including iron plated windows, a ball and chains, leg irons and other equipment. Beginning in 1855, inmates were housed in the new jail, located adjacent to Colton Hall.

From the description of Jail register, Monterey County, California [archives/manuscripts] 1850-1872 (Monterey Public Library). WorldCat record id: 123081860