

Crime and Punishment at the Presidio de San Diego
Was the Presidio really a citadel of civilization?
As San Diego commemorates 250 years since the founding of the San Diego Presidio and the first mission in Alta California, we have a unique opportunity to examine the role of the Presidio in our early history and its legacy today. Was the Presidio a citadel ushering in new modes of existence and lifestyle, or was it comparable to today’s Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons?
Historian, archaeologist and SDSU lecturer Richard Carrico discusses the Spanish colonial system of laws and regulations as it was implemented at the Presidio from 1770 to 1820.
ABOUT RICHARD CARRICO
Richard L. Carrico, historian, writer, educator, and wine maker, is a lecturer in the Department of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University. He is a well-respected scholar, public speaker, and researcher who has made significant contributions to our understanding of the local indigenous cultures and early Spanish colonization. In addition to more than 30 publications in professional journals, including several in the Journal of San Diego History, and contributions to stand-alone chapters in five academic books, Richard has received several awards for academic excellence including the prestigious Norman Neurburg Award for outstanding research presented by the California Missions Foundation in 2019.