San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

Archives for October 2018

Research: Snitches often help convict innocent people

by

It’s been said, “Don’t go to the pen, send a friend” or “If you can’t do the time, drop a dime.” But the informants who heed that advice often send innocent people to prison, according to a report by Dale Chappell in Criminal Legal News.

The report cites research on wrongful convictions that indicates a significant portion were based on false testimony of “incentivized witnesses” or “snitches.”

Publicly available data shows that informants have be- come law enforcement’s “tool of choice,” especially in drug enforcement. About 60 percent of drug defendants cooperate with law enforcement in exchange for reduced sentences, according to the report.

As prosecutors build their case against defendants, they have no incentive to fact-check informants’ testimony, said Loyola Law School Professor Alexandra Natapoff in her study, titled “How Snitches Contribute to Wrongful Convictions.”

While informants offer juries seemingly credible details about the crimes, defendants have no recourse to prove them wrong, according to the report.

The U.S. Supreme Court placed a requirement on courts to evaluate the reliability of expert witnesses (Daubert v. Merrel Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993)) because experts can be “both powerful and quite misleading.”

But there is no requirement of reliability for paid informants testifying unsubstantiated facts for the government, said the report.

In 2018, Kerry Porter, who spent 11 years in a prison, was paid $7.5 million by the City of Louisville, Ky., based in part on the false testimony of two jail- house informants.

Also in 2018, Lacquanda “Faye” Jacobs was released from an Arkansas prison after 26 years based on the testimony of an incentivized witness, who later recanted his story when he was arrested on charges of his own. The witness’ testimony was the sole evidence used to convict Jacobs, said the report.

In 2016, the National Registry of Exonerations found that 81 of 116 death penalty exonerations involved perjury or false testimony by incentivized witnesses, an increase up to 70 percent.

The Innocence Project found that 25 percent of DNA exonerations involved the knowing use of false incentivized wit- ness testimony, and 11 percent involved the use of coerced wit- ness testimony, said the report.

Also in 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into both the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in California and the Orange County

Sheriff’s Department for an illegal jailhouse informant pro- gram.

Research by the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwest University School of Law said studies show incentivized witnesses lack confidence in themselves, crave attention, and have a need to feel important.

Studies conducted on informants on why they decide to cooperate with the government have come to the same conclusion: offered an incentive to do so, most people, even honest people, will lie in exchange for some benefit.

"I WALK THE LINE"

by

Under pennant waving canvas tents the three ring circus acts parade spectacular death-defying feats filled with heart-stopping and eye-popping performances.

Yet far from the excitement of the greatest show on earth, another sort of ring rest solemnly in a coastal valley. A single meandering five inch wide milky white pavement stripe races unbroken around a California prison yard guiding inmate traffic.

One by one beneath a gray sky, inmates rapidly exit shoebox-shaped three story housing blocks and trample westbound in single file down like busy ants re-supplying a colony with bread crumbs.

prisoners dare not stray or else! No warning shots will be fired. For that reason, I walk the line heel to toe mimicking a gymnast on a slender wooden balance beam with arams swinging back and forth at my side. Although, mothers behind me falter by choice.

:Walk on the line! No grouping.” squawks the lethally armed tower officer as a pair inmates drastically swerve beyond the thin pavement marking like tacking.

Sailboats during our monotonous stroll to the dining hall for breakfast.

Amazingly, a single belting authoritative voice is just enough to send a pent-up tempers flaring and obscenities flying as if their useless outburst really make any difference.

The white stripes hidden power conjures multiple meanings. To some, it sparks memories when snorting cocaine off a glass table top seemed cool. To others, it is an opportunity to defiantly talk smack. And still for many more inmates, the white ring represents a binding infinite loop of hopelessness embracing a collage of complaints: Lousy food unscheduled lockdowns due to medical redirects and pretty administrative rule violations.

“Keep your head up, A ‘hole!” yells one rowdy inmate to a trailing inmate colliding into him for me, his words contain a much deeper message. When I face and accept the consequences of my actions the final decision made shall determine whether they make life better or worse.

Inmate spirits easily fracture, often leaving them feeling as if nothing is left. I am no different.

This controlling white symbol of humility strips away most everything. Our identity, our opinions and more importantly our freedom. However, no obstacle is insurmountable.

The deceptive tide retreats at the second and inmate refuses to view prison time as a solid block wall but instead a portal to change stepping over the doors threshold forges a road to freedom laced with threads of marketable trade skills, education, self-improvement tools, insight and for some spiritual growth. I’ve found that standing idle only welcomes failure.

Therefore, I choose to untended  myself from the endless white stark orbiting the exercise yearn like the imprisoning bands circling Saturn preventing me to dream, create and explore possibilities.

With each deep breath, I castaway another piece of societies charred convict branding and inhale lifers promising rich aroma.

As a man on the path to rehabilitation, this doomed ring of despair surrounding me no longer chokes my resolve to once again sip  from freedom cup.

Nonetheless, until the gates of free will swings in my favor, I reluctantly continue to walk the line, head up and eyes forward look on my future.

By Mark A Jarosik

Trump pardons legendary heavyweight champ Jack Johnson

PRISON TO EMPLOYMENT CONNECTION (PEC)

by

Prison to Employment Connection (PEC) is one of the most valuable programs at San Quentin for men looking to the future. Twenty-two inmates graduated from the program’s seventh session in May.

The week before graduation, the men did face-to-face interviews with employers looking to hire qualified formerly incarcerated citizens.

More than 40 participants enrolled in the program in February to learn interview skills, résumé writing and other forms of communication. In doing so, they were able to determine what career path was right for them upon release from prison.

“I was really excited to interview with some of the employers that I didn’t think I would want” (to work for), said inmate Robert Polzin, 42. He’s been incarcerated two years. He said he thought he’d be a welder but now he thinks he’d be a better supervisor.

Diana Williams, PEC’s executive director, led the employers and guests into the prison’s Protestant chapel, where the inmates formed a single-file line to greet them, shaking hands with friendly smiles. She reminded the men of what they’ve accomplished over the past 15 weeks.

“You are so ready,” she said.

Many of the employers agreed.

Prison To Employment

“I’ve had some of the best interviews in here today than on the outside,” Maggie McVeigh of McCall’s Catering said. “I once had a lady show up to interview in a bathrobe.”

The employer day also offered re-entry information and services for the men. Pastor Ronnie Muniz is formerly incarcerated. He served time in San Quentin in 1989 and paroled in 1995. He now works at two churches that provide re-entry services. He helps the formerly incarcerated reconstruct their lives.

“I want you (guys) to have something to go back to,” he said. “I know the struggle.”

Muniz said his churches work with anyone incarcerated or at-risk.

Because of the graduation ceremony, PEC typically receives the most attention after the 16-week program ends. What is not known, however, is the amount of hard work and dedication that takes place by all stakeholders in the weeks leading up to graduation day.

During the last week of February, Williams, and volunteers Bre Davis and Gabrielle Nicolet joined inmate participants in San Quentin’s interfaith chapel on a Thursday evening for orientation. Dozens of men housed throughout the prison signed up to attend the program. Not all were eligible to attend because their release dates were too far away. For those who were accepted, completing the course was no small undertaking.

The 40 men who filled the prison’s chapel were completing forms to help them determine what was a good career path to choose. Some had never considered what they were interested in doing for work, hobby or recreation. The forms afforded the men an opportunity to carefully evaluate their work values, strengths and career options.

Williams explained that one of the forms had “interest codes” on it. Once the class completed the forms, inmate and PEC volunteer Angel Falcone discussed interest inventory results with the class. Then the class separated into seven groups upon completing the forms.

Inmates read what they’d written about themselves. One inmate said that his score revealed that he likes order, is persistent and calm. It also said he is stable, controlled and dependable.

“Intuitive” is how group A was described. They tend to come up with new ideas; they can be interested in performing and visual arts, museums, and they like small intimate groups.

Eddie Herena, 35, was in group I. He learned about his personality traits. He’s good at math and science. He enjoys reading and scientific activity. As it turns out, Herena volunteers as a math tutor in the prison’s education department.

For the better part of two hours, it was the first time many inmates explored career options by looking at four things in which they were interested. These types of exercises continued through the duration of the class.

In mid-March inmate Aaron Tillis, 34, said he wanted to learn how to format a résumé.

“I’ve been in prison since I was 20 years old,” he said. “This is like a stepping stone.”

Tillis said he doesn’t want to go back to the streets and do what’s easy. He explained that he has transferable skills and people skills.

“I’m looking forward to getting everything (PEC) has to offer so I can be beneficial to my family,” he added.

According to a 2018 report by the RAND Corporation, “The rate of criminal punishment in the United States has had far-reaching economic consequences, in large part because people with criminal records are marginalized within the labor market.”

There are, however, ways to work around barriers to entry into the labor force for ex-felons.

The RAND report says because of the adverse economic inferences, local, state and federal officials have created policies to persuade employers to hire ex-felons, with different degrees of success. “Ban the Box” is one of those policies. The criminal-background information portion of the process is delayed where recruitment is concerned. Employers may also consider the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). Certificates of rehabilitation that restore rights to ex-felons, and programs supported by the Department of Labor Reintegration of Ex-Offenders grants also reduce the adverse impact of a felony conviction.

“But all these programs to incentivize the hiring of ex-offenders have important limitations to improving ex-offender employment,” the RAND report said.

According to Williams, 168 inmates have graduated from the PEC program since it began in 2015. Of those graduates, 70 have paroled from prison.

Robert Fry graduated from PEC. He paroled from San Quentin in April 2014 after serving 25 years. “This prison was my home for 14 years,” he said. But he comes in to help the men he left behind and has spoken at several graduations. Recently, he advised the men to take some time to “breathe” when they parole and said a good strategy to find employment is the ABC method: Any job, Better job, Career.

The men in the PEC program come from different backgrounds. Harry “ATL” Smith, 31, has been incarcerated for seven years. During the 15 weeks of training he expected to learn résumé writing.

“I’ve never had a real career on the street,” he said. “This is preparing me for the workforce out there.”

Smith came to California from Atlanta, Georgia, on a basketball scholarship to play at California State University Northridge (Division 1). His size and sturdy physique speak to his abilities. When the division changed he transferred to San Francisco State University, Division 2. He said he may want to coach basketball, and the PEC curriculum is teaching him about the workforce.

“I want to be a voice for the incarcerated, to show that rehabilitation is real and it’s happening,” he said.

Smith said he earned his AA degree in physical education from Modesto Junior College. He’s also CTE (Career Technical Education) certified in heavy equipment operation.

“I expect that I will learn what kind of job I’ll be able to do,” said inmate David Boyle, 55. His group learned about their transferable skills. He used to be a driver, seeing patients as a nurse. “They don’t let you do that with a felony.” Because he still knows the region, he may drive in another profession. “I want to see what I can turn myself into.” This was his first time in prison. He’s been locked up since 2017 and paroled in June. “This kind of gives you hope.”

An added benefit to PEC training was outside help from companies in the local community. Williams said this was the first time this had taken place.

Clif Bar of Emeryville, has a strong social service department. Several of its employees came in as volunteers to help the men. Christina Gee is the company’s recruiting manager. She explained why she offered her service. “I read Bryan Stevenson’s book (Just Mercy).” She said we are all humans and deserve equal treatment, adding that if we don’t help people they can’t improve. She said her passion is helping with interviews and résumés to benefit people.

Another human resources operation team donated time as well. Melanie volunteered to help the men with their résumés. She works for a tech company that develops tracking software.

Prison To Employment

Six weeks into the program, in April, at the end of one class, Falcone explained why some employers won’t hire ex-felons. The discussion turned into a Q & A session during which one inmate said he didn’t want to work for any employer who looked at him as a criminal.

“If I were a business owner, I’d hire an ex-felon,” Smith said.

“If you have to hide that from an employer, maybe that’s not the place for you,” Davis said.

Another inmate facilitator said, “It’s your choice if you want to share that information.” He added that “if you were in prison, people want to hear you’ve changed.”

Yet one inmate participant said if you don’t disclose the information about being an ex-felon “it’s like being incarcerated all over again.”

Later in the evening, the men turned in two class writing assignments: a “This Is My Job” essay and a “Tell Me About Yourself” essay.

The RAND report said, “Several theories have been proposed to explain the mechanisms driving the strong and consistent negative relationship between incarceration and labor market outcomes. On the one hand, having a criminal record is associated with lower productivity and reliability.”

The following week at PEC, the men did five simulated interviews that lasted about 20 minutes each. They discussed negative aspects of their backgrounds and what they have done to address their criminal past. The conversations ranged across several topics: therapy, self-help groups, college, vocational trades and remorse.

The purpose of these exercises was to teach each student to be open and honest with employers. Learning straightforward communication is a lesson on breaking down barriers with the outside community.

Holly Streblow from Clif Bar’s Human Resources department worked with the men doing mock interviews to prepare them to meet employers. She said interviewing can defeat some people. She volunteers because she wants to contribute to something good.

Why do it in a prison? “There’s a lot in the world that’s not going right,” Streblow said. She said it can be overwhelming. “I could sit home and be frustrated by all the social problems or come here and work with people who will return to society and be better people.”

Prison To Employment

Streblow had hopes of later attending the job fair as a volunteer to support it. “I’d like to hear how it goes, because you learn a lot in preparing but you learn a lot in reflecting,” she said. “I’ve been moved and honored.” She studied sociology in college and said she has an interest in how people work together because she also gets to learn and benefit.

Clif Bar makes nutritional health food. “We’re a value-driven company,” Streblow said. “We care about the impact we make on the community, planet, people, business and brands.”

After each class ended for the men, PEC volunteers discussed what worked in class and exchanged ideas on what they could all do better.

“There was really good energy in the room tonight,” Williams said. “They were really prepared so it was hard to stick to the time.” The group considered extending the interview time by several minutes. “They always want more time.”

Predicting which employers will attend the event was a major topic of discussion. So was the confidence boost the training gives to the men. Because of long periods of incarceration, isolating them from society, some men have to learn how to interact with women. Others have problems such as forgetting to mention their commitment offense.

The volunteers anticipated how in the next class the men should bring up their crime. Tell them to have the “turn around talk,” one volunteer said, suggesting the men start by saying, “Here’s what I can offer you,” which is a turn-around packet that contains information about accomplishments in prison. The volunteers said the talks shouldn’t sound like they were read from a textbook.

Several years ago, the PEW Charitable Trusts published a report by the National Employment Law Project that said there are an estimated 70 million people trying to navigate their way back into society with a criminal record. “Some states, concerned with the high costs of keeping people locked up, are re-evaluating and removing some of the roadblocks that ex-offenders face when they are released,” PEW reported. “The goal: to increase the chances they’ll succeed in society and lessen the chances they’ll return to prison.”

According PEW, the American Bar Association reported there are over 45,000 laws that restrict people who have criminal convictions on their record. They range from “about 300 in Vermont to over 1,800 in California,” it was reported. These are “collateral consequences” that typically bar people with certain convictions from occupations that require state licenses. Voting rights and access to public housing are also restrictions that make it difficult to reenter society, the report said.

“Many states are now re-examining the consequences of the laws and taking other steps to reduce the collateral damage of having a criminal record,” PEW reported. “In some states, judges are allowed to remove some collateral consequences during sentencing by reducing or removing a bar to licensing, housing or other roadblocks offenders would face when they get out of prison.”

As the PEC volunteers and inmate facilitators discussed turn-around packets the conversation turned to a similar topic of inmates preparing to appear before the Board of Parole Hearings. This was because much like demonstrating to a potential employer why they are the right choice for a job, inmates must also convince the Board they are suitable for parole.

Prison To Employment

One inmate said it is the same as saying, “I want to be a valued member of your team.” The Board views the larger society as a team while employers view their organization as a team. Two inmates received denials of three and five years from the Board the day before class. They weren’t discouraged and still showed up to attend the PEC program through completion.

Williams thanked the volunteers for coming in to help. “I think this is going to make a huge difference in how they (inmates) interview,” she said.

“It gives us incarcerated guys a chance to build relationships,” said inmate volunteer Dwight Kennedy. “A lot of these guys trust you and your skills.” He also thanked the volunteers on behalf of all the other men in the program, adding “We know we’re not our crime.”

“Almost one in three adults in the United States has a criminal record that will show up on a routine criminal background check,” The National Employment Law Project (NELP) reported. “This creates a serious barrier to employment for millions of workers, especially in communities of color hardest hit by decades of over-criminalization.”

The NELP says it supports policies that create jobs to “enforce hard-won workplace rights, and help unemployed workers regain their economic footing.” Its Second Chance Labor Project promotes “employment rights of people with criminal records.” As such, it makes efforts to ensure that criminal background checks are accurate and fair to reduce preventable obstacles to employment.

During one class in April, Williams wasn’t able to attend, but that didn’t stop her volunteers. The scheduled presentation done by Falcone provided the men with information on jobs and financial preparation. Point by point, on a white board, he discussed employment, what to beware of, choosing a position, bank accounts, taxes, social security, retirement and starting a business.

Prison To Employment

Falcone, a former accountant, also discussed retirement, pensions, 401(k) plans, IRAs, Roth IRAs and certificates of deposit. One of the volunteers asked him about mutual funds. “Sorry, that’s not my specialty,” Falcone said. When the class ended the volunteers and inmate facilitators also discussed that two-hour session among themselves.

Williams returned the following week and the class discussed turnaround packets. She also explained the Ban the Box law and how it gives ex-felons control by being able to bring up their incarceration when they feel comfortable. “It empowers you,” she said.

Williams reminded the men to stress four points about their incarceration:

  • Be honest about their criminal record

  • Be accountable for what they’ve done

  • Emphasize they’re not the same person today

  • Discuss what they will do for the company

A few men practiced mock interviews with Williams. One didn’t do so well. He needed more work. Instead of continuing to work on his skills, he dropped out of PEC shortly before graduation. Attrition was a big problem this session.

Streblow’s point about interviews defeating some people was discussed, but most of the men’s interviews were polished.

The homework for the next class meeting was for the men to have their turnaround packets ready and 10 copies of their résumés. Class ended a little early, but some men were asked to stay to do work on their assignments and turnaround packets. Others remained to get feedback and advice from other inmate facilitators. They were determined to meet employers and make it to graduation in spite of the fact that they are convicted felons.

By early May, about 25 men were attending the class to do mock interviews with Falcone, Davis and Nicolet.

Prison To Employment

“I wasn’t expecting to meet the human resources department of Clif Bar,” Polzin said. “You really have to have a skill set to speak well and have some common ground with employers. It’s an avenue to expand my network of people.” He has as a current job offer but said, “It never hurts to have more.”

Zach Moore, 37, has been incarcerated for 21 years. He doesn’t have much work experience other than a part-time job washing dishes for about three months when he was free.

“I’ve never had a job interview,” he said. “My expectation is to get job (interview) experience.”

Moore has an AA degree from Palo Verde Junior College. He’s also an alcohol and drug studies specialist with certification as a counselor and supervisor. “What gave me the employable skills is The Last Mile’s Code 7370,” he said. At Ironwood State Prison he was accepted in the Code 7370 program. After the first phase of the program he was transferred to San Quentin to complete it. He said PEC is a foot in the door, a stepping stone.

“The groups here [at San Quentin] are real, the volunteers are real,” Moore said. “I see the fruits of their labor every day. It definitely shows success.” In the next five years, “I want to be an ambassador for everyone in prison that’s doing the right thing. Guys who are putting in the work should have an opportunity.”

In mid-May the men in West Block went on quarantine for nine days. It’s another side of prison the outside world does not see. The men face challenges incomparable to many beyond the walls of San Quentin. But with PEC they have one goal in mind: to use what they’ve learned when meeting employers.

According to the RAND report, an estimated 25 percent of the American population has a criminal conviction on their record. This means, they’ve been arrested for at least one misdemeanor or felony at some point in their lives.

“Regarding more severe offenses, 19.8 million people have at least one felony criminal conviction,” RAND reported. “By the end of 2015, the total adult correctional supervision population—including those incarcerated in local jails, state prisons, or federal prisons and those on community supervision (probation or parole)—was nearly 6.8 million.”

“There are two sets of economic discrimination theories to explain why firms choose not to hire ex-offenders even when they possess the necessary skills for a job,” RAND reported. First, “employers worry that their clients or employees associate ex-offender status with being a high-risk worker.” Second, “employers cannot be certain about the productivity levels of prospective workers.”

Employer day arrived and some men were nervous, but after 15 weeks of training they were “so ready,” as Williams said.

“I’ve been in prison 37 years,” said Seth ‘Venus’ Roundtree, who identifies as a woman. “I haven’t seen anything like this. It helped because I can speak in front of people with no problem.” She said visitors were anxious to come in and didn’t feel intimidated. “These people who come from the streets treat us like we’re human beings.”

Harry ATL Smith sits with employer prospect

Bart Pantoja, a business representative with the District Council 16 Apprentice Program of Northern California, made his first appearance at PEC. His organization has attended several of these employment seminars. He said the event is great and has purpose. “We try to recruit because our industry needs more workers.” The organization offers “union apprenticeships in drywall finishing, floor covering, glazing, highway striping and commercial & industrial painting,” its brochure states.

For inmates interested in self-employment, the nonprofit Meda offered its Mission Economic Development Agency’s information packet on starting a business, in addition to its Work Force Development Program.

There were more than a few guests who heard about the program and came to observe. Malcolm Gissen was one of them. This was his fourth visit to San Quentin. “I’m so impressed by the people that are here, that’s why I keep coming back,” Gissen said.

“I’ve devoted my life to social action,” said Gissen, who works with people coming out of prison and with the homeless. He teaches them about finances. He supports the program. “This (PEC) gives everyone hope.”

Tom Lacey was another guest. This was his first time attending the PEC event. He normally comes into San Quentin for the basketball games because his son plays on a team that competes with the inmate team. He said the purpose of his attendance was to understand what he can do to “marshal more resources” for PEC, which is a nonprofit.

The federal government has been inspiring companies to forgive ex-felons. According to PEW, a 2012 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guideline was issued to employers stating they should avoid a blanket ban on employing people with criminal records, because they could violate laws prohibiting racial discrimination. “Instead, employers should consider how old the conviction is and whether the crime would be substantially related to the job duties,” the report said.

After meeting the employers, some inmates acknowledged the value of what they were taught.

“I think I made some great connections,” Smith said. “I met some good people. They really care about us and want to give us a second chance.” He said Pastor Muniz told him that he has a job and a place for him to live through the church when he paroles.

“I’m grateful, because I’ve never taken the time to have a formal interview,” said inmate Aaron Tillis, 34. He said he was nervous but now he feels confident. He will parole in April 2020.

“I’m impressed that Diana (Williams) has it dialed in,” said Christina Gee, who works in human resources at Clif Bar. “We’re here to observe and be supportive. Clif Bar is supportive of employees giving their time to something they’re passionate about.”

Due to attrition more than half of the original attendees drop out. Jayro Magana, 21, was not one of them. Williams said he was the only one in the Youth Offender Program who made it to graduation. “I think you’re going to go out there and do great,” she said to Magana.

“PEC showed me there really are people out there that want to give me a second chance,” said Herena. He was found suitable for parole in February. He credits Williams, Davis and Nicolet for making it possible and thanked them for the opportunity to be a part of the program.

Before the graduation, Williams read interview assessments from employers and listened to feedback from the men before passing out certificates and a list of employers that hire ex-felons. She said, according to the employers’ assessments, 100 percent of the graduates interviewed the same or better than people in outside society; another 87 percent did better than those outside.

“They (employers) seemed to go out of their way to make us feel comfortable,” said inmate Maurice Brown.

Inmate Christopher Scull said, “I had a good time and it was a great opportunity. I’ve been out of practice but I never forgot it,” referring to his ability to interview and communicate with people in free society.

“I love this program,” Nicolet said. “This is the highlight of my week. I’m sad that it’s over until August.” She’s a former probation officer for juveniles in the state of Illinois. For the past few years she has helped facilitate PEC with activities such as grant writing.

Davis said, “It gets better and better. This has become one of the things I look forward to after a busy day at work. We learn from them (inmates) as much as they learn from us.” Davis has been volunteering with PEC for two and a half years, on and off. She previously worked with the California Re-entry Program. She holds a B.A. in sociology from California State University East Bay. She also has experience working in re-entry with men and women on probation in Alameda county.

Williams has been volunteering at San Quentin for four and a half years with California Re-entry Institute and TRUST (Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training). She holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is a Certified Professional Co-active Coach.

Prison to Employment Connection job readiness event


https://sanquentinnews.com/inmates-preview-job-opportunities-thanks-to-an-employment-readiness-seminar/

Inmates striving to become working citizens


Inmates preview job opportunities thanks to an Employment Readiness Seminar
Potential Employers Interview Inmates for Brighter Futures
Job Fair Sponsored by TRUST Program

Last RISE inmate graduation for Dante Callegari

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise

WALL CITY VOLUME 1: “The City of No Pity”

by

by FranCisco Vargas

When you walk thru the city of concrete and steel

Never turn your back to the snakes,

For you know their will.

They are slick and they are sly!

They will take your life

Without a blink of their eye!

Trust not whom you talk,

Beware of the ones, where you walk.

Within the heavy crowd in the yard is a rumble,

A shot is fired! A man has stumbled

But his fall was not from the bullet,

This man was stuck!

And he is out of luck,

Cause in this prison yard of madness.

There is no time for sadness.

For behind these bloody walls,

No one will come to his calls…A

In 1974, FranCisco “Cisco” Vargas spent time in a place he named, through poetry, The City of No Pity — San Quentin State Prison. The experience, he said, helped him turn his life around.

After getting out, he worked his way through the art world by specializing and painting large-scale murals on smooth or heavily textured walls. He drew upon his California Chicano-Latino heritage by combining vivid colors with classic lettering and picture imagery.

In 2014, Vargas designed and painted a mural in downtown Fresno. The mural is located on the Fresno Business Journal building, and measures 125 feet long by 33 feet high. It became known as the largest painted mural stamp in the United States.

“It was a huge challenge but one of the most rewarding,” Vargas said in an interview. With the majority of the work done alone, the mural took Vargas five and a half months.

San Quentin holds 15th Annual Health Fair

by

Hundreds of prisoners formed long lines on San Quentin’s Lower Yard at the prison’s 15th Annual Health Fair on Aug. 24.
Stations were set up throughout the prison where volunteers offered medical services and wellness information, ranging from blood pressure checks and chiropractic services to mental health seminars, diabetes tests and nutritional information.
In total, 156 volunteers served more than 2,000 prisoners throughout the day.
“It’s important for everyone to have the education to take care of themselves,” said Madeline Tenney, staff sponsor of a self-help organization Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training (TRUST).
“Don’t be afraid of information. Know your health status. It’s scary to go to the doctor and find out bad news, but if you don’t, it will kill you,” said Georgia Schreiber, Alameda County Public Health Department Investigator, as the volunteers went through an hour of orientation in the Protestant chapel before beginning the Health Fair at 10 a.m.
TRUST sponsored the one-day event in collaboration with various healthcare service providers in the Bay Area.
TRUST has different workshops based on how you live your life; you learn life skills, accountability, childhood trauma [effects], mindfulness as a tool to see what is going on inside and outside of self and gain emotional intelligence.
To guarantee the community explores all the Health Fair has to offer, many stations had raffle prizes, and a gift bag was offered to all men who visited at least one station in each of the four main areas of Education, Gym, Lower Yard and the ARC building.
THE PRISON GYM:
You may have seen men with tiny pink beads taped to the ear; they received acupressure ear seeds. Patients described an ailment and then a teacher or student from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine taped a bead onto a particular area of the ear.
This was just one of the services provided in the gym, which included chiropractors, acupuncture, Tai Chi and Qigong. Present also were notaries for California Advanced Health Care Directive (deathbed agent instructions and power of attorney), hand washing education and information about diabetes.
The Health Fair would not work without a multitude of incarcerated volunteers. Richard “3Dee” Benjamin, a Team Leader, is a 55-year-old lifer who is a TRUST Fellow. He has served 25 years. He volunteers to “offer the community a service—to give back.”
“I think this is a really exciting project because it’s run by inmates; we’re just invited. I’m really impressed by who they get to come,” Chief Medical Executive Dr. Tootell said.
Tootell has been invited to the Health Fair each of the past eight years.
Volunteer Charlie Thao, a lifer with 12 years in, learned Tai Chi through Restoring Our Original True Selves (ROOTS). “Tai Chi brings you health,” he said “It calms you down and releases stress. It’s like meditation.” Thao added that Tai Chi “spreads culture and brings diversity to the prison. I’m trying to make amends—give back to my community in small ways.”
Rev. Debbie has been teaching Tai Chi at the fair for five years. She’s also the Director of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity at United Interfaith Church of Christ. Her church brings together people to advocate for the end of deportation and mass incarceration.
“I keep coming back because I keep thinking about the people I met last year,” Debbie said.
Arrison Seuga served 21 years in prison, 11 at Quentin. He paroled in 2010. When he worked in Receive and Release, he only met people who failed on parole and came back to prison. Now he’s a re-entry director with Asian Prison Support Community (APSC). He came back to share.
“We only heard stories from recidivists,” Seuga said. “We [people successful on parole] weren’t allowed back in. Now I wanted to be that example.” Seuga asked, “Who better to inform those who are getting out on parole than those who have navigated it successfully?”
“We have twice as many chiropractors as last year,” chiropractor John said. “Thirty-three is the most we ever had.” Chiropractor Paul grew up in Roxbury, Boston. He’s a Black man who participates as part of his commitment to social justice. This is his fourth SQ Health Fair. “I honestly feel no one should be judged,” Paul said. “People are people.”
“Each year teams are run smoother, and we manage to take care of more inmates every year,” chiropractor John said. “Our goal is to take care of everybody who needs it.”
One of the most significant stations was a table staffed by three notaries ready to execute an Advance Healthcare Directive for the men. Maria D., office manager at Alameda County Care Partners, explained the Advance Directive, “The idea is to plan ahead in the event something happens to you and you want to appoint someone to make decisions regarding your healthcare,” said Maria D. of the Alameda County Care Partners.
EDUCATION BUILDING:
In the Education Building on the Lower Yard, dental hygienists gave instructions about dental care and mental health professionals offered 20-minute seminars on a variety of topics for developing inner freedom or self-expression.
There were more than 30 men who attended Ms. Strock class. Strock is an art and recreation therapist, who has worked for CDCR for more than six years. “I work at the psychiatric inpatient hospital in the main buildings helping with long term inpatient care,” Strock said, as she prepared for her first session.
Strock’s session has three areas of focus: centering mechanisms (your attention/self), body posture; and art processes.
“We’re looking for a reason to have purpose in life. Art is such a purpose,” Strock said. “Many of my clients are deeply discouraged and depressed, but a way to communicate and express.
These feelings is critical.”Dental care has always been a focus on the Health Fair, and it was again this year in education.
“I enjoy doing this,” said Shawnette, a registered dental assistant who has worked at SQ for nine years and volunteered for five years. “From the first health fair to now, a lot of patients are genuinely concerned about their oral hygiene. It’s a joy to me to pass on this information to the patients.”
At her station they offered basic oral hygiene and how to identify an emergency.
“Pain is an emergency,” Shawnette explained. “No pain isn’t.”
If you missed the Health Fair, under CDCR rules, people over 50 are entitled to a dental examination every year; for those under 50, it’s every two years.
“I’ve seen big-time improvement in the dental health of the inmates,” Shawnette said.
ARC BUILDING:
The ARC building was organized to provide a full range of health screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol (with the results provided immediately), Body-Mass Index (BMI) and weight checks, vision and hearing. These screenings were offered by both CDCR personnel and the San Francisco State University (SFSU) School of Nursing students and newly minted registered nurses and professors.
“These basic health screens are essential to identify if you have a problem; “we’ll give detailed info for your next appointment and recommend it,” said Beth Kao, an SFSU Nursing Student.
The volunteer inmates organized the attendees in lines and prepared them to efficiently make use of the multiple health screening stations.
“I believe in giving back to my community. I’ve been in for 21 years, and this is my way of contributing,” TRUST volunteer Tim Warren said.
Warren gave credit to TRUST. “TRUST is a program where we help men turn liabilities into assets. We work to develop a full set of tools to become a better man,” .
LOWER YARD:
The Lower Yard echoed with the music of participants practicing spiritual healing through drumming. All were welcome to try their hand at the shared experience sponsored by Alameda County Public Health as hundreds of men lined up at over a dozen stations set up on the Lower Yard.
A station with much attention was the CDCR’s 602 HC. the health care grievance process was explained by RN Podolsky. She detailed recent changes such as there are now only two levels and a 45-day review period. She reminded the community that this was a combined health and legal process; therefore, even though the health care matter was reviewed within a day, the legal process could take much longer. She always advised that if it is an emergency, go through the normal appointment process for quicker service.
The Bay Area service providers included the Bay Area Black Nurses Association, Alameda County Health Department, San Francisco State University Nursing School, the San Quentin State Prison Medical Department, and Centerforce.
Centerforce provides incarcerated individuals and their families a variety of services from parenthood classes and health education to connections to services upon release.
–Rahsaan Thomas, Marcus Henderson and Lloyd Payne contributed to this story

KID CAT graduates 43 in its fourth cycle

More inmates taking meds for mental health issues

Prisoners seek hepatitis C treatment


Boatwright

Project Avary march

by

When a parent winds up behind bars, the children suffer the stigma of that incarceration. That was the message from Project Avary attending San Quentin’s 2nd Annual “March for the Next Generation.”
The Sept. 8 march brought together prisoners and young adults, who have been affected by having an incarcerated parent. Project Avary (Alternative Ventures for At-risk Youths) teamed up with San Quentin’s Kid CAT (Creating Awareness Together) youth offender program in organizing the march.

“Growing up, the family tells you not to talk about your parent being in prison. You are taught to hide your emotions,” said Eric Erhart, Project Avary alumnus and program coordinator. “Project Avary let me get things off my chest. They made me realize it was OK to express my emotions.”
Project Avary board members, friends, families and San Quentin volunteers also participated in the march.
“I came to meet the incarcerated parents on a personal level and not just the labels,” said Dawn Grzena, Avary board member. “We are all in this for the kids. The kids are the future, but they get dumped on and become that invisible group. They are good kids. They deserve a chance.”
The march fundraising effort collected more than a $1,000 in donations from within the prison.
This was in addition to the $9,000 in outside donations.
Project Avary provides youngsters between the ages of 8 and 11 a long-term 10-year commitment to support them in their lives. The youth participate in annual camping trips and weekly activities.
“I was five years old when my parents broke the news that my father was in prison,” said Monica Garcia, daughter of Nicholas Garcia, who paroled from San Quentin. “I thought if people thought my father was bad—then I’m bad.

“Project Avary is where kids can be kids with people they can relate to. I was still a daughter of an incarcerated parent until two years ago,” added Monica. (Her father spent 40 years in prison before his parole.) “Give your kids the power not to be incarcerated by your incarceration,” she said.
The march included more than a walk. It featured speakers, spoken-word recitals and musical acts. Program coordinator Erhart and Avary participant Allison, 18, read poems reflecting their thoughts and feelings about dealing with a jailed parent.
“Moving from house to house because there is no father to support our family/ having dinner without him/celebrating birthdays without him/him not being there to watch us graduate/there is all this stuff that was not easy for me as a child of an incarcerated parent,” read Allison to the large crowd.
“At Project Avary you have something [more] in common with the kids than you have at school,” said Allison. “There you don’t face the judgment. You get to open up and see that people care. There we formed a family.”
Erhart performed his poem “Incarcerated” with passion and drama.
“I have been incarcerated internally/ immensely infected by society incompetence to identify the issue/ the nation has negated my need for nourishment/ denying me — necessary nurturing by imprisoning my nurturer,” read Erhart. “Remember the reality is those reprimanded are not only the rule breakers/but the respective relatives whose lives are now regulated.”
Prisoners Jason Jones and Eric (Maserati-E) Abercrombie performed “Statistics” a hip-hop song about the increasing incarceration numbers. “We got to bring the numbers down,” yelled Jones.
Kid CAT member Nahzee Flowers spoke about having both his parents incarcerated, which sent him through the child-care system.
“I was adopted into a good home,” said Flowers. “But I still felt like if my parents didn’t love me, I couldn’t be loved. Then I gravitated toward the streets.”
Avary’s Dr. Mimi Pepitone, added “I had a nephew murdered as a teenager. We were so busy going to work and school that we weren’t paying attention to the kids around us. We started investigating and found that most kids had incarcerated parents. They didn’t feel love, and they didn’t see a future.
“So what we do is bring them a future within our program,” said Pepitone.
The event concluded with words of bonding, shared among the crowd.
The attendees formed a large circle around the yard, held hands, and on the count of three they lifted their hands in the air, and, in unison, yelled “Family!”

Helping Children Deal With Their Incarcerated Parents

Project Avary Provides Children With Summer Camp Retreats

‘Get on the Bus’ unites children with their incarcerated parents

S.Q. Warriors take trophy back

by

The San Quentin Warriors won again!
For the second straight year, the prison’s premiere basketball team beat the Golden State Warriors squad of staffers 93-85 in a community atmosphere that featured NBA-playoff intensity. The victory had particular significance for San Quentin power forward Harry “ATL” Smith, who paroled a few days after the game.

“All praise is due to God,” Smith said. “It’s bigger than basketball. This program has really been my family. When I get out, I plan to continue repping the Warriors and Jesus Christ.”
The annual games between Golden State (GS) staffers and San Quentin (SQ) started in 2012.
They match up incarcerated men against management, coaches and employees of the NBA champions.
The events unite affluent NBA executives—including Warriors’ assistant general manager Kirk Lacob, son of the team’s owner Joe Lacob—with incarcerated people, through their common love of basketball.
Golden State leads the series four games to three; however, SQ has won two straight since Rafael Cuevas went from point guard to coach. His motto: character comes first, talent second.
“We’re not on this team for nothing,” SQ King Jason Robinson, who suited up with the SQ Warriors, said. “We proved we’re worthy to play with people from the outside and show what community is all about.”
For the Sept. 5 game, Lacob showed up with a team that included Nick Kerr (son of Golden State Coach Steve Kerr), Kent Lacob, Assistant Coach Chris DeMarco and others. First-round draft pick Jacob Evans, a former Cincinnati Bearcat, came for moral support, as signed players are not allowed to play.

The Golden State staffer squad was loaded, but it was missing its leading scorer and rebounder, Bob Myers, two-time NBA General Manager of the Year. Myers usually shows up and shows out but injuries caused him to miss the event.
“Bob had hip surgery,” Lacob said. “He had the operation in May and trained hard so he could rehab in time to be here, but he over-did it.”
Evans, the draftee, came along to see how good the SQ team is and to bring happiness to the incarcerated population.
“I feel like everybody deserves a second chance,” Evans said. “You never know what somebody’s situation is, so it’s important to show that you care.”
The day had a festive atmosphere, starting pregame when SQ resident Philippe Kelly rapped “The San Quentin Warriors Song.”
Then, under an overcast sky, hundreds of fans surrounded the basketball court on the yard as Aaron “Showtime” Taylor announced the starting five for GS, then for SQ.
GS scored first. Chris DeMarco received a pass inside and made a lay-up.
SQ’s Anthony “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Ammons responded with one-and-one.

First year SQ Warrior Delvon Adams, who started at point guard, followed with a lay-up inside.
A determined Lacob tried to snatch a rebound out of the hands of SQ vet Allan McIntosh. The refs called a jump ball.
Taylor, SQ’s play-by-play announcer, had some fun with Lacob’s aggressive play. “Kirk ran up on him like he wasn’t scared he’s in a prison,” Taylor said.
At the end of the first quarter, SQ’s Tyrrell “City Life” Price Sr. made a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 29-18 lead.
“We’re only down 11; we’re good,” Evans said.
In the second quarter, Kerr, who played for the University of San Diego, came off the bench and helped get GS back into the game, nailing a trey from the corner to bring GS within five at 31-26.
Prison Sports Ministry sponsor Patrick Lacey, who suited up with GS, made an and-one with three SQ players surrounding him to bring GS within two points with 1:48 left in the half.
The half ended with SQ up by a thread, 46-45.
Aaron Miles, coach of the Warriors’ Santa Cruz G-League team, spoke at halftime. Miles, now 35 years old, was the all-time leader in assists in the Big 12 while playing for the University of Kansas. He went on to play for Golden State in 2005, and then played professionally overseas. At the annual game, he coached GS.
“I had a brother who was locked up and I questioned what he would do when he got out,” Miles said. “Now he’s ministering, going to school and doing the right thing. There is something special meant for you when you get out.”
Harry “ATL” Smith spoke at halftime as well, saying that at college, basketball was a business that used him up. The school didn’t care about his grades, only that he could ball. At San Quentin, he found a team focused on character.
That philosophy served him well. For Smith, a tryout for the Santa Cruz Warriors awaited his release.
“ATL is strong physically,” Miles said. “More than anything, I like his character. I’m excited for him to go out there and make a life for himself, to have success at whatever he does.”
As the halftime show, SQ residents David Jassy, a Grammy nominated rapper and producer from Sweden, and Joshua Burton performed an original rap song called “I’m a Champion.”
“No matter what happens today, I’m not quitting, I’m a champion,”Jassy rapped.
The home team kept the intensity up in the third quarter, which ended with SQ up 65-58.
Antwan “Banks” Williams, the sound designer for hit podcast Ear Hustle, performed another rap song between quarters.
In the fourth, Kerr made a series of shots that brought GS to within one point at 71-70 with 7:45 left. First he got fouled from behind the arc and made two of three free throws. Then he made five more points scored.

Smith answered with a hook shot in traffic and SQ’s Dejon Joy added another basket to pull away again.
“Delvon and Dejon played big in this game,” Cuevas said. “They were great mid-season additions who came and dedicated themselves.”
GS’s David “Just Dave” Fatoki stepped up. The 25-year-old from St. Louis played for the University of Washington and pro overseas in Spain. Now he works for GS basketball operations.
With six minutes left and his team down six, Fatoki made a three that made the score 76-73.
But Ammons answered with a runner in the paint, and shortly after that, Joy made an up and under scoop shot over Fatoki.
Smith fouled out with 1:45 left in the game. The crowd applauded.
Fatoki fouled out on the next play and Lacey shortly after as SQ continued to increase its lead.
With SQ up 93-85 and timing running out, DeMarco made a three-pointer too late to count. He led GS with 33 points, 14 rebounds and five fouls. Kerr added 23 and Fatoki 13.
“They attack the basket so much,” DeMarco said.”It’s hard not to foul.” Ammons led SQ with 17 points. Smith added 16 and McIntosh 14.
For the second year in a row, the San Quentin Warriors posed with the NBA trophy in front of a banner that saluted the NBA champions, designed by SQ artist Bruce Fowler.
“It’s surreal,” SQ guard Jesse Blue said. “It’s like finally arriving to some degree. It’s like showing the world we can actually play.”
Kirk Lacob and Miles reported to center court to pay off the pushup bets they lost.
Lacob jokingly blamed the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the defeat.
“We lose every time we bring it in,” Lacob said. “Maybe we should leave it here.”

Grammy Winner LeCrae Moore’s inspirational message

The 100th Edition of San Quentin News

San Quentin music reaches New York City

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise

Rising operatic star mesmerizes SQ

by

Rising opera singer Sara LeMesh brought her musical talents to San Quentin State Prison, mesmerizing her captive audience with her singing and charm.
In the prison’s Catholic chapel, LeMesh used the power of her soprano voice to entertain an audience of more than 100 as she ran through a set of 19 songs on a Sunday evening in August.
The men appeared focused as LeMesh sang, relaxing them all into a contemplative mood.
“I never thought I’d see this in prison,” Benito Sosa, 32, said. He arrived at San Quentin six months ago. “I think it’s cool.”
LeMesh resonated in four languages: Italian, French, Latin and English. The first eight songs, beginning with “Caro mio ben,” were sung in Italian or French. The last was “Nuits d’etoiles.”
“It’s a French song, and it’s about being outside on a starry night,” she said. “What’s the point in singing in a foreign language if you can’t share something?”
“It’s beautiful,” Daniel Arciniega, 51, said. He arrived at San Quentin five months ago. “Excellent songs. Her personality is nice. I appreciate the program.”
Following her skill singing in French, LeMesh switched to her native language, English. She said many people’s reference to opera is that it’s sung in Italian. “There’s a lot of opera in English.”
I Attempt from Love’s Sickness was the first song sung in English.
“It’s about an angel,” LeMesh said.
LeMesh followed up with Music for a While. “It’s about how music can be really healing and make such a big difference,” she said,
The music is said to be so powerful in this song that it can make the snakes drop from Medusa’s head.“The Healing Power of Music” is how the organization Bread & Roses promoted this concert, just as it does many of its other shows. Lisa Starbird works with the organization and brought LeMesh into the prison to sing. She too pronounced the singing very enjoyable.
By the time LeMesh had completed singing 15 songs, Starbird noticed, “She hasn’t taken a sip of water.”
Starbird has been bringing music into the prison through Bread & Roses for five and a half years. In total, however, the organization has been bringing music to San Quentin for more than 40 years.
“This is a religious piece,” LeMesh said of the song “Et Exultavit Spiritus Meus.” “Most religious songs, particularly Catholic, are Latin. (This is) a prayer, but a very uplifting one.”
She said Bach wrote it.

“You can tell it’s a prayer,” she added. Next was Laurie’s Song, a four-minute piece from the opera The Tender Land. It’s about a girl who is afraid but excited to leave home and see the world. LeMesh conveyed the girl’s fear singing, “Once I thought I’d never go outside this fence.” As the piano recording played melodically through the chapel speakers with chord progressions alternating in and out, there was a long rest that allowed LeMesh time to sing a cappella.
“This is an Irish tune about the perspective of an older man,” LeMesh said of the song “The Salley Gardens.” It tells the story of a man who let go of love when he was young.
On the song Ave Maria, LeMesh said to the audience, “If you want to, close your eyes or hum along if you know it.”
When the sound of chords played as arpeggios on the piano recording, it was obvious to some musicians the song was Prelude in C.
“I didn’t realize how moving and emotionally powerful opera is,” inmate David Rodriquez, 22, said. “I want to hear more of it.” He said he wants to purchase some opera CDs.
“Amazing Grace” was the last song in the set. Because it was a familiar piece, the inmates sang along. Afterward, they gave LeMesh a loud standing ovation, applauding and cheering loudly.
For an encore, LeMesh played the piano and sang. Her bottle of water placed atop the piano was still full as she sang a piece about California. She received a second round of applause and another standing ovation.
“She’s an absolutely awesome singer and performer,” inmate Jeff Atkins, 56, said. “I couldn’t leave. You don’t expect that big sound out of someone that little.”
After the performance, LeMesh graciously shook hands and spoke with men who stood in line to thank her.
“You’re angelic,” said an inmate who introduced himself as Anthony.
LeMesh said she started singing at age 9. At 13, her music teacher told her mother that LeMesh had a classical voice so she could no longer adequately teach her. That’s when LeMesh said she realized she had a gift.
“I’m lucky my parents took time to research music for me,” she said.
According to her website, LeMesh has attended music festivals all over the world, to “hone my craft” in places such as Salzburg, France; Santa Barbara, California; and Lenox, Massachusetts. She’s also performed at the Mendocino Music Festival and American Bach Soloists.
Last year, LeMesh performed at the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar, Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival & School, Song Fest, and Mozarteum International Summer Academy.
According to the New York Times, LeMesh, a Marin County native, returned to her home in the Bay Area after earning her master’s degree. She later sang with the San Francisco Opera during its 2015 season. She also found time to learn computer coding.
“I have loved learning about coding and software and now understand that my desire to analyze music is not that different from breaking down code,” she said.
LeMesh holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University and a Master of Music degree from the Bard College-Conservatory of Music.

Blues musician Maxx Cabello rocks the yard

Prisoners & Volunteers Sing Christmas Carols

Grammy Winner LeCrae Moore’s inspirational message

NY’s Metropolitan Museum of Art comes to SQ

“I am…I will…I’ll be….”

by

I am master; I can never truly reveal my art;

I am artist, only I can perceive my masterpiece.

I am a magician; I will never reveal my trick;

I am a trickster. I perform elusive magic.

I am of virtue, I am worthy meritoriously;

I am of merit, this commence of great virtue.

I am a leader, I adhere the chain of commands;

I command with a compelled spirit, this makes for great

Leadership.

I am a scholar, I attain by digging my wit;

I am quick-witted, my erudition is defined scholastically.

I am a good listener, I observe before making an oration;

I will become a great orator by careful listening.

I hope to inspire, I will start with aspiration;

My will to aspire will one day gain inspiration.

I am brave by encountering my fears;

This makes me fearless, I counter with bravery.

I am important, I cherish all wealthily;

Once I am wealthy, I will acknowledge the importunate.

I am labeled an enemy, although I am quite friendly;

I am also ones’ friend, I may be ones enemy.

I am generous—Seek and will present with charity;

Because I am charitable, I give and donate generously.

I am considerate and Vigilant by great writing;

I am a writer, I will edit and re-edit.

I would like to brake and provide for mankind;

Most of all…I am a man, I will bring home the bacon.

By: Kue Lao K91134

DVI State Prison

P.O. Box 600

Tracy. CA 05378

“No one – not even the government itself – has ever been able to specify with any certainty the precise number of federal crimes defined … in the 27,000 or so pages of the U.S. Code.” In the 1980s, lawyers at the Department of Justice estimated that the criminal code contained 3,000 crimes.  Today, the Heritage Foundation estimates the federal laws currently enumerate nearly 5,000 crimes, a number that grows every year.

Holly Harris, Executive Director of the U.S. Justice Action Network, told Foreign Affairs Magazine in “The Prisoner Dilemma”  March /April 2017 www.ForeignAffairs.com

“64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in pretrial custody because they cannot afford bail.  Jail Profile Survey, http://www.bscc.ca.gov/

PPI’s “Correctional Control: Incarceration and Supervision by State” is the first report to aggregate data on all types of correctional control nationwide.

News briefs October 2018 Tennessee, Georgia, Texas…

by

1. Tennessee –A lawsuit raises inadequate treatment for claims diabetic inmates as well as claims of under-staffing since the private prison firm, CoreCivic Inc., opened Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility in 2015. Last year an audit reported that gangs run rampant in Trousdale because of insufficient security, according to the Nashville Tennessean. Understaffing is also key to the diabetes lawsuit, alleging that Trousdale goes on lockdown for weeks at a time — causing diabetic treatment to become worse.
2. Georgia –A federal court has ruled that private prison firm CoreCivic Inc. can be held liable for forcing detained immigrants to work for as little as $1 a day to clean, cook and maintain a prison it operates, the Southern Poverty Law Center reports. Detainees who refuse to work are threatened with solitary confinement and the loss of access to basic necessities, like food, cloth- ing, products for personal hygiene, and phone calls to loved ones, in violation of federal anti-trafficking laws, according to the law- suit.
3.1 Austin, Tex. – Lewis Conway Jr. is the first formerly incarcerated person in Texas to run for public office, reports Spectrum News Staff.
3.2 Atlanta– Two years into litigation about prisoners who spend years in solitary confinement in Special Management Unit onto the streets and to restrict the department’s overuse of solitary confinement for people with serious mental illness,” reports Courthouse News Service. The July 31 letter quotes expert witness Craig Haney as calling Georgia’s solitary confinement system one of the most draconian in the nation.

4. Jackson, Miss. — Prisoners represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and Southern Poverty Law Center claim that a privately run prison is so unsanitary, unhealthy and unsafe that it violates the U.S. Constitution’s 8th Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment, reports The Associated Press. The allegations prompted a federal judge to order an expert to re-examine the prison.

5. Montgomery, Ala. – Corrections officials say 51 of the state’s 180 inmates on Death Row have chosen nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method after lawmakers approved it as a choice, The Associated Press reports.
6. Florida – Broward County inmates with serious mental illnesses suffer unnecessarily, sometimes without treatment, in inhumane conditions, according to a recent report, accord- ing to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The 88-page report was part of federal monitoring of the county’s jails. The report reviewed care provided by the sheriff’s office, which oversees four jails.

7. Texas – Criminal justice and child protective services professionals told legislators that the Texas is severely lacking in treatment services to combat the opioid crisis and other substance use problems, the Statesman reports. Officials say there is a huge gap between individuals’ needs and the state’s ability to serve, with many people in rural areas often having to drive far distances to gain access to treatment.
8. Austin, Tex.–The state prison system considerably cut the cost of inmate calls home by more than 75 percent with a new phone contract more favorable to inmates and their families, the Houston Chronicle reports. Currently, instead of paying an average of 26 cents per minute, prisoners will pay 6 cents per minute no matter the destination of the call. Also, the limit on phone calls was increased from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
9. Boston – The American Federation of Teachers is asking its union members to cut their exposure to investment firms that have directed millions of dollars into private prisons companies CoreCivic Inc. and GEO Group Inc., reports Reuters.
PPI’s “Correctional Control: Incarceration and Supervision by State” is the first report to aggregate data on all types of correctional control nationwide.

Suit alleges GEO operates ‘deadliest immigration center’

Solitary Watch offers inmates photographs beyond a gray wall


http://sanquentinnews.com/pennsylvania-awards-325000-37-years-confinement/

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise

Translate »