Sister Karen Conover will be winding up 15 years as director of San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel choir for a new ministry.
She will be departing in August for a new role of “internal community service” to the retired sisters who live in an assisted and skilled nursing community at their mother house complex in Dubuque, Iowa.
Sister Karen, BVM, had been ministering to the men of San Quentin’s Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Chapel with her singing and music since September 1999, when she was first invited to visit by Franciscan Brother Rufino Zaragoza, OFM.
“It was a chance meeting. I came and was hooked. In those days we had about 200 men in orange at the services,” Sister Karen says of her initial visit.
She belongs to the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She began her primary ministry teaching high school chemistry at St. Paul’s Parish in San Francisco from 1980 to 1994, where she also taught choral for a brief time and has led the Saturday afternoon parish music program since 1981.
In 1995 she transferred to Holy Names High School, an all-girls school in San Francisco, where she also taught chemistry.
“I enjoy making chemistry accessible to students, especially girls, whether practical or mathematical, in order to help girls to believe it’s accessible,” she said.
She says that she likes teenagers, especially high school juniors, “because they’re old enough to start being their own person but not too old to get ‘senioritis.’”
Regarding her ministry at San Quentin, Sister Karen pointed out that she has a lot of experience choosing appropriate music for the readings and seasons, declaring, “These days we utilize more contemporary liturgical music.”
“Outside people bring a ‘ministry of presence’ to men who are incarcerated,” she tells San Quentin News, adding, “I find a tremendous amount of spirituality here. People are doing real spiritual work such as working on humility, hope, etc., real Christian virtues, more than what I experience in an outside parish. They experience real growth.”
“I enjoy making chemistry accessible to students, especially girls, whether practical or mathematical”
Discussing how her San Quentin ministry has affected her, she said her former housemate and San Quentin parishioner, Sister Maureen O’Brien, BVM, who told her on numerous occasions, “On Sundays, you come home happy.”
“The choir has flourished under her leadership,” remarked Father George Williams, San Quentin’s Catholic chaplain. “I’m saddened; she’s a friend,” he added regarding her departure.
On Aug. 2 she will be celebrating her “Golden Jubilee” in San Francisco, commemorating 50 years since her consecration into religious service, with a second celebration to take place on Aug. 8 in Dubuque.
Despite looking forward to her new calling, Sister Karen admits, “Leaving is the hardest part.”
Choir member and guitarist Alan Brown lamented wistfully, “We’ll always carry her in our hearts here at San Quentin; there will be a missing spot for her for a long time.”
Feelings of ‘Hate, Resentment, and Bitterness’ in “B” Section
The following is reprinted from the San Quentin News, July 23, 1971. “Bastille by the Bay,” by J. Pence Wagner.
The crash of the porcelain wash basin reverberates throughout the tiers and the yells and screams deafen a man. A few minutes ago the guards led a youngster by with the blood dripping from his wrists; a guy on the next tier up has his bunk off the wall and is wearing himself out by crashing it into the door; the guy two cells down has just thrown his fluorescent light tube out onto the tier; this is “B” Section, San Quentin Prison on a rather normal evening.
I had the acute displeasure of spending five days there among the delinquent segment of our population, or at least that’s what they’re supposed to be. I’ve been in a few county jails, and a few “joints” in my day, but this one has to take the prize of being “the end of the road.”
If you like your mail late, your meals cold, and the medical officer making his walk through every morning; if you like the solitude of madness; if you like the filth and noise, constant, endless noise; if you really want to see for yourself man’s inhumanity to man, then spend a few days in “B” Section!
To fill you in on my absence, and to squash any rumors that might have sprung up, I was in “B” Section (suspected) of editing an underground newspaper. I didn’t, and am back at my desk, much wiser, and a little more aware of what’s going on around me.
Last week Phil Clark wrote about men in blue walking in circles. As I read his words, I thought about the men who walk the circle of a cell, and who for reasons of his own choice to “do their own thing” no matter what the consequences. The men whose lives revolve around a core of hate, resentment, and bitterness.
I wonder how you reach a man who has made a wall of hate his defense to the world? I wonder how you tell a man who is locked in a cell 24 hours a day, and make him realize the door will open to him one day, and he’ll be a part of society again? How do you convince a man, that no matter what he’s done, there is something for him someplace in the world? How do you convince a man that even though he is locked away from life, the sun, and even the sound of laughter, real laughter, that there is a place in the world for him?
How can you take a man who has spent a lifetime being a rebel, an outlaw, and teach him to adjust to society’s way of thinking? Do you do it by locking him away from the main population of one of the reputed heavier prisons in the system? I think there has to be an answer someplace, and the answer will come from the men themselves. I didn’t like it one bit in that place over there, and there are those of you reading this who’ve been there that will agree with me. It’s beyond me to think of an answer, but there must be some solution.
The experience was very much like that of being in the county jail. Most guys when they go to jail aren’t prepared for it. No lawyer. No bail money. No way of knowing what’s going to happen next. “B” Section is like that. Or at least it was like that to me. I sat there under investigation for a charge that could have very well been true. There was a justification on the part of staff because I am a writer, and I do know a little bit about the working end of a newspaper, and I know a little bit about editing and layout work.
I asserted my innocence, and after a complete investigation I was freed. But the fact remains that it happened. It could happen to any of us at any time. I think we have to be prepared to meet these “crises” now, because from experience they are bound to happen from time to time in the free world.
One thing I’ve learned from it all: if you’re telling the truth, and you’re right, no matter what happens to you, you’re bound to come out of it all right. I honestly believe that, even though my faith was a bit shaken up for a while.
I hope I never have to go back to “B” Section again for any reason, and I hope some day there will be no more “B” Sections. But I think it’s up to us, the men in blue, to find an alternative to these places. Until we do, they will exist, and men will continue to vent their frustrations, their anger, their futility, and their hopelessness against the walls, the basins, windows, light bulbs, and their own bodies.
Peace!
In 1972 Warden Clinton T. Duffy Pushed for Prison Reform
Jan. 28, 1972—Former San Quentin Warden Clinton T. Duffy continues his push for prison reforms.
Jan. 28, 1972—Educational program enables prisoners in maximum-security control units to receive high school diplomas.
Jan. 28, 1972—Prisoner Clyde Hall and three other inmates wound up in isolation after Hall was discovered at the bottom of a large hole in the South Block basement during an apparent escape attempt.
Jan. 28, 1972—Canine “Rebel” Adams becomes the official mascot of the San Quentin News.
Jan. 28, 1972—Group psychotherapy offered to San Quentin prisoners as a means to improve mental health.
Jan. 28, 1972—Skyline Gym introduces a new boxing contract.
Feb. 4, 1972—The new West Block canteen project known as Canteen West proves successful.
Feb. 4, 1972—New SATE program provides educational opportunities and support for San Quentin’s African-American men.
Feb. 4, 1972—The San Quentin Pirates hand U.C. Medical Center their third straight varsity basketball loss.
March 3, 1972—The California Supreme Court rules the death penalty unconstitutional, allowing 107 men and women to be released from Death Row at two institutions.
March 3, 1972—San Quentin’s population drops to 1,975, its lowest in over 50 years.
March 3, 1972—“Psycho,” one of East Block’s resident cats, survives a free fall from fifth tier while stalking winged prey.
March 3, 1972—The director of California’s Adult Authority temporarily suspends all community release passes.
March 3, 1972—Bob Roberts takes over duties as San Quentin News’ new sports editor.
March 9, 1972—One-hundred and sixty-two outside guests attend the 31st anniversary celebration of San Quentin’s Alcoholics Anonymous chapter.
March 9, 1972—Former state and federal prisoner Dr. Thomas H. Cox becomes assistant professor of law and justice studies at Glassboro StateCollege and pioneers a new college program at Leesburg State Prison in New Jersey.
March 9, 1972—Arab terrorist organization The Black September Group demands release of Sirhan Sirhan in exchange for diplomatic hostages in Sudan.
March 9, 1972—Seventy county prisoners are shipped to San Quentin for temporary housing following a disturbance and fire at local county jail.
The Infamous History of San Quentin State Prison
Jan. 28, 1972—Former San Quentin Warden Clinton T. Duffy continues his push for prison reforms.
Jan. 28, 1972—Educational program enables prisoners in maximum-security control units to receive high school diplomas.
Jan. 28, 1972—Prisoner Clyde Hall and three other inmates wound up in isolation after Hall was discovered at the bottom of a large hole in the South Block basement during an apparent escape attempt.
Jan. 28, 1972—Canine “Rebel” Adams becomes the official mascot of the San Quentin News.
Jan. 28, 1972—Group psychotherapy offered to San Quentin prisoners as a means to improve mental health.
Jan. 28, 1972—Skyline Gym introduces a new boxing contract.
Feb. 4, 1972—The new West Block canteen project known as Canteen West proves successful.
Feb. 4, 1972—New SATE program provides educational opportunities and support for San Quentin’s African-American men.
Feb. 4, 1972—The San Quentin Pirates hand U.C. Medical Center their third straight varsity basketball loss.
March 3, 1972—The California Supreme Court rules the death penalty unconstitutional, allowing 107 men and women to be released from Death Row at two institutions.
March 3, 1972—San Quentin’s population drops to 1,975, its lowest in over 50 years.
March 3, 1972—“Psycho,” one of East Block’s resident cats, survives a free fall from fifth tier while stalking winged prey.
March 3, 1972—The director of California’s Adult Authority temporarily suspends all community release passes.
March 3, 1972—Bob Roberts takes over duties as San Quentin News’ new sports editor.
March 9, 1972—One-hundred and sixty-two outside guests attend the 31st anniversary celebration of San Quentin’s Alcoholics Anonymous chapter.
March 9, 1972—Former state and federal prisoner Dr. Thomas H. Cox becomes assistant professor of law and justice studies at Glassboro State College and pioneers a new college program at Leesburg State Prison in New Jersey.
March 9, 1972—Arab terrorist organization The Black September Group demands release of Sirhan Sirhan in exchange for diplomatic hostages in Sudan.
March 9, 1972—Seventy county prisoners are shipped to San Quentin for temporary housing following a disturbance and fire at local county jail.
Revisiting San Quentin’s Notorious Seventies Era
Sept. 17, 1971—Mattress Factory Clerk Robert L. Higgs collapses from smoke inhalation while attempting to remove a burning cart full of Styrofoam believed to have been deliberately set ablaze.
Sept. 17, 1971—The California Apprenticeship Council adopts new regulation to increase employment of ethnic minority groups.
Sept. 17, 1971—San Quentin’s sheet metal shop workers complete construction of new ventilator for North Block.
Jan. 28, 1972—California’s Adult Authority passes a measure that would require all prisoners to be interviewed within six months of imprisonment in order to establish a tentative parole date.
Jan. 28, 1972—Former San Quentin Warden Clinton T. Duffy continues his push for prison reforms.
Jan. 28, 1972—Educational program continues for prisoners in maximum-security control units to receive high school diplomas.
Jan. 28, 1972—Prisoner Clyde Hall and three other inmates were placed in isolation after Hall was discovered at the bottom of a large hole in the south block basement during an apparent escape attempt.
Jan. 28, 1972—Canine “Rebel” Adams becomes the official mascot of the San Quentin News.
Jan. 28, 1972—Group psychotherapy is offered to San Quentin prisoners as self-improvement measure to improve mental health.
Jan. 28, 1972—Skyline Gym introduces new boxing contract.
Feb. 4, 1972—New West Block canteen project known as Canteen-West proves successful.
Feb. 4, 1972—New S.A.T.E. program provides educational opportunities and support for San Quentin’s African-American men.
Feb. 4, 1972—The San Quentin Pirates hand U.C. Medical Center their third straight varsity basketball loss.
March 3, 1972—The California Supreme Court rules the death penalty unconstitutional, allowing 107 men and women to be released from death rows at two institutions.
March 3, 1972—San Quentin’s population drops to 1,975, its lowest in over 50 years.
March 3, 1972— “Psycho,” one of East Block’s resident cats, survives free fall from fifth tier that occurred while stalking winged prey.
March 3, 1972—The director of California’s Adult Authority temporarily suspends all community release passes.
March 3, 1972—Bob Roberts takes over duties as San Quentin News’ new sports editor.
S.Q. Congregation Celebrates Easter Banquet in Catholic Chapel
The congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church at San Quentin came together in celebration during their annual Easter Banquet.
The banquet was held on Sunday evening, April 27, from 5:30 – 7:45 p.m., in the main sacristy of the Catholic chapel, and was attended by numerous inside and outside church members and guests.
The celebration began with a reading from the Gospel and a prayer by the pastor, Fr. George Williams. The serving of a sumptuous meal by several kitchen workers and other Catholic prisoners followed it.
“How good it is for brothers and sisters to come together in unity and love,” stated Shai Alkebulan, regarding the event.
The parishioners and other attendees were treated to turkey, hot links, flour tortillas, Spanish rice, baked potatoes and buttered broccoli, with a taco meat substitute for the vegetarians. In case that was not quite enough, there was frosted cake and ice cream for dessert.
Reiterating the sentiments of others at his table, Patrick Flynn exclaimed, “It’s a really wonderful meal and we’re very grateful.”
“I’m just happy that you guys are able to have a good meal, and that the good Lord has been smiling on you,” stated outside parishioner “Mother” Earline Gilbert.
New York Mayor’s Focus on Treatment Instead of Incarceration for the Mentally Ill
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has begun an initiative focused on treatment programs for the mentally ill, rather than incarceration.
One-third of the city’s jail population is comprised of mentally ill offenders who serve almost twice the amount of time as offenders without a mental illness, city officials report.
Longer incarcerations result from the mentally ill having fewer resources for posting bail. They often lack personal finances, or family members or friends willing to post their bail.
Mayor Bloomberg’s plan creates centralized teams to compile an offender’s mental health history. Such teams can provide risk assessments to judges more quickly to help them make informed decisions regarding bail availability, placement in community-based treatment programs, or other possible choices that might be considered.
The teams can also keep the courts appraised of a defendant’s progress.
The initiative is an improvement but not a total solution. There is still the problem of ensuring the mentally ill receive appropriate drug treatments and other disability benefits to reduce the chance that behavior causes them to be re-incarcerated.
City officials say they hope the program will take care of mentally ill people who commit minor offenses and pose no threat to public safety by sending them directly to treatment programs, rather than jail or prison.
Experts Favor Rehabilitation Programming Over Incarceration
California could reduce the number of people serving lengthy prison sentences by providing more drug-treatment programs before a person receives a third strike, say some independent experts.
The San Francisco Chronicle and California Watch obtained and analyzed state-compiled data on education, psychological and substance-abuse profiles of more than 49,000 California inmates, which revealed that two-thirds of third strike inmates have a high need for substance abuse treatment, compared with less than half of all inmates.
The information revealed that second- and third-strikers are no more likely than average state prisoners to require cognitive therapy for dealing with criminal impulses.
Some prison reform advocates say the data suggest that greater investments in drug treatment programs could reduce the likelihood of prisoners re-offending. San Quentin’s Hope for Strikers group agrees with this idea, offering repeat offenders a program modeled after the 12-step addiction recovery program.
California prisons are having a difficult time addressing offenders’ rehabilitative needs, including substance abuse, due to severe overcrowding. Corrections officials are developing a plan to expand rehabilitation services and place inmates where such services are available, former CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate told California Watch.
Bill Introduced to Regulate Federal Prison Industries
Newly introduced federal legislation may benefit both American prisoners and private companies.
The legislation, H.R. 3634, introduced by Congressman Bill Huizenga, Republican of Michigan, would level the playing field between government-owned UNICOR, also known as Federal Prison Industries (FPI), and private companies.
Federal law has required that government agencies buy their products from UNICOR without competitive bidding. Since December 2011, the relaxing of federal restrictions that prevented UNICOR from selling goods or services to any customers other than federal departments and agencies, UNICOR has experienced unprecedented growth.
According to company spokesperson Julie Rozier, the circumstances under which items can now be made are very limited. “If an item is being made off-shore, we can compete for that,” Rozier states.
Despite the limitations, critics complain that the changes have amounted to unfair competition because the prisoners earn as little as 23 cents to $1.15 an hour for their labor and UNICOR is not subject to the same workplace rules or minimum salaries as private companies.
Huizenga’s bill would help level the playing field by making UNICOR subject to the same rules and costs as private companies.
Federal prisoners would also benefit by their salaries being raised to the minimum wage, over time.
According to Huizenga, support for the bill has been “very bipartisan,” and has some 20 co-sponsors that include both Republicans and Democrats.
The legislation would not affect state prisons.
Faulty Lab Testing Spurs Review of Convictions
Federal officials are reviewing convictions based on potentially flawed hair sample lab analysis.
The concern surfaced when The Washington Post reported two cases where men were convicted based on faulty hair sample tests by the FBI lab.
The Innocence Project, an advocacy group that works to exonerate wrongly convicted persons, will provide an independent, third-party oversight of the review. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers will also assist in the review.
The effort is “a step in the right direction,” said Michael R. Bromwich, a former Justice Department inspector general, quoted in an AP report.