In their first season, the San Quentin Athletics came out winners.
Led by Managers Len ZeMarkowitz, Danny (Dano) Lepez, and Dick (Slick) Gilberti, the A’s finished with a winning record of 12-6.
Seeing a need for a second baseball team, inmates coordinated with S.Q.’s administration, who in turn contacted Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics’ equipment manager to see if they would be willing to donate uniforms, which they did.
“I have played baseball here for a number of years,” said Ke Lam, a player on the A’s, “and this has been the most cohesive and fun team I have ever played on.”
Led by inmate coaches John “Yahya” Parratt, and Jeff “Silk” Evans, the inmates were run through tryout drills before the team was selected.
“We have a lot of really good ballplayers,” said Parratt. “The players really get along well with each other. These men have risen above the prison politics to unite together as a team, working together to not only better themselves but also the team as a whole.”
“What I liked the most about this season was watching the camaraderie between the men,” said Evans. “Men who would not normally interact with one another came together to make this the funnest season of baseball that I have ever been involved with.”
The S.Q. A’s were led by three extraordinary volunteer coaches who have over 150 years of baseball experience combined.
“I have been coming to SQ to volunteer for over 20 years,” said Lepez, “finally the opportunity arose where we could take these men and help them to develop their skills (not just baseball) so that they will be better prepared upon their return to society. These men are learning valuable social skills and behaviors that will be instrumental in their success once they leave prison.”
If this past season was any indication, the S.Q. A’s will have a very bright future.
The A’s would like to thank S.Q.’s vice-principal Kellum, and coach Denevi for their support, as well as S.Q. Public Information Officer Captain Sam Robinson.
Volunteers and Prisoners Sing During Holidays At S.Q.
As inmates and visitors can tell you, San Quentin celebrates Christmas like no other prison in California. There were carolers in the cellblocks, a banquet honoring volunteers and inmates’ kids got presents around the Visiting Room Christmas tree.
One of the festive things about Christmas time in San Quentin for an inmate is hearing the carolers come into the housing units to sing traditional Christmas songs a cappella.
This year there were 56 volunteers and 12 inmates, led by Craig Singleton, a volunteer at the Protestant Chapel and head of the Dominican University Music Department.
“We come in with a spirit and attitude that we are here to uplift the men,” said one long-time volunteer, Jerry Stubblefield, a retired Golden Gate Seminary professor. “We come to minister in this place, but I would say that we are ministered to.”
Stubblefield added, “For several years we went into the gym. One of the things that amazed me, and it probably shouldn’t have, was that the inmates knew all of the carols and they sang with us. It made us feel great.”
Another festive event was a banquet honoring volunteers who work with inmates in Protestant Chapel programs.
In the past, volunteer Christmas carolers were confined to the entrance rotunda of Condemned Row, but for the first time the volunteers were allowed to enter into the Condemned Row housing unit.
The carolers sang traditional Christmas songs before the rapt audience of inmates as they sat locked inside their cells.
Many inmates joined in with the singing and when it was over there were numerous shouts of “Thank you!” and “Merry Christmas!”
“I really appreciated that people from the surrounding communities would take the time out of their busy lives to come in here to sing to us and bring us some Christmas cheer,” said Kris Miller, an inmate.
“I just sat back in my cell and closed my eyes and felt like I was in a different place for a few moments,” said Chris Murphey, another inmate, “I just wish they could of stayed longer,” he said.
The volunteers and inmates sang in North Block, South Block, West Block, and East Block (Condemned Row).
For 22 years, the Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin (VVGSQ) has been instrumental in making Christmas very special for the inmates and their visitors during Christmas time.
In previous years, veterans dressed as Santa and his elves would pass out toys to all the children who visited during the holidays.
One of the special things for inmates was having their pictures taken with their children and Santa Claus, but after 22 years of this tradition, the administration deemed the Santa Claus outfit was escape paraphernalia. So this Christmas there was no Santa in San Quentin.
— JulianGlenn Padgett contributed to this story.
S.Q. Giants Open With A Tough Loss
BY JEFF BROOKS
The San Quentin Giants squared up in their traditional Opening Day game against the Oaks/Cubs and on a day filled with pageantry, the Giants came away with their first Opening Day loss since their re-inception in 1994.
On Saturday, April 17, the day began for the Giants when the team gathered for their individual and team photos. Assistant Coach Mike Deeble passed out new S.Q. embroidered baseball hats that were donated by West Coast Sporting Goods, and th e team gathered for their photos on the San Quentin Field of Dreams.
The day’s introductions began with the Color Guard from the Vietnam Veterans Group of S.Q. marching in from right field to present the colors. Inmate Drew Schroller sang the National Anthem.
Inmate Chris “Stretch” Rich, who is recovering from an off-season knee surgery, and who has for years been the starting day pitcher for the Giants, was encouraged by his fellow players to throw out a first pitch.
TWO FIRST PITCHES
“It was nice that the players recognized it was not the same without me pitching on Opening Day,” said Rich. “Throwing out the Opening Day ball before the Warden was an honor.” Warden Vincent S. Cullen then took the mound and threw out the ceremonial Opening Day pitch, a low ball that squirted between the catcher’s legs.
“This is the fun part of the job,” said Cullen, who played in Little League when he was a boy. “It has been 28 years since I played slow pitch softball,” he said. When asked how he thought he would do throwing out the Opening Day pitch, he said, “There were multiple people who have helped me out ahead of time by throwing with me, and I did warm up today because I didn’t want to go out there cold,” he said.
San Quentin is one of the few prisons in the state with a hardball baseball team, and it is one of only a few in the entire nation that plays baseball games against outside teams.
GLAD TO BE HERE
All the team equipment has been donated by the San Francisco Giants clubhouse manager Mike Murphy. There was even a movie made about the team called “The Bad Boys of Summer.”
While large Canadian geese milled about, Elliot Smith, Manager of the Oaks/Cubs said, “I am very glad to be here, every year I play here I feel lucky.”
San Quentin prison officials who make the baseball program possible were on hand: Coach Don DeNevi, Principal Ted Roberts, Vice Principal Frank Kellum, Community Partnership Manager Laura Bowman Salzsieder, Administrative Assistant, Lieutenant Rudy Luna, and Public Information Officer Sam Robinson. All were given baseballs signed by the Giants to show thanks for their support of the program.
The media was on hand, represented by San Francisco’s KQED radio (88.5 fm), KALW (91.7 fm), SF Chronicle’s sports writer, Scott Ostler, and numerous photographers. “I really appreciate the game of baseball,” said Ostler. “I have a real love for the game. I remember when I was younger and putting on the stirrup socks and the feelings I had.”
AN EARLY LEAD
After a short pep talk by Coach Kevin Loughlin, the Giants took the field. Matt White took the mound, striking out the first two batters and getting the third batter to pop-out on a wicked knuckle-curve to finish the top of the first inning.
The Giants took an early 1-0 lead off starter Ricky Castillo, who was throwing good heat for the Oaks/Cubs. The Oaks/Cubs came back in the second inning to tie it up. The Giants added one run in the third inning when third baseman, Kevin Driscoll led off the inning with a double and shortstop Mario Ellis hit a double to score Driscoll.
The Oaks/Cubs answered with three runs in the fourth inning for a 4-2 lead, but the Giants answered in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kevin Henry hit a three run homer to take the lead 5-4.
The game seesawed back and forth until a pitching change was made by Giants Manager, Kent Philpott. In the top of the sixth the Oaks/Cubs tacked on six runs, adding one more run in the eighth and five more in the ninth.
Going into the bottom of the ninth inning and losing by a score of 16-5, the Giants rallied, scoring two quick runs, when last year’s season MVP, Redd Casey, hit a three run homer run, bringing the final score to 16-10.
After the game both teams congratulated one another and exchanged high-fives, then they met on the pitching mound where inmate Dave Baker thanked the Oaks/Cubs for coming in, and then he led the teams in a short prayer.
The SQ Giants season runs to August 28, and they will play approximately 25 games. As we go to press, the S.Q. Giants record is 4-4.
Hunger Strikers Protest The Three Strikes Law
Inmates at San Quentin State Prison joined inmates of the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad in participating in a three-day hunger strike to protest the enactment of California’s Three Strikes law. Volunteering in a peaceful hunger strike, inmates joined together on March 7, 8 and 9, the anniversary dates of the signing of the law, to bring awareness to the 16th anniversary.
In 1994 Governor Pete Wilson signed what has become known as California’s “Three Strikes and You’re Out,” law. The law, touted as one of the nation’s toughest, has led to the sentencing of inmates to terms of 25-years-to-life for convictions of non-violent/non-serious felonies.
“There are lots of reasons why I participated in this hunger strike,” said C. L., an inmate at San Quentin. “I believe those of us who are incarcerated under this unjust law need to come together and show our solidarity. This hunger strike is probably crazy, but it needs to be used as a catalyst so the people of California can become aware that this bad law is costing them millions of dollars. The money that is being wasted to keep petty offenders in prison for 25-years-to-life could be better utilized to fund all the schools in California from K-12. No other states use the Three Strikes law like California does, and that alone ought to tell you how bad this law is. It’s ridiculous how much this three strikes law is costing California and I believe taxpayers need to know it.”
It costs $53,000 annually to incarcerate each person–$40 million altogether, said Terry Thornton, spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in January.
Many of these three-strikers are now in their 40s and 50s, costing the state even more for medical care than the rest of the younger prison population, and the costs are expected to rise steadily as these inmates require even more care as they get older.
“We needed to come together to let society know that a guy who committed a petty theft should not have to do more time than a murderer,” said D. K., another inmate at San Quentin. “The original intent of this law was to keep violent offenders locked up for longer periods, but now that you have thousands of petty felony offenders doing 25-years-to-life, it’s time for this law to be amended. There are guys who had possession of $10 worth of drugs and they are doing life sentences. It’s insane. We did this hunger strike to bring awareness and to bring about changes to this law. Society should question itself when a person commits a non-violent/non-serious felony and they have to do more time than someone convicted of murder.”
Big Squeeze On Teachers Hits Home
California’s current financial crisis has brought major cuts to rehabilitative efforts within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
In October, hundreds of vocational and academic instructors throughout California’s penal institutions were issued pink slips, informing them that their services would no longer be needed within the CDCR.
These reductions will impact academic, vocational, and substance abuse programs for inmates and parolees. Financial cuts toward rehabilitative efforts are estimated to be so deep that academic and vocational programs within institutions may never recover, leaving inmates to return to their communities with no job skills and state employees looking for new jobs.
The cuts come despite the assertion by California State Auditor, Elaine M. Howle, that the CDCR has a responsibility for implementing rehabilitative strategies for inmates to successfully reintegrate into communities.
Institutions that currently use vocational printing, plumbing, welding, sheet metal, electrical, and machine shops will have to outsource many of these services, causing California to spend more money on outside contractors.
STARK CONTRAST
These moves are in stark contrast to CDCR’s June 2009 Rehabilitative News report that said, “AB900 moves California away from an outdated model of prisoner incarceration to institutions that create opportunities for change – to reduce the rate at which inmates released from prison commit more crimes. The Act is a major effort to reform California’s prison system by reducing prison overcrowding and increasing rehabilitative programming. The reforms use evidence-based rehabilitation – academic, vocational, substance abuse and other programs – to help offenders succeed when they rejoin their communities so they do not return to a life of crime.”
Addressing these events, CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate said, “The new budget reality has forced us to make tough choices as we weigh population reductions, staff layoffs and a significant cut to our budget. We must increase our efficiency and target our limited resources for programs most likely to reduce recidivism and keep our communities and our prisons safe.”
According to San Quentin’s Robert E. Burton Adult School October Newsletter, “In January 2010 the education program is to be cut back drastically to the pre-expansion numbers of 2004. Seventy-five percent of the faculty are to be dismissed.”
The Newsletter reports, “Every dollar spent on education saves $2 for taxpayers through reduced recidivism (Correctional Educational Journal). And, inmates who attend high school and college classes while in prison are substantially less likely to re-enter prison once released (Federal Bureau of Prisons).”
Vocational Janitorial instructor Anthony Stevenson, who has worked for CDCR for the past 15 years said, “I was hired to serve these men, to give them job and life skills so they could reintegrate back into society, unfortunately due to budget issues they are taking another resource away from these inmates.”
‘He Hate Me’ Gridders Open the New Season
San Quentin’s football team “He Hate Me” opened its 2009 season the last weekend in September with a loss against its toughest opponent from last season, No Soup for You.
He Hate Me (the name is fashioned after the bold and audacious football player Rod Smart from the now defunct XFL) is led by inside Head Coach William “Big Will” Packer, who was instrumental in reviving the S.Q. football program in 2005, and by new Defensive Coordinator Abraham Glasper.
Last year S.Q. suffered its first loss in four seasons to No Soup For You, a flag football team from the Sacramento area. S.Q. scheduled this year’s Opening Day Game in an attempt to even the score. Unfortunately, S.Q. lost to No Soup For You again but will face them a couple more times this season.
Currently, He Hate Me has played three games this season. After losing their season opener they rebounded with two wins against Muscle Milk, a local team from Benicia.
The squad of 16 players has been practicing since May for the preparation of the new season. The game means much more to the players than just wins and losses, Parker noted.
“There is something to be said about team camaraderie within a prison setting,” Packer said. “The guys learn a lot about discipline, accountability and responsibility toward their fellow players, coaches, and opponents. You can see the changes taking place within the guys; they become better men. Besides that, it is nice to hear about the guys who take what they have learned from the program and use it to reach their dreams and aspirations once they parole.”
It’s easy to see that the inmates enjoy watching the football games; some root for the home team; some root for the visiting teams, and some root for both, Packer said.
“Our real test will come when we see No Soup For You again, I have faith in our guys, we will get them next time.”
Countryman’s Long Road Home
All I was trying to tell the (DVI) officer was to speak to my counselor, I wasn’t supposed to be here… then the officer told me I had five seconds to comply with his order and to get back in the cell,” said Randell Countryman.
After spending 21 years behind bars, Countryman, 39, granted parole, departed San Quentin, only to return two days later.
A bureaucratic snafu by prison officials, led Countryman through a harrowing ordeal in his attempt to parole. Countryman, who was to be transferred to San Diego so he could be picked up by his parole agent, was instead dropped off at Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy for two days, than returned to S.Q., according to Countryman.
Countryman, a fixture within S.Q.’s many self-help and leisurely activity groups, participated in groups such as: Anger Management, Alternatives to Violence, Breaking Barriers, AA/NA, Patton College, The Journalism Guild of S.Q., Blues Brothers Football and the Giants Baseball programs.
Everyone who knew Countryman couldn’t help but like him with his easygoing personality, and he liked to laugh and joke a lot. In his college classes he always introduced himself as “Republican Randy.”
“I’m comfortable with who I am now. I don’t just see things through my own perspective anymore,” said Countryman. “The college program has helped me to look at things with more of an open mind,” he said.
“The prison environment, along with maturity, has taught me balance and peace. I’ve gained a greater sense of compassion for other human-beings, and its something I will take with me outside,” he said.
Anybody who knows Countryman, knows he’s got a couple of big passions. His first love is NASCAR, especially Dale Earnhardt Sr. He also loves baseball, and was a member of the S. Q. Giants baseball team.
“The first thing I plan on doing is picking up a pack of smokes, a lighter, and a Pepsi, because, I’m still pissed off tobacco was taken,” said Countryman. When asked what his immediate plans were, he said, “My first meal will be my mom’s lasagna, and this Mother’s Day will be the first time in 22 years that my brothers and I will be able to spend it together with her, I can’t wait.”
When asked what he did when the correctional officer ordered him to get back into the cell within five seconds, Countryman said, “I told him I didn’t need that long and I immediately got my butt back inside.”
Eventually the error was recognized by staff, Countryman was sent back to S.Q., spent the night, and said goodbye to everyone all over again. The next morning Countryman was provided a special transport to Lancaster state prison where his parole agent was to meet him and take him to San Diego and his waiting family.
S.Q. News Inspires Formation of Guild
Every Friday morning between 8-9:30 a.m. you can find a group of prisoners hammering out policy, working stories and in general trying to set guidelines in which to operate the Journalism Guild of San Quentin (JGSQ), a new activity group under the Education Department that has the support of Warden Wong. The group’s objective is to train writers and reporters and help provide stories for the San Quentin News.
The Journalism Guild is the result of the efforts by Kenny Brydon, former editor of the SQ News, and Ted Roberts, education principal, for more inmates to participate in the writing of stories for submission and publishing in the SQ News.
The Guild, sponsored by bridging teacher Don Pino, has been meeting each week since February and has recently elected its executive officers: Jeff Brooks (chairman), Arnulfo Garcia (secretary), Michael R. Harris (treasurer), and Troy Williams (sgt-at-arms) to represent the Guild’s members.
The Guild’s mission statement in part states: “The Journalism Guild of San Quentin’s mission is to provide an honest, professional and balanced account of the events and issues that occur both within penal institutions and the communities they serve.”
The Guild doors are open to anyone who wishes to join. The Guild has a limited amount of space so membership is limited to 20 student journalists.
If you are interested in joining, contact one of the members: Kenneth Brydon, Randy Countryman, Juan Haines, Darrell Hartly, Ronin Holmes, David Marsh, JulianGlenn Padgett, Kamal Sefeldeen, Aly Tamboura, Daniel Treviono, Doug Wynn, Mai Van or send a request for interview to the SQ Education Department.
Let’s Play Ball
Once again the baseball season is nearly upon us.
On Saturday Feb. 28, and March 7, the San Quentin Giants baseball team will conduct try outs at 9 a.m. on the yard. All positions are available.
This year Kevin Laughlin will be the new manager at the helm of the San Quentin Giants. All baseball players are welcome to come try out.
Bring your “A” game, impress the coach and you could be playing baseball with “The Boys of Summer.”
Look for sign-up sheets in H-Unit and North Block.
Administrative Segregation: One Giant Leap Backward
Without exception, mainline prisoners find brief stays in San Quentin’s South Block Administrative Segregation Unit, “The Hole,” are deplorable.
With a large population of North Block prisoners doing life sentences, on occasion a prisoner may find himself in trouble and sent to Carson Section, where The Hole is located, until staff resolves the situation that got him there.
The resounding word that is echoed by prisoners who return from The Hole is how inexcusable the conditions are. Terry Burton, 49, is a prisoner serving 30 years-to-life under California Three Strikes law and incarcerated since 1998. He recently found himself sitting in The Hole for 30 days after being involved in mutual combat. Upon his release, Burton said, “When I was put into the cell it was despicable. There was no ventilation, there was dirt, hairballs, and the bars were all sticky. The mattress was completely ripped up and shredded, the lights didn’t work properly and I never could get them to fix them. I couldn’t even begin to think that staff thought this cell was livable.”
Burton described his arrival in The Hole as complete depravation and said he found it very deflating and depressing. “It felt like being arrested again, like being knocked down,” he said, “My self-worth and self-esteem seemed to go down; it was a very oppressive place.”
Burton was ultimately found not guilty of any rule violations and returned to North Block to resume his normal program.
Alfred “Skip” Fernandes, 55, incarcerated since 1982 on a 16-to-life second degree murder conviction, recently spent 30 days in The Hole. Fernandez said, “The whole time that I was in The Hole I only got one sheet exchanged. Half the time we were supposed to get showers, they got canceled due to a shortage of staff and only one time was a book exchange done. I think it’s degrading the way we are being denied the most basic of rights.”
The administration cleared him of any wrongdoing and sent him back to North Block.
McKinley “Mac” Dupree, 66, a three-striker serving 40 years-to-life, spent seven months in The Hole. He said, “The cell was very dirty; the whole time I was there I couldn’t get any cleaning supplies. I didn’t get a spoon for two days and I was never given a cup to drink with. I only got tooth-powder and a replacement toothbrush two times in the seven months that I was in there. There never was a librarian or a CO that did book exchange, which forced prisoners to ‘fish’ outside the bottom of their cell doors just so we could read a book. I was wanting to speak to a chaplain, but not once did one ever come by.”
Sgt. D. Kilmer, a correctional officer since 1988, is the third watch sergeant in charge of The Hole in Carson Section since January 2008. Kilmer said, “The Enhanced Out Patient (EOP) prisoners need constant care, and it is a constant challenge. San Quentin would be better served if they were at an institution designed specifically to deal with their problems if they were in a hospital it would serve them better.”
When asked about prisoners not receiving supplies and services, Kilmer said that supplies and services are provided to the inmate, if any inmate needs something, all he has to do is ask the tier officer. Kilmer said, “Prior to placing an inmate in a cell the tier officer signs off on the cell file that the lights, toilet, sink, and mattress are all in good order, and the cell is contraband free.” Asked about prisoners complaints about lights not working in the cells, Kilmer said, “The maintenance repair on lights could be better.”
Eugene Pena, 52, a lifer has been incarcerated since 1991. He spent 31 days in The Hole.
Pena said, “I couldn’t get anything from the tier officer, I asked and asked but they ignored me. I couldn’t get a Title 15 (rules book), a writing pen, a spoon, cleaning supplies of any kind, a toothbrush, I mean, nothing.”
Prisoners have told staff and other prisoners of the filthy conditions of the cells, and some incarcerated have returned to North Block with staph infections.
Burton suggested that a way to improve conditions in The Hole is by having “fish kits” issued that contain the legally bare necessities for prisoners in The Hole: toilet paper, soap, toothbrush, tooth powder, eating utensil, cup, writing pen, paper, five indigent envelopes, cleaning powder, two bed sheets, a blanket, a book, earplugs and, if needed, reading glasses.
Additionally, prisoners who have been to The Hole say that all cells need to be inspected to make sure the mattress is in good condition, not ripped open and they are clean and sanitary. The prisoners should not be placed in any cell when the lights, toilet or sink is not working properly.
While most lifer prisoners rarely find themselves in The Hole, prisoners who come back from there describe it as taking one giant leap backward in their programs.
One inmate said, “If you ever go there, you won’t ever want to go back. It is nasty.”