San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK

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Letters to the editor

Before These Walls

Before these walls, I laughed out loud and freely
After these walls, my laughter sounds strange and forced Before these walls, I loved first and doubted later
After these walls, I rarely love and always doubt
Before these walls, I saw the best in everyone
After these walls, I seek what’s below the mask
Before these walls, I smiled at my mirror’s reflection
After these walls, I see a stranger staring back at me Before these walls, I managed my healthy fears of tomorrow After these walls, I see a fuzzy future just out of my view Before these walls, I enjoyed the company of friends
After these walls, I am reluctant to call any “friend” Before these walls, I sat content in a world I earned
After these walls, I wait for charity (for even necessities) Before these walls, I was a whole woman awaiting motherhood
After these walls, I fall asleep

looking at pictures of my stranger child

Before these walls, I had a full life

After these walls, I have a hollow shell

Dorothy Maraglino CCWF

Greetings from a locked down OG, I’m writing this letter to give thanks and praise to Richard Richardson and Lt. S. Robinson and the many others (which is too many to name) who make the SQ News possible. The SQ News is very informative and entertaining especially to those of us in reception, ad seg (administration segregation) and the SHU (Security Housing Unit).

For some of us this is our only source of information and entertainment to an outside world, which is yet behind the walls. I want to bring up a topic about the murals on the walls in the San Quentin chow halls. I got to experience those works of art in 1988 at the age of 22 when I walked into SQs West Block reception for my first term. And the cable car and medusa are two of

the many attractions in SQ that have always stuck in my mind. SQ has so many more good and bad that our young bucks will never get to experience. OGs you know what I am talking about. But these works of art (which I believe should be in a museum) are hard to explain to someone. These are works of art that he or she has to experience for themselves. Can you please print a photo for all the readers around the world to experience who

would otherwise never get the chance to see them.
One last thing for all the OGs who know how different the system is today with all the classes and vocations and self-help programs that are offered that allows us the opportunity to change and be the men and women our society can be proud of. We as OGs, it’s our job to encourage all the young bucks to take advantage of all the opportunities, vocations and self-help programs that are offered today. Because they have a chance that we never had and if we as OGs do our job then maybe our young bucks won’t have to sit here years from now with the title of OG.

Love and respect to all, Donny (olskool) Oliveira

Donald Oliveira Tracy DVI

Dear San Quentin News,

Thank you for the articles about CDCR’s “Black Letter” authority to recall sentences pursuant to Penal Code Section 1170(d), codified at Title 15, Div. 3, Section 3076 Et. Seq. (Au- gust 2019). Also, I wanted to bring Title 15, Div. 3, 3076(a)(2) to your attention, which authorizes the Secretary of CDCR to request a recall of an inmate’s sentence “if information was not made available to the court in pronouncing the inmate’s sentence [and the information] is brought to the attention of the Secretary [of CDCR], who deems the information would have influenced the sentence imposed by the court.”

I, and I think many inmates, would live to learn how to initiate these Section 3076(a)(2) requests. Thank you for your time and keep up the great work!

Rogelio V. Morales CMC East

Letters to the editor

Dear San Quentin Staff Members,

First and foremost, I would like to say how proud and excited of the great work you all do in providing us with all updated in- formation of what’s going on in our society.

My name is David Esparza. I’m incarcerated at Pleasant Valley Prison. I’ve been incarcerated since 2001. I’m serving a 35-year to life sentence, 10 years for the attempted murder and 25 years to life for a gun enhancement. In 2016, I came across San Quentin News where you guys did a survey about the gun enhancement punishment. I wrote back about that survey and your staff writer Mr. Rahsaan Thomas had responded back to my letter.

I know that they passed SB620 in 2018, but it’s not retroactive so it doesn’t apply to me since I’ve been incarcerated for 18 years. It would be highly appreciated if you can share some update in- formation about the gun enhancement.

Continue on your hard work and dedication it’s very important and appreciated. Thank you kindly for your time.

Sincerely,

David Esparza PVSP

Let me just say, your article, Landmark Prop. 57 Ruling in re McGhee was very promising and McGhee has been very blessed to have Mr. Rudy Wilkins as a bro! I ‘m on my 4th (prison) num- ber. I’m in Valley State Prison with nonviolent criminal threats. Last year, while at CIM (California Institution for Men), my case went to Sacramento.

At that time, I had nothing to bring to the table B.P.H. (Board of Parole Hearings). This time I’ve got (I think) all my ducks in a row. Group milestones, self-help, a vocation in computers and what I did not have last time, a letter from me, explaining what my future plans are and how I would be a good choice for them to accept me as someone who isn’t a threat to my community and that I should be paroled.

And get this, my own dear Mom, who was the plaintiff, also has written the B.P.H. too! I don’t know, but I’ve done all I can. You guys please keep your fingers crossed, and Mr. McGhee, good luck too!

Thanks,

John Ernst VSP

To the Editor:

As I’m considering the duties of the governor’s new appointed heads of CDCR; Ralph Diaz, the Secretary of CDCR, Kathleen Allison, the Undersecretary of CDCR, Connie Gipson, the director of adult institution for CDCR, I begin to wonder about the duties of the institution heads.

What came to mind was the effectiveness of the grievance process, and now that the governor has three new appointees, what changes on behalf of the inmates living conditions and treatment from C/Os (correctional officers) will occur as a result of their new occupation?

Not that I’m proud to admit this, but out of all the correctional and sheriffs in-custody facilities, I have never seen where inmates, especially indigent did not receive shower shoes.

Here, in “reception”, where we’re being housed in cells that ab- sorb heat, and are in limbo for two to three months waiting to be endorsed, we are being subjected to entering communal showers and risking the high possibility of acquiring some aggressive case of athlete’s foot. Once we’ve discovered we caught it, then how long would it be until we obtain, and fill out the medical slip and receive treatment? Why did the administration heads decide to discontinue issuing out those 49-cent Styrofoam flip-flops in the first place?

Perhaps, now that there are legislative changes occurring and Proposition 57 being realized, there might be a change in the social environment inside and outside of these institutions and empathy being applied in advancing true social justice.

C. Edwards CIM

In reading the book “Transcending Reflections of Crime Victims”, I notice that all of the victims suffered from relatively the same kind of pain and grief regardless of what type of crime that were committed against them. Whether it was rape, robbery, murder, kidnap, burglary, or other so-called minor crimes, the hurt, pain and suffering was basically the same.

There are four stages of grief on the death of a loved one: the first if disbelief, the second is anger, the third is depression and the fourth is acceptance.

The loved ones of the victim often suffers from grief and pain which range from rage, anger, revenge, hatred, sadness, depression, hurt this is known as the ripple effect. This ripple effect, affects the victim’s children and the children of the victim’s children, and everyone who knows or hears about what the offender has done.

Now that I understand the impact that my crimes had on the victims, my responsibility also apply to all the home invasions I committed, I have devastated multiple lives. I can only imagine the counseling and therapy…my victims had to go through and it’s possibly that their hate and fear extends to all African American men because of what I done. I took away joy and happiness from all my victims and caused them misery.

One of the stories from the book “Transcending Reflection of Crime Victims” was from Ms. Wilma Derksen. She blamed herself because her daughter called her to pick her up, but she was busy and told the daughter to walk.

Ms. Derksen said blame is a cousin of anger, meaning that when you blame someone for something- you are actually angry with that person. Also, blaming yourself for something causes you to be angry with yourself and your anger is released on family, friends and people who have nothing to do with what your anger. (Guilt and blaming yourself cause anger) You have to be willing to forgive yourself and others in order to overcome the anger that’s caused by guilt and blame.

Gary Johnson CTF

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Part One

by Tom Rudderow

It was August 24, 2006. Even though I have a brain injury from this experience and a very damaged memory, I will likely never forget that date That day I was talking with my friend’s fiancé. “What is up with kids?” I asked her, meaning black kids. They had been becoming more and more abusive to me, pushing me around, taking my stuff, while I was wait- ing at a bus stop. I had been noticing this increasing over the past year. She is African American and talked to me about racial anger that gets carried from generation to generation. “Interesting,” I thought. “Let’s talk about this more later.” then off I went.

It was about 9:00 as I walked down the dark street leading to the BART when a young man approached me and said something about what they were about to do to me and then said, “I’m sorry we have to do this.” “Oh shit, I’m in trouble,” I thought as, like a deer in headlights, I was taken by my shoulder and guided off the road where, I presume, his part- ners were waiting in hiding.

When I woke from a coma three days later, which they were unsure I would survive, I must have remembered there had been more than one attacker as a friend, who was sitting by my bed, said I suddenly sat up and said, “James, I’ve got to forgive these guys. How do I do that?” Then I fell back asleep. When I woke again it was done. I have never had a moment of anger or vengeance toward these four guys, just concern, compassion, and curiosity. How could someone do something like this to someone they didn’t know? The police caught all four not long after the incident. Three of them said that they just knocked me down to rob me, as they had been doing to others. The fourth guy, they said, had kept kicking my head until they thought they were leaving a dead guy.

So, I began the long trek of dealing with a brain injury plus PTSD. (What a strange world that is. I was thinking about making a tee shirt, “PTSD. I got it but I don’t get it.”) What felt real was how I would often wake up in the middle of the night hearing someone calling my name, and I knew it was Ray, the youngest of the four the other three blamed. “What is this connection I seem to have with this guy?”

During the first year I had many questions going around in my head, why? how?, and I would make up answers (as I have discovered is a common thing for crime victims), until I did meet him and I was able to ask the only guy who might know the answers to my questions, which the State does all it can to prevent us from having any interaction. After we met, the questions in my head stopped. If he don’t know ain’t nobody knows. Now I can let it go. One question I had, though, was how could this have happened to me?

Almost a year after the incident I was informed that Ray was to be sentenced, having accepted a plea bargain, and I could write a letter and have it read to him in court. My letter said that I wanted him to know that the person he is going to prison for holds nothing against him, that I was hoping he would use this time for healing himself. And, I said, I’m very concerned about him so I will be trying to find a way to meet him. I spent the next 3 1/2 years trying to find a way to meet Ray. Finally I connected with a VOD (Victim Offender Dialogue) facilitator Jack Dison who contacted Ray and said that the guy he nearly killed would like to meet him in a VOD.

For the next year and a half, Jack met with Ray and spent time with me, preparing each of us to meet. Jack said I needed to talk about how I’ve been harmed. I didn’t want to do this. It wasn’t my intention to rub Ray’s face in it. Jack had a hard time believing I held no animosity toward Ray, and didn’t want it suddenly coming out unexpectedly during the Dialogue. I was grateful for this process because I wasn’t sure myself if something was hiding in there. Maybe my miraculous forgiveness experience was all a result of the brain injury or PTSD. We discovered together that it was real. I always say that I never believed much in miracles until one happened to me. I consider the forgiveness I was given a full blown miracle. It changed my life, and Ray’s.

WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: Women of Wall City

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Alastair Boone is the editor of Berkeley-based homeless advocacy newspaper, Street Spirit. “This issue feels personal to me. It grapples with issues such as girlhood and giving birth. Hearing about these experiences within prison helped deepen my under- standing of what it means to be incarcerated in America.”

Alissa Greenberg is freelance journalist for The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Pacific Standard among others. “It’s been a privilege to help Wall City amplify all prison voices. Even more so for this issue and the voices of incarcerated women who face enormous challenges.”

Sarah Horowitz has been volunteering as Wall City’s design adviser since 2016. “Magazines are a sublime and powerful medium for communication,” she says. “I’m a big fan, and it’s a pleasure to hear and see each individual voice in this issue.”

Molly Kittle’s mission is to connect people to their voice, their purpose, and to each other. She is the creator and host of STORY, a series of events that connect people in creative, authentic and brave ways. She is committed to upholding the crucial role of stories in our lives.

Kate McQueen is a creative nonfiction enthusiast who believes style can enhance texts on any subject. She teaches and writes on literary and journalistic history. “What makes Wall City great is its ability to make space for voices and stories that often go unheard.”

Sara Kruzan is
a Parole Success Advocate at UnCommon Law in Oakland, California. As a formerly incarcerated person, she works in a team preparing people for parole hearings.

Lilliana Paratore is a Staff Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow at UnCommon Law. She advocates for people before the parole hearings, with a focus on survivors of gender-based violence.

Tina Curiel-Allen is a Xicana/Boricua writer and activist. She is the co-founder of Beyond the Stats, a UC Davis student organization of formerly incarcerated and system impacted students and staff.

Jane Dorotik is currently incarcerated at CIW and is a highly experienced, trained nurse and longtime prisoner rights advocate. She has been doing this work on the inside for almost 20 years.

Elena Mateus is a student at UC Berkeley and a news producer for KALX radio. She aspires to use new forms of storytelling to advance advocacy and facilitate the administration of justice.

Myesha Newell

Andrea Melgoza

Jevonie Rogers

Sophia Cristo

Four young women from the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility in Camarillo, California, write about their traumatic past and hope for the future. They give readers a multifaceted look into their world as they navigate their feelings and actions, while going through the juvenile system.

Let The People Speak

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To San Quentin News,

No More Masks by Frank M. Ornelas

I had three masks, the first one was used for those who didn’t know me. It was to keep people away and to keep them cautious. It was a way to keep them at bay. The second was for my circle of friends, friends I didn’t trust. I used it to intimidate. With it, I used it until I didn’t need them anymore. The third mask I used on my family. I didn’t want them to know I was a criminal. I hid the shame and guilt I carried. Alone, I removed the masks; the hurts, the scars, the resentments, the regrets I hid. I had to change. It wasn’t easy, but I was ready to heal. When I was ready to face the world, I revealed myself to my family. They saw the authentic me. They accepted, loved, and helped me move on. And I stopped looking for

fake friends, and started looking for confidants. And they were true so I didn’t need a mask. They got to know me. In the end, I stopped wearing all the masks; In public, people no longer feared me; some even greeted me. I was finally able to receive so- ciety, because society was ready to receive me.

Michael Ornelas Valley State Prison

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Incarcerated Addicts

William Brigham, M.S.W. (Master of Social Work)

RE: Presidential Bid

Dear San Quentin News,

I am an SB 260 life prisoner that has been denied my freedom for 27 years for a “non-murder offense” by the parole board.

I will be running in the 2024 Presidential election, I prom- ise. I’ll need all the support I can muster-up. Our country is at risk 24/7. With God all things are possible. Hopefully I will have my G.E.D. by then; real sure of it.

I have noticed it is almost impossible to find any updated news about old lifers. Each quarter I look forward to the San Quentin News that is published by well-educated and rehabilitated men. And I am beginning to be disappointed that the articles seem to be promoting sports, music, etc.

I am pretty sure San Quentin prison is lovely, but the reality is for a lot of lifers, specifically serving a sentence for 3 strikes, it’s time to go home. We are the oldest abused and used pris- oners.

First ever former prison inmate to become commander-in- chief. Lower the unemployment rate, that, in turn will lower the crime rate, then in turn lower the murder rate.

What happened to all the lifer litigation against the board? I am afraid if I don’t speak up now, it will never be said. The po- litical lifer voices are drowned out by rhetoric. If we don’t have nothing else, we got a voice.

I would also address climate change where we respect the earth, respect and take care of one’s self. It might be already too late to save our earth, (but) I’m advocating for the earth. Let’s work together and stop the madness/destroying Mother Earth. If people think the weather’s dangerous now keep burn- ing fossil fuel.

Sincerely Tracy Cullie

In other places on earth people are dying of hunger, and the people that don’t; BAD things are happening to them. People should learn from the mistake they’ve made in the past. If peo- ple don’t they most likely will not have much of a future on the livable earth once it is gone.

Mental Health program

I would like to bring light to Mule Creek Prison, B-Yard to give everyone an idea of the majestic atmosphere surrounding it. Like most prison yards it has five buildings, a beautiful yard, and a great education program. Building six is where the (Enhance Outpatient Program) E.O.P. inmates and staff members who make the difference to this yard are placed.

Fewer than 1 percent of the more than 5,000 U.S. prisons and jails, housing more than 2 million inmates, allow access to FDA-approved medications such as methadone, buprenor- phine, Suboxone or Vivitrol, even though addiction experts have considerable evidence to prove their effectiveness in treating addiction to opioids (heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone). Even the National Sheriffs Association has published a guide as to how best to incorporate their use in jails.

All praises be given to our Supreme Creator, “THE LORD of HOSTS.” I compose this letter in response to an article about Mr. Glenn Bailey. An Article from San Quentin News dated April 2019. I couldn’t resist an opportunity as this to extend my utmost respect, plus appreciation regarding your integrity. Also (your) commitment to the roles you all have assumed. Its complex trying to describe the emotional impact – us coming together for a true cause like the ole days!!

Everyone has issues of some sort; few choose not to do any- thing about them. There are those who take steps to change their lives in the face of such opposing circumstances, and at times it may look hopeless, but they persevere anyways.

The opposition to the use of these medications in jails and prisons is mostly because of legitimate safety and security concerns. A possible answer to this problem might be found in the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which bans discrimination against people with disabilities, to include pro- tection for those recovering from drug addictions. At least four prisoners nationwide are arguing that the ADA covers them and that they are being denied proven medication-assisted treat- ment (MAT).

A time in which we understood how imperative it was to unite, unlike today, many of us are lost and now conform to elements reflecting self-destruction, or should I emphasize genocide? Wondering why we’ve failed to empower ourselves as a Black race.

Those who step up every day, and face their issues inside their self and the stigma over them from the world because of mental health issues are very special. The staff who watch over them , and the psychologist who take the time to help them overcome their issues should be acknowledged for what they do, even though they don’t do it for the purpose of being ac- knowledged.

A consequence of miseducation regarding the dynamics of empowerment. Therefore, has hindered us the adequate cause plus ability to work together!! Primarily due to everyone ‘ha- tin’ rather than congratulating!! Every time one of us emerge, whom is great, somebody’s gonna hate!! That’s ridiculous!! Yet, a reality many of us cannot understand a failure to incorporate ideas, business, also finances puts us Black people in vulner- able positions! “I’m keepin it 100.”

Psychologists have their hands full, but do a great job to counsel, and lend a helping hand to assist people with mental health disorders. I don’t know if you have ever dealt with mental health disorders, but let me tell you at times people can be un- predictable and unreasonable due to their issues, and whatever else is going on in their lives.

The importance of making this treatment available during in- carceration is found in the following: In the two weeks after re- lease, prisoners are 12 times more likely to die – and 129 times more likely to die of an overdose – than the general population. Forced abstinence behind bars means addicts are released with a lower tolerance and an increased urge to use.

Now I get out next year and a brotha 49, yet still got it! How- ever, do realize the complexities I must endure. Although it’s a shame you can’t get any help in our Black communities, a lot of us are still suffering the effects of slavery!!

It takes really special people with big hearts to properly deal with this. I’m not even talking about the unending training and schooling. I believe people are put in positions because they are able to handle the situation properly.

Recent research reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that prisoners who received methadone mainte- nance treatment (MMT) during incarceration were more likely than prisoners who did not receive MMT to engage in the treat- ment after being released, and that those who received metha- done during incarceration also reported less heroin use and had a lower risk of nonfatal overdose after being released.

That’s why I must be surrounded by those who regard the struggle, those whom are not suffering mental enslavement; but a lot of us have succumbed to bitterness, hate, fear as well in a lot of our sistaz as well.

I have personally been in the groups and there is a lot of sup- port and information for people plus the program is getting bet- ter and focusing on major mental health issues likes: anxiety, stress, mood, and substance related disorders. The hope is to reach as many people with mental health issues as possible to make the world a safer place.

Only five states – Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Washington – offer both methadone and buprenorphine to some inmates at one or more prisons or jails. Hopefully all parties involved (corrections official, researchers, civil rights organizations and prisoner spokespersons) can come together to

Where our sistaz don’t even smile anymore! But (sister) your smile is so infectious and exudes joy. Nor have I allowed trials or set-backs to steal my inner peace. My GOD given ability to exist warrants enough reason to be happy! So, I can smile too. I refuse to let things I endured in prison, or the streets of L.A., where I’m from steal my joy! Anyway, GOD BLESS. I send my love to all of you. Big ups to ‘OG’ Mr. Glenn Bailey.

Ryan Goodson
Mule Creek State Prison

John C. Imus Jr. Valley State Prison

LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK Letters to the Editor:

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In the Baemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he is placed in the center of the village, alone and unfettered. All work ceases, and every man, woman, and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused individual. Then each person in the tribe speaks to the accused, one at a time, about all the good things the person has done in his life-time. All his positive attributes, good deeds, strengths, and kindnesses are recited carefully and at length. The tribal ceremony often lasts several days. At the end, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration takes place, and the person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe.

Alice Walker The Sun magazine July 2007

I figured you might want to include this in your next issue. When I read this it gives me a surge of hope that one day we may “get” it again … a way to respond with health to a wrong doing. I deeply appreciate our SQN!

Nyla Blair (Donor)

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Lung cancer ended my father’s precious life in 2016. In our last earthly chat, his strained voice whispered, “A man can preach a much better sermon with his life than with his lips.”

He explained that our tolerant humanity regularly takes fate for granted – that we must live for today, plan for tomorrow, and remember yesterday. By design, we should find a way to leave our mark upon this world, however slight.

In my daily reading, I stumbled upon some legal statistics that swirled around my brain for days. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (Feds) are responsible for housing a tiny 10% of the national prison population. The other 90% of prisoners in America are in state custody.

The Feds have a protocol in place which permits federal prisoners to donate living vital organs, tissue, and bone marrow to biological match worthy immediate family members in need of life-saving transplants. Who knew that a living organ donation policy for prisoners to save a family member’s life might be a good idea?

Let me tell you who doesn’t know. Every state prison system – including California. Are you sitting down? The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has assembled an Advanced Health Care Directive. It is made available to California state prisoners by the medical department at each facility upon request.

Part III of said medical directive pertains to inmate organ donation. At no time are any California state prisoners permitted to donate living vital organs or tissues. A prisoner may only donate an organ in the event of his/ her death.

How this purports to serve the nation’s citizenry is beyond me.

If California had been remotely willing to create a donation protocol modeled after the existing Feds’ policy, my father would still be alive today. I would have given him one of my lungs – no questions asked.

That said, upwards of 25 Americans die each day while awaiting a life-saving transplant when more than ample resources exist. Is this how our government answers the call when protecting its citizens?

My hope is to evoke visceral, vocal, and visible participation from families, activists, academic, and legal circles – people ready to replace destruction with life.

I want to dispel the myth whereby prisoners are without redemptive value – devoid of civic responsibility through social action and political awareness.

But for this project’s promise and potential, we may never have learned of the judicial fallibilities and hurdles which stand in the way while the sick (our family members) languish in numbers that far outstrip national supply for match worthy living donors.

The closer we all are to death, the harder we cling to life.

Michael Flinner SQSP Death Row

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“In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”
“May Peace and Blessing be Upon You.”

Dear San Quentin News,

My name is Dontae Wynne and I’m 42 years old. I’m an African American that grew up on South Central LA, where I became a gang member. I have been incarcerated for 17 years; this October will be 18 years of incarceration. My base term is five years and I have 20 years of enhancements—that gave me a total term of 25 without life.

For the past five years I have been residing at Salinas Valley State Prison, level 4 B-Yard GP. On March 25th, 2019, I was given the opportunity by facility B Captain and Ms. T Frost C.R.M to establish: Higher Steps, which is a gang p[prevention program; that has allowed me to launch the Bury Your Hood Beef Movement.

With the recent death of Nipsey Hustle, rival gangs of South Central Los Angeles at Salinas Valley State Prison have entered the Gang Prevention Program and steps are being taken to establish a ceasefire and present to the mayor of Los Angeles, Mr. Eric Garcetti, a strategy to prevent Gang Violence within the City of Los Angeles. We at Salinas Valley State Prison (B-Yard) would like for San Quentin News to know that the spirit of change is catching and we also are playing our part to make our life better, and the lives of others. Thank you for your time, and do spread the word.

Dontae Wynne Salinas Valley State Prison

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NEWSLETTER HERE AND NOW Editor’s Letter:

I’ve been on this yard since it began. I’ve watched people who had thought they would die in prison go home to their families. It has been a blessing to watch people grow and take active roles in their recovery. Free from the bondage of prison gangs and addiction, people on this yard have reinvented themselves.

You cannot imagine the disappointment at the local media when I saw the words “Prison Riot at R.J. Donovan” flashing on the television screen. At the top and bottom of every hour there was an update about how many ambulances were called and the number of inmates involved. It made me sad.

I understand the motto “If it bleeds, it leads,” but this was much different. Having been on Facility-C, and Facility-B, I can tell you that there were far more newsworthy events that took place.

There are a few key points I would like to make here. First, the news doesn’t take into consideration how the people involved in the riot think and feel at the time and after the riot. The news wants you to believe that the individuals involved are mindless monsters who constantly attack each other without conscience. Isn’t it just as likely that some of those guys were scared or didn’t want to do it? Not one of those news sources will ever do a story on P.T.S.D. in prison. There are inmates who suffer from P.T.S.D. just as much as veterans. Combat is combat.

Where is the story on the aftermath of this event so the next group of people who might engage in violence can see what it is really about?!

The second point is the difference between yards. We are lucky here. We had a few key people in key positions that allowed this yard to succeed. It has been the inmates on this yard buying into the idea that change is possible. It has been the inmates here spearheading the change being made throughout CDCR.

Sometimes it feels like no one cares about the good we do. How is it that two men stabbed and the words “Prison Riot” received more attention than the picture of hundreds of inmates coming together with candles to spell out the words “NO VIOLENCE,” and that is just one example.

I was hurt when I saw this institution on the news for such a negative thing because, in a way, I feel like it is a representation of my time here too. No matter how hard I try, there will always be that stigma. To some, I will always be the person I was when I committed my crime. So I consider it my duty to represent all inmates in a positive way.

I challenge the news media to show us in a positive light when we succeed. When “Prison Riot” reaches more people than “No Violence,” how are you choosing to represent your future neighbors? What message are you trying to send the public?

Steven Ross Westcott RJ Donovan

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Shon Pernice
Moberly Correctional Facility

What if everyone was one color? Then we would either like or dislike one another based on character and actions. It is impossible to physically change your birth color, but it’s in your mind what you see.

The United States Marine Corps has one color for all of its service members: GREEN. The Marine Corps is a unit — a team of men and women who disregard their racial differences so they can efficiently eat. sleep, and train together 24 hours a day. Black and White are opposites and too different. Black Marines are dark green and White Marines are light green. If you have two Marines with the last name Smith, and one is White and one is Black, you’d refer to either light green Smith or dark green Smith. Too easy.

As a combat medic, I treated many different people. Black, White, Latino, Asian, and Middle Eastern all bled the same, their pain was the same, as their fear of dying was the same. The last moments of their lives-—no different either. That is because they are all human and race had no status. Mortar rounds, rockets, and RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) did not discriminate due to the color of a person’s skin. When those weapons are fired, they are aimed at “to whom it may concern.”

For me it all hurt the same. Black, White, Brown- all my brothers and sisters in arms- I miss them dearly. We are all born the same and take our last breath the same. My challenge to you: treat one another between that period of birth and death—the same.

Shon Pernice 1236421 Moberly Correctional Facility Missouri

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Living in the Shadows

I’m a tattoo artist living in the shadows of my own trade. It’s my hustle, my passion, my way of life. I tattoo with tools I create and find within these walls. I’m clean and respect my craft, still it’s unsanitary and against the rules in CDCR.

Yes I live in the shadows of a trade accepted in our times, acknowledged as a profession. Worthy of a skill to support me upon release. Yet, the very place I learned my craft punishes me for doing it.

I believe in change and seek to help our prison system change its policy on prison tattoos. I understand the negatives it can bring with this much freedom to express the arts. Yet I know we can regulate this with a policy to help us to perform our skills in a safe environment. Teach us safe practices as well, with the requirements needed and the importance of sanitation habits.

There are inmates who risk infections and diseases via poor cleaning habits due to doing all they can to hide their tattoos from staff. This creates a problem in which they must choose seeking medical attention and risking a 115 write-up. A good analogy: CDCR recently created a policy to prevent those having sexual relations with other inmates from spreading diseases by allowing condoms in our institutions yet are prohibited to act on any use of the condoms. Well, there are many if not all inmates who participate or practice the craft of tattooing. We should have a policy to inform inmates of the risk of infection and poor habits.

The culture of prison tattoo work will never go away. Within these walls it’s a way to express one’s trials and tribulations along with their tenacities and victories. This culture is not a secret. The best we can do is accept that we need a change. We need to embrace this craft as a possible vocation to teach those seeking this skill. We could finally bring along all our tattoo artists, including myself, out of the shadows. Thank You.

J. Ortiz “JB”

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Letters to Editor

We thank you and encourage your letters to the editor. San Quentin News reserves the right to edit letters for content and length. Please keep letters to a maximum of 350 words.

NEWS BRIEFS

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US States
US States

1. Vermont—The ACLU of Vermont and the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation at Harvard Law School filed a class action lawsuit challenging the state’s refusal to treat hundreds of inmates with Hepatitis C, Vermont Business Magazine reports. The law- suit claims that the inmates are systematically denied medication that would cure their chronic Hepatitis C, which they claim violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment as well as the Americans with Dis- abilities Act. The inmates are asking the court to end prison officials’ policy of categorically denying effective, efficient and medically appropriate treatment.

2. Michigan, Jackson— Hakim Crampton was charged with homicide in Milwaukee in 1991 on an- other person’s false confession. Crampton spent 15 years in prison before he was granted parole, after working to prove his innocence, WLNS reports. More than 10 years later, he’s collaborated with schools across Michigan and built a curriculum called SLAM that helps kids stay engaged with their work through poetry and lyrics.

3. Illinois—In late January, prison staff removed dozens of books from the Danville prison library Illinois Pub- lic Media reports. The titles include “Visiting Day,” a children’s book about visiting a parent in prison by author, Jacqueline Wood- son; two titles written by Black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., a book by philosopher Cornel West, “Up From Slavery” by Booker T. Washington, and “Map- ping Your Future: A Guide to Successful Reentry 2017- 2018” written by the college in prison program’s reentry team. A majority of the books removed from the program’s library are about race.

4. Michigan —A federal judge ruled that the state’s sex offender registry is unconstitutional — the registry lets the public see local offenders in their area, CNN reports. The judge gave officials until September to bring the registry to constitutional levels.

5. Arizona—Prisoners are billed for medical procedures that should be billed to the state, KJZZ reports. The charges show up on credit reports, which add to returning citizens’ challenges.

6. New York— Prison officials cite a drop in crime as well as incarceration rates for the closure of two prisons, the Daily News reports. The Lincoln Correctional Facility, located at the northern edge of Central Park is scheduled to close before September. The Livingston Correctional Facility in upstate New York is also scheduled to be closed, prison officials say.

7. Oklahoma—Mother Jones reports that last year, Oklahoma beat out Louisiana for the label the “world’s prison capital” by incarcerating a higher proportion of its residents than any other state or country. Lawmakers and concerned Oklahomans seek to reform the state’s criminal justice system. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt campaigned on a promise to reduce the prison population, however, the state’s prison population is expected grow by 14% over the next decade, according to an analysis by FWD.us, an immigration and criminal justice reform advocacy group co-founded by Face- book CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

8. Oregon—A judge last May ordered the state to house a transgender female inmate in a cell separate from male inmates and to protect her from harassment, Oregon Live reports. The decision is believed to be a first in the state at a men’s prison.

Upcoming Events for San Quentin in July

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San Quentin Day of Peace July 13th Lower Yard

Ken Burns documentary July 24th Protestant Chapel 11:00-1:00pm

San Quentin Barbershop Dialogue July 26th Protestant Chapel 10:00-3:00pm

San Quentin Education Graduation July 26th

San Quentin Yard Show July 27th Lower Yard

NEWS BRIEFS

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1. Alabama—The Department of Justice issued a report that showed how overcrowding, poor conditions, inadequate staffing, and deliberate indifference from prison officials contributed to a rise in violence, sexual abuse, and extortion, The Appeal reports. The problem became known after prisoners held hunger strikes and posted videos showing abuse on the internet. Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband and three U.S. attorneys wrote a letter to Governor Kay Ivey that said, “In particular we have reasonable cause to believe that Alabama routinely violates the constitutional rights of prisoners housed in Alabama prisons by failing to protect them from prisoner-on-prisoner violence and prisoner- on-prisoner sexual abuse, and by failing to provide safe conditions.”

2. Louisiana—The Louisiana House Criminal Justice Committee voted 9-6 last May to permit people once convicted of felonies to be included in jury pools, Nola. com reports. Under the current law, the only way those with felony convictions can serve on a jury if the governor pardons them. The bill would allow convicted felons to be called for jury duty once they have been off parole or probation for five years.

3. New York City—Under a new law jail detainees no longer have to pay to make calls from the City Jail, the New York Post reports. The move will cost taxpayers $8 million a year, according to city officials. All detainees receive 21 minutes of free phone privileges every three hours. Individual calls can last up to 15 minutes each. The free calls can be made “during all lock-out periods” — when inmates are allowed out of their cells — and during an established “emergency” basis if a Department of Correction captain approves. The policy permits calls to anywhere in the US and its territories, including Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Island and American Samoa.

4. Frackville, Pa—A jobs fair held inside a maximum- security prison allows in- mates nearing their release date a chance to talk face-to- face with potential employ- ers, as well as representatives from community colleges, religious organizations and self-help groups, The Edwardsville Intelligencer reports. The event was part of a state Department of Corrections effort to get inmates ready to return to their communities. More than 90% of the estimated 46,000 people in state correctional facilities return home after serving their sentences. The job fairs, which began last year, and are held annually at each of the state’s 24 prisons. Nationwide, nearly 600,000 people are released from state and federal prisons each year, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Around 19,000 people are release annually from the state’s prisons.

5. Florida—After voters approved last year a constitutional amendment restoring formerly incarcerated felons’ voting rights, Republicans in both chambers have passed a provision requiring they pay any outstanding court fees and fines before they can vote, according to an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida report. The amendment, which excludes those convicted of murder and felony sexual assault, would give up to 1.5 million people with felony convictions the ability to vote. The bill approved by the Statehouse gives felons who owe three options: pay in full; obtain a court’s dis- missal of the financial obligation, if the person who is owed agrees; or convert the obligation to community service and complete those hours.

6. Ohio—Gov. Mike DeWine announced last May a number of reforms to the state’s parole board. For the first time, offenders eligible for parole will be allowed to take part in their hearings before the full board, and such meetings will soon be live streamed online to the public cleveland.com reports. In addition, all parole board members will be required to undergo training on legal updates, interviewing skills, and effective communication. Before an inmate’s parole hearing, board members will have to meet with prison agency staff for “first-hand feedback” on the inmate’s conduct and re- habilitation progress. The parole board will also do more to weigh the seriousness of any infractions a potential parolee has on their prison record. Another reform simplifies the parole process where there are no objections to an inmate’s release. Inmates recommended for parole by the board will no longer automatically head to a full board hearing, though a full hearing will still take place if requested by the victim, the victim’s family, victims’ services staff or the board chair. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction will create a program to offer volunteer “navigators” to help guide inmates through their parole hearing process. The DRC will also set up a new reentry program to offer parolees appropriate life skills, based on the age of the inmate.

People who have been convicted of a crime may apply for a commutation

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People who have been convicted of a crime and are currently serving their sentence in California may apply for a commutation (reduction of sentence).

In deciding whether to grant a commutation, the Governor’s Office will carefully review each commutation application and consider:

• the impact of a commutation on the community, including whether the grant is consistent with public safety and in the interests of justice;

• the age and circumstances of the offense and the sentence imposed, and the age of the applicant at the time;

• the applicant’s self-development and conduct since the offense, including whether the applicant has made use of available rehabilitative programs and has identified and addressed treatment needs;

• the applicant’s need for a commutation; and

• the applicant’s plans upon release from custody.

Applicants will be notified when the Governor takes action on a commutation application.

INVESTIGATION & REVIEW

The Board of Parole Hearings, a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, investigates commutation applications. The investigation will include a review of the applicant’s criminal history records, court and police records, and records and information about the applicant’s period of incarceration from the applicant’s C-File and other sources.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE COMMUTATION – REAPPLICATION

If you submitted a commutation application to a prior governor and did not receive notice of a commutation grant, your application is deemed closed. If you submitted a commutation application in the last three years and would like Governor Newsom to re-open your prior application and consider it, you may submit a Re-application for Clemency. To re-apply for a commutation:

• Submit a completed Re- application for Clemency Form. Do not re-submit your original application or other documents unless requested to do so by the Governor’s Office.

• Submit an authorization for release of medical information if you are applying for a commutation because you are suffering from a terminal illness or have a severe and chronic disability that would be substantially mitigated by release from prison or reduction of sentence.

COMMUTATION – NEW APPLICATION

To apply for a commutation for the first time or for the first time in three years:

• Submit a completed Commutation Application to the Governor’s Office. You may, but are not required to, submit additional information or copies of relevant documents in support of your application, such as letters of support or certificates of achievement. Please do not send original documents because application materials cannot be returned; and

• Submit a completed Notice of Intent to Apply for Clemency to the district attorney in the county of the conviction for your commitment offense; and

• Submit an authorization for release of medical information if you are applying for a commutation because you are suffering from a terminal illness or have a severe and chronic disability that would be substantially mitigated by release from prison or reduction of sentence.

If you would like to re- quest forms by mail, please send a letter to: Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Attn: Legal Affairs/Clemency, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Applying for a Governor’s pardon in California

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Two distinct processes available to California prisoners

From theGovernor’s Office: People who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply for a gubernatorial (Governor’s) pardon. The Governor of California cannot grant a pardon for a conviction from another state or a federal proceeding.

There are two ways to ap- ply for a pardon in California: a Certificate of Rehabilitation and a Direct Pardon.

Pardon Application by Certificate of Rehabilitation: One way to apply for a pardon is to first petition for and obtain a Certificate of Rehabilitation from the superior court in the county where the applicant lives. Once a court grants a petition for Certificate of Rehabilitation, the court is required to send the order to the Governor’s Office, where it becomes an automatic application for a pardon. The applicant does not need to take any further action unless contacted by the Governor’s Office or the Board of Parole Hearings.

Pardon Application by Direct Request to the Governor: The second path to apply for a pardon is to submit an application directly to the Governor’s Office.

In both cases, the applicant must notify the district attorney in the county of a conviction for which a pardon application has been submitted.

Before the Governor can grant a pardon application to someone who has two or more felony convictions (in different cases), a majority of the California Supreme Court must first recommend a grant of clemency. The Governor’s Office will send the California Supreme Court the pardon ap- plication and all related docu- ments for their review.

INVESTIGATION & REVIEW

The Board of Parole Hearings investigates pardon applications for the Governor’s Office. In deciding whether to grant a pardon, the Governor’s Office will carefully review each application and consider:

• the impact of a pardon grant on the applicant’s family and community, including whether the grant is consistent with public safety and in the interests of justice and, if relevant, any extraordinary circumstances that justify restoration of firearm rights or a pardon in a sex offense case;

• the age and circumstances of the offense and the age of the applicant at the time;

• the applicant’s self-development and conduct since the offense, including whether the applicant has made use of available rehabilitative programs and has identified and addressed treatment needs; and

• the applicant’s need for a pardon.

Pardon applicants will be notified when the Governor takes action on an application.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PARDON – REAPPLICATION

If you submitted a pardon application, either by a direct application or by a Certificate of Rehabilitation to a prior governor and did not receive notice of a pardon grant, your application is deemed closed. If you submitted a pardon application in the last three years and would like Governor Newsom to reopen and consider it, you may reapply for a pardon. To re-apply for a pardon you must take the following step:

• Submit a completed Reapplication for Clemency Form. Do not resubmit your original application or other documents unless requested to do so by the Governor’s Office or the Board of Parole Hearings.

PARDON – NEW APPLICATION

Applicants who are eligible for a Certificate of Rehabilitation are encouraged to use that path to file a pardon application. Contact the Public Defender’s Office in your county of residence for additional information.

To apply for a direct pardon for the first time or for the first time in three years, you must take the following two steps:

• Submit a completed Pardon Application to the Governor’s Office. You may but are not required to submit additional information or copies of relevant documents in support of your application, such as letters of support or certificates of achievement. Explain extraordinary circumstances that justify restoration of fire- arm rights. Please do not send original documents because application materials cannot be returned; and

• Submit a completed Notice of Intent to Apply for Clemency to the district attorney(s) in the county or counties of the conviction(s) for the offense(s) for which you are requesting a pardon.

If you would like to request forms by mail, please send a letter to: Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Attn: Legal Affairs/Clemency, Sacramento, CA 95814.

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