WRITTEN BY THE INCARCERATED - ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE
San Quentin, California 94964
Population: 4,885
LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK: Letters to the editor
I got to CIM level one minimum yard Feb 22, 2019 and have yet to see any of the things that they told me about. At this place it still seems to be about punishment and not rehab like it says in the title of CDCR. There is so much division here amongst staff, inmates, free staff, it is very … Read Full Article
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California has made major changes to comply with court orders
Flag of California California has made major changes to comply with court orders to reduce overcrowd- ing and improve medical care in the 35 state prisons, an update report says. Changes in rules and regulations have resulted in the state’s prison population measured at 134.8% of design … Read Full Article
Gavin Newsom will introduce a broader criminal justice reform
California’s Governor Gavin Newson Gov. Gavin Newsom will introduce a broader criminal justice reform package as part of his 2020 prison budget plan. His plans include step down facilities that focus on rehabilitation and reentry options for people being released from custody. He ultimately … Read Full Article
LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK: Letters to the editor
I got to CIM level one minimum yard Feb 22, 2019 and have yet to see any of the things that they told me about. At this place it still seems to be about punishment and not rehab like it says in the title of CDCR. There is so much division here amongst staff, inmates, free staff, it is very … Read Full Article
California has made major changes to comply with court orders
Flag of California California has made major changes to comply with court orders to reduce overcrowd- ing and improve medical care in the 35 state prisons, an update report says. Changes in rules and regulations have resulted in the state’s prison population measured at 134.8% of design … Read Full Article
Gavin Newsom will introduce a broader criminal justice reform
California’s Governor Gavin Newson Gov. Gavin Newsom will introduce a broader criminal justice reform package as part of his 2020 prison budget plan. His plans include step down facilities that focus on rehabilitation and reentry options for people being released from custody. He ultimately … Read Full Article
Oversight report assessed CDCR’s prison reform
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) produced its 10th independent oversight report after it evaluated prison reforms proposed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). State law mandates that the OIG periodically assess the state’s prison reforms. The inspector … Read Full Article
Feds are seeking recall of more than 3,000 released prisoners
President Trump After the release of more than 3,000 federal prisoners, the Justice Department is trying to recall their sentences and lock them back-up, according to a Washington Post article. Trump, along with the Congress and the Senate, passed a bill back in 2018 signing-off on releasing … Read Full Article
SF Mayor to close City Hall jail
By Dillon Kim, Journalism Guild Writer California County Jails San Francisco Mayor London Breed ordered City Hall to close down the Hall of Justice, including its jail, by July 2021 because the jail is structurally vulnerable to earthquakes. This deadline has prompted city officials to … Read Full Article
Newsom’s stance on death penalty inspires abolitionist movement
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom Governor Newsom’s moratorium on the death penalty in March gave California’s abolition movement new energy. “There’s this excitement and energy in our movement that we haven’t had in a long time,” said Natasha Minsker, a political consultant and longtime proponent for … Read Full Article
California gun safety laws reported strongest in nation
California leads the nation when it comes to strongest gun safety laws and innovative programs to reduce gun violence, according to a Juvenile Justice Information Ex-change article. Giffords Law Center compiles an annual Gun Law Scorecard that ranks California at the top. A significant factor is … Read Full Article
State to pay $1.5 million to family of prisoner who committed suicide
California has agreed to pay $1.5 million to the family of Erika Rocha, whose prison suicide was deemed foresee- able and preventable, the Sacramento Bee reports. “This is an acknowledgement that the system completely broke down when it came to providing the care that she needed,” said Lori … Read Full Article
Eleven years later – SQ Cares stands strong with cancer survivors
Steve Pascasio and Shannon Gordhamer Hundreds of San Quentin residents contributed $5 each, while other prisoners produced art to raise more than $8,000 for a local woman’s center. The fundraiser was a part of the 11th Annual San Quentin CARES: Walk for a Cure (SQ CARES) that occurred on Oct. 11 … Read Full Article
Executive forms organization to help officials curb recidivism
A top Google executive has formed a non-profit organization to help prison officials understand which programs work and don’t work to curb recidivism. “In the criminal justice system today-an incredibly large and important and impactful system-we have none of those same abilities. It’s millions … Read Full Article
Raise the Age Law help young accused avoid trial in adult courts
North Carolina’s new Raise the Age law now prevents many non-violent youth offenders under the age of 18 from being mandatorily sent to adult court, according to news reports. These new referrals to juvenile court will provide youths 16 and 17 more opportunities to receive rehabilitative … Read Full Article
Colonel Allen Allensworth, founder of a town in central California
Colonel Allen Allensworth After slavery African Americans took their skills and begin to build thriving cities. Blacks in California were no different. In 1908, African Americans in California built a flourishing town called Allensworth, an accomplishment seldom taught or discussed. Colonel … Read Full Article
N.W.A helped set the stage for modern hip hop music
Ice Cube, N.W.A – Rap Group (1987-95) The N.W.A rap group was at first criticized as a misogynistic hip hop crew that glorified drugs and crime. But the Compton-based rap group bought the political and social issues of California’s Black youth to the mainstream and coined the term “ gangsta rap.” … Read Full Article
Two dozen graduated from violence prevention program
No More Tears graduates and volunteers with Alameda DA Nancy O'Malley Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley joined Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson on a trip inside San Quentin to watch about two dozen incarcerated men graduate from a violence prevention program. “What I see … Read Full Article
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SQ keeps tradition of giving
Veterans’ Toys for Tots continues to warm the hearts of many One-and a-half-old Zy'ir Lewis chooses a toy The cheer of Christmas giving filled the San Quentin State Prison visiting rooms as children celebrated the holidays with their incarcerated loved ones in December. “We got absolutely … Read Full Article
When sports turn an eye toward prison
Scott Budnick, Vivek Ranadive and Trevor Ariza inside North Block The Sacramento Kings showed love to Folsom State prisoners during a special night of community healing. In a circle within the prison chapel, they shared life experiences before celebrating Folsom’s newly renovated outdoor … Read Full Article
