WRITTEN BY THE INCARCERATED - ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE
San Quentin, California 94964
Population: 2930
The stark reality of prison, COVID and the public perception
Illustration by Orlando Smith The screams of “Man Down!” (the incarcerated emergency medical call) rattle around the various San Quentin housing units. The alert starts the sounds of correctional officers loud boots hitting the pavement and their keys jingling adds to the chaos and the panic when … Read Full Article
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The astonishing growth of San Quentin News
This is a difficult time for the San Quentin News. But it’s not difficult for the reasons that plague nearly every other newspaper in the country. Those newspapers are in trouble because they are running out of readers, who increasingly switch to the internet for their information. The San … Read Full Article
What’s really needed are paths to good jobs
To stop the revolving door between poverty and incarceration, the more than 70 million Americans who are justice-involved need access to employment that allows self-perpetuating sustainability. When people come home from prison or jail, they face immense challenges, not the least of which is … Read Full Article
The stark reality of prison, COVID and the public perception
Illustration by Orlando Smith The screams of “Man Down!” (the incarcerated emergency medical call) rattle around the various San Quentin housing units. The alert starts the sounds of correctional officers loud boots hitting the pavement and their keys jingling adds to the chaos and the panic when … Read Full Article
The astonishing growth of San Quentin News
This is a difficult time for the San Quentin News. But it’s not difficult for the reasons that plague nearly every other newspaper in the country. Those newspapers are in trouble because they are running out of readers, who increasingly switch to the internet for their information. The San … Read Full Article
What’s really needed are paths to good jobs
To stop the revolving door between poverty and incarceration, the more than 70 million Americans who are justice-involved need access to employment that allows self-perpetuating sustainability. When people come home from prison or jail, they face immense challenges, not the least of which is … Read Full Article
The demands of the #stopsanquentinoutbreak coalition
This article was written back in August and reflects conditions then.After months of urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to take action to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our prison system, we are relieved to see that he is finally starting to grant releases. The governor’s July 10 promise to review 8,000 … Read Full Article
The Beat Within – monthly quote
https://www.thebeatwithin.org/ Your writing should reflect a positive message that helps the youth make a better decision in life. Your stories will be read by the youth in detention centers. If published, you will receive a free copy of the publication. Your story can make a difference. Tell The … Read Full Article
United States resumes federal execution in midst of pandemic
The federal government has resumed executions during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting unsuccessful challenges before the U.S. Supreme Court. One condemned man argued that the use of pentobarbital to carry out his execution would amount to cruel and unusual punishment. The challenges also question … Read Full Article
For prosecutors nationwide November’s election may heat up
The November election can bring swift and significant changes to the current criminal justice system. This will be based on the outcome of many prosecutors’ races. Reform activists have supported the election of district attorneys who have “promised to reduce reliance on incarceration, increase … Read Full Article
Survivor describes his struggles battling COVID-19
The Covid-19 outbreak at San Quentin has caused the death of 26 prisoners and one guard. Ron Lee Joffrion, 55, is a survivor of the outbreak. He has been locked up at San Quentin for the last 14 years, working for the Prison Industry Authority’s (PIA) mattress factory and assigned to a cell in … Read Full Article
SQ’s Sgt. G. Polanco passes from COVID-19
Sergeant G. Polanco Sad news: West Block has lost another guiding light. On Sunday, August 9, Sergeant G. Polanco died from coronavirus. Polanco, 55, a West Block unit Sergeant, is among the growing death list in our San Quentin community. We have lost 26 [29 by printing] of our incarcerated … Read Full Article
CDCR and how they’re handing the global pandemic
California prison officials are doing everything they can to protect incarcerated people from Coronavirus outbreaks, except release half the population. San Quentin’s CCHCS building “What we are not going to do is make a bad situation worse,” said Ralph Diaz, Secretary of the California … Read Full Article
The #STOPSANQUENTINOUTBREAK coalition
Participants in front of the prison’s main gate Major protests, media appearances and a growing social media campaign are being led by former San Quentin prisoners, families of the currently incarcerated, prison reform advocates and some government officials. “We (the coalition) continue to … Read Full Article
Resources: Correspondence reading guide by mail Point Global Outreach
Correspondence reading guide by mailPoint Global Outreach provides a free 29-pageResource Directory for Prisoners. This directory providescorrespondence courses for many religions and spiritualtraditions, legal support, pen pals and more. Most organizationsin the directory offer their services, … Read Full Article
New reentry group – API RISE – in Los Angeles
Photo courtesy of Duc TaDuc Ta and Paul Jung A nonprofit organization in Los Angeles is pioneering ways to help formerly incarcerated Asian Pacific Islanders (APIs) resettle and reconnect back to their communities. https://www.api-rise.org/ “There’s a taboo for APIs who were and are … Read Full Article
RESOURCES: The Walls to Bridges Project is Free and open to all incarcerated persons
Walls To Bridges Project Parents, Grandparents, Godparents, Siblings, Uncles & Aunts Whatever your relationship, we’re here to help you stay connected to your family during this time. We’ll mail the child (any age up to 18) an age- appropriate book with a note that says it is from … Read Full Article
Mental Stimulation September 2020
Here you have a few quick brain teasers to exercise your attention and your working memory–the ability to keep information in your mind while manipulating multiple units of information at the same time. Given them a try … they are not as easy as they may seem: 1. Say the days of the week … Read Full Article
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Additional Recent Post
SQ’s Sgt. G. Polanco passes from COVID-19
Sergeant G. Polanco Sad news: West Block has lost another guiding light. On Sunday, August 9, Sergeant G. Polanco died from coronavirus. Polanco, 55, a West Block unit Sergeant, is among the growing death list in our San Quentin community. We have lost 26 [29 by printing] of our incarcerated … Read Full Article
CDCR and how they’re handing the global pandemic
California prison officials are doing everything they can to protect incarcerated people from Coronavirus outbreaks, except release half the population. San Quentin’s CCHCS building “What we are not going to do is make a bad situation worse,” said Ralph Diaz, Secretary of the California … Read Full Article
