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San Quentin, California 94964
Population: 2930

SF jail population drops during pandemic
By Randy Hansen
The San Francisco County Jail lowered its population by about 38% from January to May 2020, beating the statewide reduction of 29% during the same period, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. The data shows the San Francisco jail maintained its lower percentages for longer. “The principle of reducing incarceration is very much a part of this office’s mission,” said Rachel Marshall, … Read Full Article
Additional Recent Stories
Growing movement calls for greater use of non-police first responders
Calling non-police professionals for some emergencies is a growing trend in America, The Washington Post reports. The movement uses new tactics of non-police responses to mental health and domestic abuse calls. California has enacted the Crises Act, which allows public money to be used to fund community organizations that can respond to such calls. Policy Link is a California-based … Read Full Article
AROUND THE WORLD: Cancun, Mexico
The San Quentin News touches down in Cancun, Mexico! Tell your friends and family tosnap a picture of their copyof the SQN and send it to us at:TheSQNews@gmail.comDon’t have the most recent edition?Donate online and get the SQN delivered to your mailbox!Get more info at:www.SanQuentinNews.com … Read Full Article

CDC examines racial disparities in gun-related murders
By Edwin Chavez
Young Black men are 20 times more likely to by killed by guns than Whites, a federal report says. Black males age 15–34 made up 2% of the United States’ population, yet accounted for 37% of gun-related murders, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The 2019 analysis titled “A Public Health Crisis in the Making” uncovered a number of racial and ethnic disparities in … Read Full Article

The California Coalition of Women Prisoners celebrates 25 years of activism
CCWP has represented the women of California’s prison system. They have protested abuse and injustice, celebrated victories in justice reform, fought against life-without-parole sentences — and mourned the tragic loss of those whose lives ended while still incarcerated... the frontlines for any political movement, but the California Coalition of Women Prisoners (CCWP) organization is … Read Full Article

Prisoners feel pinch of skyrocketing prices
San Quentin residents are encountering higher prices at the canteen window. For example, the cost of a quart of ice cream is now $4.55, up almost half again from the October price. And in Walkenhorst’s latest catalog many incarcerated people have probably noticed sharp increases in the price of quarterly package items. Rising prices are being pushed by inflation. In January, inflation … Read Full Article

San Quentin population on its way back up
San Quentin population on an upward trajectory after pandemic decline In 2020 San Quentin experienced one of the most deadly periods in its long history — the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-nine people died, including a custodial staff sergeant. In the midst of the crisis, the prison’s population fell gradually — until its recent spike. San Quentin State Prison MONTHLY POPULATION October 2019 - … Read Full Article

The end of the line for Death Row?
By A.J. Hardy
California begins the process of repurposing Death Row housing units The nation’s largest Death Row is now in its final throes, as Gov. Gavin Newsom prepares to implement the remaining portion of a 2016 voter initiative that moves condemned prisoners to other maximum-security facilities and integrates them with the general prison population. “We are starting the process of closing Death … Read Full Article

SQ residents file new round of habeas petitions
By A.J. Hardy
In January 2022, 91 San Quentin residents filed for habeas corpus relief in the Marin County Superior Court. This new round of legal pleadings is an extension of a similar petition that was filed in June 2021, challenging the prison’s COVID-19 response amid the virus’ latest outbreak. The petitions, represented by the Marin County Public Defender, call the prison’s conditions “unlawful,” … Read Full Article

Mixed reactions to ‘pay-to-stay’ jails in SoCal
By Charles Crow
Some detainees pay $200 or more per day for creature comforts In Southern California, “pay-to-stay” jails offer large private cells with various amenities to those who can afford to pay for them, according to a report by The Marshall Project produced in collaboration with the Los Angeles Times. At least 26 pay-to-stay facilities are concentrated in Los Angeles and Orange counties. … Read Full Article

Black History Month – five profiles
Donald “Don” King (1931 - present) “Only in America” became Don King, the famous boxing promoter’s, catchphrase along with his trademark wild Afro-style hair-do. In 1967, King served more than three at the Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio for manslaughter (second-degree murder). He was convicted of stomping to death by one of his gambling house employees. While incarcerated King said … Read Full Article

New S.F. Transitional Housing Community for Women
By Bruce Bowman
“We wanted color, never wanting to see prison gray again” An apartment complex in San Francisco is now home to formerly incarcerated women who were released from prison after having killed their abusers. HomeFree is a transitional housing reentry program started by Five Keys Schools and Programs, on the former Naval base of Treasure Island. The nonprofit organization provides education, … Read Full Article

Bob Goff Gives Inspirational Speech on Big Dreams
The second annual graduating Dream Big class of bestselling author Bob Goff received their certificates for participating in a class that embodies spirituality, hope and ambition on Dec. 14. All the classmates were draped in their graduation gowns and wore caps with tassels as their faces beamed while listening to Goff on stage. “I’m learning from you guys,” Goff said while pointing into the … Read Full Article
Additional Featured Stories
Additional Recent Post
Prisoners feel pinch of skyrocketing prices
San Quentin residents are encountering higher prices at the canteen window. For example, the cost of a quart of ice cream is now $4.55, up almost half again from the October price. And in Walkenhorst’s latest catalog many incarcerated people have probably noticed sharp increases in the price of quarterly package items. Rising prices are being pushed by inflation. In January, inflation … Read Full Article
San Quentin population on its way back up
San Quentin population on an upward trajectory after pandemic decline In 2020 San Quentin experienced one of the most deadly periods in its long history — the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-nine people died, including a custodial staff sergeant. In the midst of the crisis, the prison’s population fell gradually — until its recent spike. San Quentin State Prison MONTHLY POPULATION October 2019 - … Read Full Article
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