San Quentin News

WRITTEN BY THE INCARCERATED - ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE

San Quentin, California 94964

Population: 3,133

Honor and Pride: Remembering my uncle Ferdia

July 24, 2022 By Marcus Henderson

Oh yeah, I know I’m going to be bombarded on the yard and with letters to the editor about why there are so many stories about LGBTQ and transgender people in the June paper, celebrating Pride Month. I understand that the number of LGBTQ prisoners who are out is a small community compared to the whole general prison population. And no, San Quentin News is not trying to make people in outside … Read Full Article

Additional Recent Stories

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome By Joy DeGruy, PhD

July 24, 2022 By Jerry Maleek Gearin

Dr. Joy DeGruy’s book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrom: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing focuses on how the traumatic experiences of slavery have affected African Americans’ lives, which entails trauma that is a direct result of slaves being hunted, tortured, and forced into labor. According to the book, the syndrome exists when a population has experienced multigenerational … Read Full Article

Milwaukee Bucks share trophy with prisoners

July 24, 2022 By Timothy Hicks

The Milwaukee Bucks, two-time NBA Championship winners, shared their Larry O’Brien Championship trophy with the incarcerated residents of the Milwaukee County House of Corrections, USA TODAY reports. Just like the Golden State Warriors, who entered San Quentin to share their Championship trophy with residents in 2017, the Bucks also made the effort to share their success with the incarcerated … Read Full Article

Reggie Yates traces his African ancestry through his art

July 20, 2022 By Edwin Chavez

San Quentin resident Reginald Yates embraces his ancestral roots by reviving some of the old traits of African tribal art. Some may dismiss this as misguided attention to an extinct culture — but not Yates, who refuses to let this hidden treasure vanish. “I just get a pleasure (out) of exposing this art to people who may never saw it,” said Yates, referring to a bird sitting on a … Read Full Article

Erick Maciel sees inspiration everywhere he looks

July 20, 2022 By Edwin Chavez

Art is a way for incarcerated people to sooth the mind and soul in a positive way. It provides a healthy escape from the depression that often accompanies life in prison. In the SQNews art back page edition, we intend to showcase the hidden talents of many incarcerated people, so that they can be appreciated and enjoyed by others across the prison system. “I like creating fantasy characters … Read Full Article

Audio journalism program holds graduation

July 20, 2022 By Steve Brooks

An audio journalism program that trains incarcerated people in the skills necessary to work in radio upon release had its first graduation for students at San Quentin State Prison in April. Un-cuffed, an award-winning podcast produced by the incarcerated, started at SQ three years ago. It has been expanded to Solano and seeks to reach other prisons. “What we do at Un-cuffed … Read Full Article

Changes in incarceration rates less impressive than expected

July 20, 2022 By Charles Crow

Reductions in incarcerated populations during the COVID-19 pandemic have proven to be only temporary, new federal data shows. Included in the reductions count are COVID deaths, early releases, and fewer new prisoners, the data notes. The largest reductions were in jail populations, which fell by 25%, followed by state and federal prison populations, which declined by 15% and 13%, … Read Full Article

BLUE & BLUE RETURNS TO SAN QUENTIN

July 20, 2022 By Joshua Strange

San Francisco Police return to SQ for talks on social justice, reform Top leadership of the San Francisco police department gathered with a group of criminal justice experts in San Quentin’s Garden Chapel in April to discuss ways to reduce crime and improve their policing. The experts had earned their knowledge the hard way — by making mistakes and doing time in prison … Read Full Article

NOTICE TO OUR READERS:

July 20, 2022 By San Quentin News

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and institutional quarantines, we have had to combine our June and July editions. We hope to be back on schedule as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding. … Read Full Article

Mother’s Day messages-May 8, 2022

May 8, 2022 By San Quentin News

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Junior Ramirez finds peace in his passion

May 2, 2022 By Vincent O'Bannon

Art was his only means of communication; now it’s his hope There is a saying that art imitates life. If that is so, then the artistic genius of Jorge “JR” Ramirez reveals that he has life fully grasped within the strokes of his hands. JR, as he is known by family and friends, comes from the streets of Chicago and moved to Sacramento at age 13. The eldest of six children immediately … Read Full Article

Prisons adopt high tech monitoring

May 1, 2022 By Pheng Ly

Prisoners’ rights groups are concerned about the use of new surveillance technology in U.S. prisons and jails, and they are sounding the alarm about potential abuses. Voice of America reported in February that the Thomson Reuters Foundation uncovered documents from eight states showing that prison and jail authorities were using the Verus software, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) … Read Full Article

Mount Tamalpais College accreditation confirmed

May 1, 2022 By Steve Brooks

For the first time in history, an independent, fully-accredited college exists inside a prison. Mount Tamalpais College (Mt. Tam), located on the grounds of San Quentin State Prison (SQ), was formally accredited as a two-year college by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Inside Higher Ed reports. “The idea of becoming an independently operated and … Read Full Article