A prison in New York State found San Quentin News unacceptable reading material for its inmates because the paper allegedly advocates lawlessness, violence, anarchy or rebellion against the government.
New York inmate G. Erwin, a San Quentin News subscriber, received a “Sender Disapproval Notice,” instead of the February 2015 edition.
The Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion, N.Y., (near Rochester) evaluated the paper and circled two reasons why it wouldn’t be allowed into the prison population.
“D. Any publication which advocates and presents a clear and immediate risk of lawlessness, violence, anarchy or rebellion against the governmental authority is unacceptable.”
“E. The publication should not incite disobedience towards law enforcement officers or prison personnel. ‘Incite disobedience,’ for purposes of this guideline, means to advocate, expressly or by clear implication, acts of disobedience.”
The notice didn’t indicate which news stories they viewed as violating their standards. However, an article about the New York City Rikers Island jail on page 4 of the February 2015 issue reported on findings by the U.S. Justice Department that correctional officers systematically abused adolescent inmates on Rikers Island.
“We conclude that there is a pattern and practice of conduct at Rikers that violates the constitutional rights of adolescent inmates,” the Aug. 4, 2014, Department of Justice report stated. “In particular, we find that adolescent inmates at Rikers are not adequately protected from harm, including serious physical harm from the rampant use of unnecessary and excessive force by DOC (Department of Corrections) staff.”
The article also mentioned steps taken to solve the abuse problems on Rikers and recommendations on more measures that the New York Department of Corrections should take. No specific officers or incidents were written about.
Coincidently, the February issue contained an article advising those protesting the killing of an unarmed Black man in Ferguson, M.O., to follow the non-violent principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was part of Watani Stiner’s regular OG Perspective column on page 13.
There was also a story on page 8 about a Muslim who found out he is housed in the same prison as a Christian man who murdered his uncle. The Muslim chose to forgive the reformed man instead of seeking revenge.
“I could not deny the favor of forgiveness that God has given me. So, when it came to my brother, Holloway, I looked him in the eye and told him that I forgive him,” Isaiah “Abdul Raheem” Thompson-Bonilla told Derrick Holloway, the man who killed his uncle.
“They didn’t read it,” said Lt. Sam Robinson, the San Quentin Public Information Officer when shown the “Sender Disapproval Notice” from the New York prison. The lieutenant reads each issue of the San Quentin News prior to publication to check for articles that might involve prison security concerns. The February issue would not have been cleared if he had any such concerns.
Indeed, had the New York authorities read the San Quentin News in its entirety, they would have seen that the newspaper promotes rehabilitation and peaceful ways to resolve conflicts. These articles that inspire hope in prisoners should not have been rejected in order to suppress information about the Justice Department’s report.
Censorship cannot hide the realities of abuses from inmates who have experienced them first-hand.
–Rahsaan Thomas
Archives for July 2015
Prison University Project Celebrates 9 Graduates
Valedictorian Keung Vanh told a packed college graduation audience that when he came to prison 20 years ago, “I didn’t even have a high school diploma.”
On June 12, the standing-room-only Protestant Chapel served as an auditorium, as Vanh and eight other graduates also accepted their Associate of Arts degrees from the San Quentin Prison University Project.
In the audience were the graduates’ family members, community volunteers, PUP teachers, prison administrators and fellow prisoners.
Vanh began his valedictorian speech by explaining how shyness, while growing up, made his educational journey challenging.
“Whenever my teacher asked me to repeat something, my shyness would keep me quiet,” Vanh said. “So, my third grade teacher questioned my ability to learn.”
Vanh said because of his quietness he was “labeled academically challenged and sent to remedial school.” The experience had a lasting effect on his self-esteem, he said.
“After awhile I began believing this; then I started falling behind,” he said. “By the time I reached high school, I had new challenges — gang violence, which caused me to be kicked out of school three times.”
Vanh said his troubled life included committing criminal acts that led to imprisonment at age 16.
“When I first came to prison, I was locked in a cell 23 hours a day,” he said. “Then I began learning when a teacher came by and slid booklets in under my cell door. I did the work until I graduated from high school.”
After turning 17, Vanh said he was transferred to state prison. “Then I had to focus on survival.”
“When my cellie (Phoeun You, who is also graduating today) asked me for help with his college homework, I started thinking differently about college,” Vanh said.
Vanh enrolled into PUP in 2010.
“I began getting confidence when I completed a research course and a previous teacher complimented me on how much my writing improved,” Vanh said.
Addressing his family, Vanh said, “I want you to know that my incarceration is not your fault,” which brought tears to many of the men and women in attendance.
“I would have never thought he would get a chance to get a college degree,” said Vanh’s brother, Keo.
Vanh’s Cellie Graduated Too!
Phoeun You’s mother, father, brother and three sisters traveled for nine hours to attend the graduation. You hadn’t seen his parents for more than 20 years.
“With each class that I completed, new difficulties and struggles followed,” You wrote in the graduation program. “Nevertheless, six years later, in my cap and gown, Mom and Dad, you’re still by my side. I can finally show you how much you are appreciated.”
“He changed for better, because of the school program,” said You’s brother, James. “Hopefully he’ll be able to get out soon. I would like him to reach out to the victims’ family and ask for forgiveness.”
San Quentin Prison University Project Alumni Attend the Graduation:
Former San Quentin prisoner and keynote speaker Sam Vaughn is employed in Richmond.
“I work for a city government. I’m a government man,” Vaughn said, bringing a round of laughter in the audience. “Now, I challenge that same government.”
“I work with people who commit gun violence,” Vaughn said. “We engage these young men and build a relationship with them. We challenge them to do something different in their lives and to get an education, driver’s license, or anything to change the way they were living. We help them through a process where guns become irrelevant.”
Vaughn said that educating incarcerated people is “very controversial.”
“There’s people on the streets, working two jobs and can’t send their children to college. But you guys are committing crime and your reward is to go to college. Who do you want getting out of prison?”
Vaughn answered those questions by saying, “You’re taught critical thinking skills. You are taught how to adapt to society.”
He told the graduating inmates that they are needed in the community for the “plethora of knowledge in here. We got to go out there and stop the terrorism that’s happening in the community.”
“Patten University gave you the opportunity,” Vaughn said. “Don’t let what society tells you put a ceiling on what you can do.”
Curtis Penn was paroled in 2013 under Proposition 36.
“The biggest challenge I had after getting out was being patient and let things happen on its own course,” Penn said. “I had to humble myself and apply for social services.”
Penn is the recipient of a Willie Brown Fellowship and works with San Francisco Reentry. He has also received a John Erwin Award with Project Rebound in order to help ex-offenders pursue college.
Penn is active in the community. He has served on a sentencing commission in San Francisco. He also works with environmental organizations that teach participants sustainable living.
“You got to have a plan of action,” Penn said, regarding what to do before getting out of prison.
Other Graduates:
Jerome Boone: “My English classes taught me to structure and articulate my thoughts and emotions; math showed me that problem solving also builds confidence; Philosophy and Ethics revealed that not taking a stance is in fact taking a stance. I even found some spirituality, not in Comparative Religion, but in Biology w/lab. In a way, PUP introduced me to myself.”
James “JC” Cavitt: “Receiving my college degree gives me a strong foundation to stand on so I can say, ‘No more excuses.’ Poor living conditions, scarce resources, lockdowns, or prison bars should not be used as a reason not to pursue higher education.”
Carlos Flores: “What has encouraged me to continue in the program is the systematic knowledge and positive daily activity it brings to my life. The benefits have been an ability to make my family proud, and I’ve gained greater personal insight into who I am and the world I live in.”
Tony Manning: “I may once more bring that joyful pride back into my family, as they read and see pictures of me receiving my diploma on the stage.”
Carl Sampson: “I realized…that being at retiring age did not mean that I was too old to learn. The saying, ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is not true. It’s a lie.”
Sa Tran: “Mom, I truly am sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you, so THIS is for you.”
Van Wilson: “I am most grateful to the outside men and women who have helped me and made it possible for me to achieve my Associate of Arts degree.”
The Entertainment:
Contagious performed Coming Home: its lyrics read: I’ve been gone so long. I’m coming home again. David Jassy, James Benson, Paul Comauex, Darryl Farris, John Holiday, Lee Jaspar, Charles King and Kevin D. Sawyer.
Spoken Word performed by James “JC” Cavitt,, “Freedom,” We’re all serving time. We’re just in different places. If we want freedom we have to think differently.
JulianGlenn “Luke” Padgett, Cavitt, Antwan “Banks” Williams, Kevin Carr and Anouthinh Pangthong performed a choreographed dance, called Stomp It Up, and received a standing ovation.
“This is a very important community to me,” said Kara Urion, PUP program director. “I love you all in a very not over-familiar way,” which brought laughs from the audience.
Prison University Project’s Mission:
To provide excellent higher education program to people incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison and throughout the California State Prison system; to create a replicable model for such programs; and to stimulate public awareness and meaningful dialogue about higher education and criminal justice in California. We advocate for higher education programs for individuals incarcerated throughout the State of California and United States, and we strive to promote public support for prison education, training, and recovery programs.
Patten University President Thomas Stewart, Ph.D., told the audience that he wrote his dissertation 20 years ago about the evolution of prisons.
“In a democracy, it says that education should be available to everyone,” Stewart said. “Jody Lewen, (Executive Director of PUP) is making that possible.”
Steward reminded the graduates to have faith and to be persistent in their educational pursuit. “Your faith and persistence is why we’re here today to celebrate success.”
San Quentin News Advisor Joan Lisetor contributed to this article. www.prisonuniversityproject.org
Warriors Compete Against Prisoners During NBA Finals
In the midst of NBA finals, Golden State Warriors General Manager Bob Myers and assistant GM Kirk Lacob played some basketball on their own against the San Quentin Warriors. Myers played for the Green Team and led with 26 points and 23 rebounds in their 85-79 victory.
“I think it (coming into San Quentin) shows that we care and that people are people no matter what station you are in life,” said Myers.
It was June 6, the day before game two of the Golden State Warriors NBA finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the biggest moment for the Warriors in 40 years—the last time they reached the finals.
“When I play basketball, I forget about everything else. It’s a good release for my mind,” said Myers.
“Basketball is my calm place, my happy place,” added Lacob. “Playing hard is a release from life. When I play basketball, I don’t have to worry about anything except what’s happening here on the court.”
It was a sunny day with a strong breeze that didn’t seem to hamper jump shots. The S.Q. Warriors came out in the first quarter with great energy and got off to a 4-0 run, then Myers nailed three-pointers back-to-back, taking the lead and setting the tone.
“I didn’t have to do a lot — just get the ball to Bob,” said Evan Fjelds.
Ben Illegbodu defied the wind as well, nailing jump shots and helping the Green Team take a 17-point first quarter lead. He was the Green Team’s second leading scorer with 23 points. By halftime, Myers had 19 points and 11 rebounds and the Green Team was ahead, 49-26.
At halftime, S.Q. Warrior GM Robert “Bishop” Butler addressed all participants at mid-court, along with Christian Sports Ministry’s Green Team player Brandon Curtis.
“Whatever you do, act like the world is watching,” said Butler in his inspirational message.
Curtis advised, “Use your time wisely, because you never know how the Lord will use it to make you prosper.”
The S.Q. Warriors had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. After being down 20 points in the first half, Harry “ATL” Smith led them back to within four.
Smith stole the ball and dribbled down court for a layup to make the score 81-77 with 50 seconds left in the game.
However, former overseas pro Griffin Reilly sealed the deal for the Green Team by driving baseline, coming up under the far side of the basket for a reverse. He was fouled and completed the “and-one,” making the score 84-77.
The S.Q. Warriors tried intentional fouling to stop the clock but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Smith was unstoppable. He scored several times with his shoulder pressed against of the chest of defenders. He made 14 of 20 shots and led the Warriors with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
“ATL is tough. If you take away the basket, he’ll hit you with a jumper,” said Reilly.
Allan McIntosh added 20 points. Anthony Ammons had a double-double, scoring 13 points and snatching 12 rebounds. However, Ammons only hit 5 of 23 shots from the field.
The Green Team came with one of the deepest rosters of talent they ever brought into San Quentin. The depth of young talent made them better than the last time Myers played in Quentin with former NBA players Luke Walton and Jarren Collins as teammates. They lost the September 2014 game to the S.Q. Warriors, 92-88, when Myers dropped 27 points.
The Green Team also lost its first two games of the 2015 San Quentin basketball season.
“We went down 0-2; we have to bring all the big guns,” said Ilegbodu.
They returned with former overseas pros Evan Fjelds and Reilly; former Washington Generals Antoine Maddox, and several former college players like Pat Lacey, Kyle Flowers, Justis Willis, Ilegbodu, Charles Lowery, and Mike Picone, plus Curtis. Also suited up in Green for the first time in two years was recent Washington University (in St. Louis) graduate and ex-point guard Kent Lacob, Kirk’s brother and a future Golden State employee.
“They brought in some good talent. Sometimes basketball IQ and teamwork can outdo athleticism and potential,” said Smith.
Kent Lacob came off the bench and got a steal as soon as he entered the game. He also connected with his brother to drop a three-pointer.
Myers, who is 40 years old, was recently chosen as the NBA Executive of the Year.
“It’s an award that singles me out but you can’t get that without a lot of help,” confided Myers. “To be voted on by other GMs means a lot.”
Myers plays like a man who should have been a pro. Averaging 32 points a game, he has led the Green Team in scoring every time he played in San Quentin — even with former NBA players as teammates. He did play for UCLA’s 1995 championship team.
“I was 5-foot-7 in high school. I didn’t get good at basketball until my senior year at college. I missed my window,” said Myers, who is now about 6-foot-7.
After the game, S.Q. Warrior Smith expressed the team’s appreciation that the Golden State executives had taken the time to come into San Quentin. “Here we are here incarcerated and, through basketball, meeting guys who are doing great things out in the world,” he said.
Immigration Attorney Offers Answers to Deportation Policies
Immigration attorney Marc Van Der Hout came to San Quentin to talk about immigration policy. For once he wasn’t venturing into prison on behalf of a client.
“Since 1996 there are groups trying to ‘fix ’96,’ the immigration reform that (President Bill) Clinton would not veto,” Van Der Hout told inmates at San Quentin in May. “Before 1996, you could usually get discretionary relief.”
Defense attorney Dan Barton accompanied Van Der Hout. “The assistance of an immigration attorney is essential to a criminal defense attorney when the client is an immigrant facing the possibility of deportation,” said Barton. “An attorney must first realize their client is an immigrant.”
“I feel good to fight for a person’s right to stay in the United States,” said Van Der Hout.
He said the Dream Act would have helped many young immigrants by deferring deportation, adding that when Congress failed to pass immigration reform, President Obama started the deferred action childhood arrivals (DACA) program. In response, Republicans in 26 states filed suit seeking injunctive relief to block the program.
The suit, according to Van Der Hout, was strategically filed in a U.S. District Court in Texas, where the ruling would be predictable, including the outcome on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit. An injunction remains in effect until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on whether a state can stop a federal program.
Other issues that immigrants encounter in the United States were discussed, including prosecution for terrorism.
“Terrorism under immigration law could be as minimal as threatening to throw a rock at a building,” said Van Der Hout.
The “Los Angeles Eight” were Palestinian members of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) accused of materially supporting terrorism by “distributing newspapers that advocated communist ideology,” said Van Der Hout. He represented them in a “selective prosecution” case.
Van Der Hout said immigrants cannot raise a “selective prosecution” defense, but he challenged it because the U.S. was not prosecuting Cubans and Afghanis fighting communism. The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court and was decided in favor of the defendants, after 22 years.
The Refugee Act requires all refugees to be treated equally, he said. Because the U.S. did not support the war in El Salvador and Guatemala in the 1980s, Van Der Hout said over 90 percent of refugees seeking political asylum from those countries were denied.
U.S. support for the war in Nicaragua at the time, according to Van Der Hout, gave preferential treatment – asylum – to most refugees from that country, which he said was discriminatory.
Van Der Hout filed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. government. He said the case was settled after five years and the government had to re-adjudicate Guatemalan and El Salvadoran immigrants’ cases.
A short discourse ensued on the three agencies that replaced the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service). After Sept. 11, 2001, he explained, the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); all fall under the Department of Homeland Security.
“‘Aggravated felony’ has become a joke,” said Van Der Hout, explaining how it used to be a term delineating crimes such as murder and rape but now encompasses theft offenses – even those that carry no jail time. He said now all crimes defined as an aggravated felony can lead to deportation, even for a legal resident.
“How would you best describe the nexus between our immigration policies and mass incarceration?” asked inmate Tommy Gardner.
“It’s a good question and correct to ask,” said Van Der Hout. “The number of people detained for immigration is tenfold.” He said incarceration of immigrants is up dramatically, adding that there are many with legitimate political asylum claims.
“A lot of local jails have refused to honor ICE holds,” said Van Der Hout. “California cooperates with ICE.” He also said a one-year sentence in jail can lead to an immigrant’s deportation, but a sentence of 364 days or less allows them to stay in the country.
One inmate asked, “How long after a sentence is completed does immigration have to pick you up?” According to Van Der Hout, “They have 48 hours.”
–James King, Salvador Solorio, Chung Kao, and James Abernathy contributed to this story.
Abogado de Inmigración Comparte Respuestas A Preguntas sobre Polízas de Deportación
El abogado de inmigración Mark Van Der Hout experimento lo que es estar dentro de una prisión por primera vez y no fue por ir a visitar alguno de sus clientes.
“Desde el año 1996 han existido diversos grupos que han tratado de remendar la reforma inmigratoria ‘96’ que el (presidente) Clinton no prohibiría,” en el mes de Mayo, el abogado Van Der Hout le comento a los prisioneros de San Quentin. “Antes del año 1996 era usual recibir un alivio discrecional.”
El abogado Van Der Hout fue acompañado por el abogado de defensa Dan Barton. “La ayuda de un abogado de inmigración es esencial para el abogado de defensa criminal, cuando el cliente es un inmigrante enfrentando la posibilidad de deportación,” Barton comento. “Primeramente un abogado debe darse cuenta que su cliente es un inmigrante ilegal en los Estados Unidos.”
El abogado Van Der Hout menciono, “me da gusto pelear por los derechos que tiene una persona, para que pueda quedarse en los Estados Unidos.”
Además dijo que el Dream Act (La proposición para Los Soñadores) hubiera ayudado a muchos jóvenes inmigrantes a posponer su posible deportación, añadiendo que cuando el congreso no aprobó la reforma inmigratoria, el Presidente Obama comenzó el programa DACA (que es una acción para posponer la llegada de niños). En respuesta, los Republicanos en 26 estados pusieron una demanda buscando obtener un alivio para bloquear el programa.
La demanda, de acuerdo con el abogado Van Der Hout, fue estratégicamente presentada frente a una Corte de Distrito en los Estados Unidos en donde la decisión seria predecible, incluyendo también el resultado de una apelación en la Corte de Apelación de los Estados Unidos, en el Quinto Distrito. Una orden de la corte es efectiva hasta que la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos llegue a una decisión sobre si el estado tiene el poder suficiente para detener un programa federal.
Otros problemas que enfrentan los inmigrantes en los Estados Unidos fueron también discutidos, incluyendo el procesamiento por terrorismo.
El abogado Van Der Hout comento que “el terrorismo, de acuerdo a las leyes de inmigración, puede ser algo tan simple como pretender tirar una piedra en contra de un edificio.”
El grupo de ‘Los Angeles Eight’ (Los Ocho de Los Angeles) era integrado por miembros Palestinos de PFLP (El Frente Popular para la Liberación de Palestina), acusados de apoyar materialmente al terrorismo al “distribuir periódicos que abogaban una ideología comunista,” comento el abogado. Van Der Hout represento a este grupo en un caso de ‘acusación selectiva’.
El abogado Van Der Hout dijo que los inmigrantes no pueden clamar una defensa de ‘acusación selectiva’ a lo que el abogado cuestiono el porque los Estados Unidos no estaban levantando cargos en contra de los Cubanos y Afghanistanos que están peleando constantemente por el comunismo. El caso fue presentado a la Suprema Corte de los Estados Unidos la cual tomo una decisión, después de 22 años, a favor de los acusados.
La Acción de los Refugiados requiere que todos los refugiados sean tratados igualmente. Debido a que los Estados Unidos no apoyo la guerra en El Salvador ni en Guatemala en los años ochentas, el abogado, Van Der Hout, comento que más de un 90 por ciento de los refugiados que buscaban asilo político, fueron negados.
Debido a que Estados Unidos apoyo la guerra en Nicaragua en aquel entonces, de acuerdo a Van Der Hout, fue considerado como un trato preferencial ya que le otorgo asilo político a la mayoría de refugiados de ese país lo cual fue una acción discriminatoria.
El abogado Van Der Hout presento una demanda de clase-social en contra del gobierno Americano. El abogado comento que el caso fue finalmente resuelto después de cinco años por lo cual el gobierno se vio obligado a reajustar todos los casos de los inmigrantes de Guatemala y El Salvador.
Un discurso corto fue emitido sobre las tres agencias que reemplazaron el INS (El Servicio de Inmigración y Naturalización) después del 11 de Septiembre del 2001 explicando que los Servicios de Ciudadanía e Inmigración (Citizenship and immigration Services CIS), los Servicios de Aduana y Patrulla Fronteriza (Customs and Border Patrol CBP), y los Servicios de Inmigración y de Control de Aduana (Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE); todos están bajo el control del Departamento de Seguridad de la Patria de los Estados Unidos (Department of Homeland Security DHS).
“‘Felonía Agravada’ se a convertido en un chiste,” dijo Van Der Hout, explicando que antes había un termino descriptivo de crímenes tales como asesinato y la violación pero hoy incluye ofensas como robo; hasta crímenes que no conllevan tiempo en la cárcel. El dijo que hoy todos los crímenes definidos como felonías agravadas pueden resultar en la deportación, hasta para un residente legal.”
“¿Como describirías mejor el nexo entre políticas inmigratorias y el encarcelamiento masivo? Pregunto el reo Tommy Gardner.
“Es una buena pregunta,” dijo Van Der Hout, “el numero de personas detenidas por la inmigración es diez veces mayor.” El dijo que la encarcelación de inmigrantes ha aumentado dramáticamente, también incluyo que hay muchos con derechos de asilo político legítimos.
“Muchas cárceles locales han negado cumplir las detenciones del ICE,” dijo Van Der Hout. “California coopera con ICE.” También dijo que una condena de cárcel de un año puede llevar a la deportación de un inmigrante, pero una condena de 364 días o menos los permite quedarse en el país.
Un reo pregunto, “¿Cuanto tiempo tiene la inmigración para recogerte después de cumplir la condena?” De acuerdo a Van Der Hout, “Tienen 48 horas.”
James King, Salvador Solorio, Chung Kao, y James Abernathy contribuyeron en esta historia.
49ers’ Chaplain Earl Smith And Players Tour San Quentin
San Francisco 49ers Chaplain Earl Smith returned recently to San Quentin with 44 members of the football organization.
“There is a thin line between players and inmates. You have a number and they have a number. What can we do to make a difference for both sides?” said Smith about why he brings the players into the prison.
Smith is a former San Quentin Protestant chaplain.
He has brought 49ers into the prison for over 15 years and 49er legend Keena Turner has accompanied him on about seven occasions.
The pastor started the IMPACT program inside San Quentin and is teaching those same principles to the professional football players.
IMPACT stands for Incarcerated Men Putting Away Childish Things. It teaches that the male role belief system taught in the ghetto is wrong and IMPACT replaces the false beliefs with a positive way of thinking.
The June 3 tour started with the Niners being greeted by inmates Tommy Winfrey, John Windham, Clay Thompson, Adnan Khan, Leroy Lucas, Azraal “Big AZ” Ford, Sam Johnson, Miguel Quezada, Joey Mason, John Vaden, G. Lumumba Edwards, Curtis “Wall Street” Carroll and Upu Ama.
Winfrey told the visitors about the realities of prison life and then everyone broke into separate groups for discussions.
Rookie quarterback Dylan Thompson, a former South Carolina Gamecock, said, “It’s cool that inmates still see value in people. Society sees you as outcasts. You could have chosen to say, ‘Screw it,’ but you chose to make the best of it.”
Turner said, “It’s impactful that you guys share your experiences honestly with our guys. It gives us a chance to have a different perspective. Right after the tours, we have an open discussion about the visit to understand how life really is the choices that come down to a moment and their consequences.”
For the rookies, coming in was a mandatory part of trying out for the Niners. However, several active players and coaches volunteered to join the tour.
Niner guard and center Joe Looney heard about how impactful the experience is from his brother James Looney, who plays football for the University of California, Berkeley. The Cal Bear came in a few weeks before as part of the SQUIRES program, which offers a similar tour.
“A lot of guys here are real cool and they’re getting their lives together and making a change at the prison,” Joe’s brother told him. Joe said he agrees now.
Torrey Smith, who was a Raven for four years, is now a Niner. He came in for the experience and to “put some smiles on people’s faces and be a light.”
As he toured the Prison Industry Authority section of the prison where mattresses are made, he made a few fans’ that day.
“Torrey Smith! You stopped my Steelers from winning. You are awesome,” said an inmate.
Current Niner Tony Jerod-Edbie said he came in because, “This is real close to home. I have a lot of people in the system and I wanted to see what it’s like inside.”
Thomas McGaughey, a former Eagle and Bengal, is now coaching for the 49ers.
He came in “just for the experience and to see the famous San Quentin. It’s not often you get to visit a historic landmark.”
After leaving PIA, the Niners walked the yard, greeting fans, then toured the reception center and adseg upper yard.
Public Information Officer Lt. Sam Robinson led the tour into the South dining hall where he pointed out secrets the art murals there hold, like a hidden demon, and howthe pictures seem to change direction when looked at from different perspectives.
“I learned a lot of history and those drawings stuck with me,” said Michael Davis, a rookie from South Carolina.
By the end of the day, the Niners reported learning a lot.
Issac Blakeney (Duke University) said, “People try guys with high profile status at clubs. Seeing the other side of bad consequence is a reminder to swallow my pride and keep it moving. It’s not worth it.”
“My dad has been to prison. Seeing how small the cells are puts things in perspective. I don’t see how ya’ll do it,” said rookie safety Jaquiski Tartt from Samford University.
Rookie Bradley Pinion, an NFL fifth-round draft pick from Clemson University, said, “I learn from ya’ll as much as ya’ll learn from me.”
“I don’t place judgment on people because they made a mistake,” said Torrey Smith.
“I don’t want to come here (to prison). Seeing this place cemented that for me,” said Trent Brown, a rookie form the University of Florida.
The players had something to teach inmates too.
DeAndre Campbell, an Oakland native and rookie from the University of Washington, credits staying out of trouble to “staying busy and understanding that nothing good could come from what some of my classmates were doing. I’ve seen some of them die.”
“The league is a business. Everybody is competing for the same job and if you get it, somebody gets cut,” said Dres Anderson, a rookie from the Utah Utes. The wide receiver has a major in mass communication and plans to be a sportscaster after his last football reception.
For Tartt, listening kept him out of trouble. “My dad told me that (selling drugs) wasn’t the way to go,” said Tartt.
Jim Tomsula, the new Niners’ head coach, couldn’t make it.
“He’s mad he couldn’t come. He got stuck in meetings with some big wigs. He wanted to be here,” said assistant coach Ryan Cordell.
Other members of the Niners who visited included:
Dr. Harry Edwards (49er staffer), Pat Miller (Auburn), Marcus Rush (Michigan State), Trent Brown (Florida), T.C. McCartney (coach), Blake Bell (Oklahoma), Ian Silberman (Boston College and NFL 6th draft round pick), DeAndre Campbell (University of Washington), DeAndrew White (University of Alabama), James Hall (director of player engagement), Buster Anderson (South Carolina), DeAndre Smelter (Georgia Tech), Jermaine Whitehead (Auburn), and Eric Wolford (coach).
L.A. Mental Health Strategy Looks to Lower Jail Population
The national movement toward alternatives to jail programs for people with mental illness was implemented late last year in Los Angeles County.
The pilot program could dramatically change the landscape of the local justice and jail systems, said Karen Tamis of the Vera Institute of Justice, in a Los Angeles Times article.
“Los Angeles County has a real problem with people with mental health issues in the jail system,” Tamis said. “This could have a very significant impact on the jail population as a whole.”
“This is not a specialty court,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told reporter Marisa Gerber. “It’s a new template.”
Judge Steve Leifman, who helped start the Criminal Mental Health Project in Florida, said when the program started in 2000 the recidivism rate for low-level misdemeanor offenders with mental illness was 72 percent. Now it is down to 20 percent.
The Miami-Dade plan, which included training thousands of police officers on how to deal with people who have mental illnesses, cut the local jail population nearly in half, and allowed the county to close one of its facilities, Gerber reported.
“It’s time to stop bouncing people who are mentally ill and genuinely sick between the streets and our jails,” said Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey. “This is an unconscionable waste of human life and money.”
Getting prosecutors on board is often one of the biggest obstacles, said Leifman. “With her (Lacey) buying in to this, it makes it so much more likely to succeed.”
The program requires eligible defendants with serious mental health issues to go through a series of assessments and be paired with a case worker at San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center. The program’s participants will then be placed in transitional housing, reported Gerber.
New Law Would Restore Voting Rights to Ex-Felons
Congress is considering legislation to restore federal voting rights to former prisoners.
“The right to vote is the most basic constitutive act of citizenship,” according to the measure, SB 772, introduced March 18 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
“An estimated 5,850,000 citizens of the United States, or about 1 in 40 adults in the United States, currently cannot vote as a result of a felony conviction. Of the 5,850,000 citizens barred from voting, only 25 percent are in prison,” the bill states.
The measure also says state disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minorities.
“Given current rates of incarceration, approximately one in three of the next generation of African-American men will be disenfranchised at some point during their lifetime,” the bill states.
The bill titled “Democracy Restoration Act of 2015” says its purpose is “To secure the federal voting rights of persons when released from incarceration.”
The drafters of the bill stated that “disenfranchising citizens who have been convicted of a criminal offense and who are living and working in the community serves no compelling state interest and hinders their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.”
Various states have their own rules regarding disenfranchisement. Only two states do not disenfranchise individuals with criminal convictions (Maine and Vermont).
In the 48 other states, citizens in some states may easily regain the right to vote, and in some others, the right to vote can be restored only through a pardon from their state governor. In 11 states a conviction can result in permanent disenfranchisement.
“In six states – Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia – more than 7 percent of the total population is disenfranchised,” the bill states.
If this bill survives through both houses of Congress and is signed into law by the president, then it would provide uniform relief to disenfranchised citizens and restore their right to vote in federal elections, but not for state or local elections.
[On a June 19 visit to San Quentin News Office Congresswoman, Jackie Speier, (D) 14th U.S. Congressional District, said she supports this Bill. See, August edition for full story on Speier’s visit.]
Combined Systems Approach Helps The Newly Released
Transitional planning for newly released inmates is essential to address mental health and associated disorders using a cross-systems approach.
Samhsa’s Gains Center for Behavior Health and Justice Transformation released a report last November that emphasized the necessity of combining criminal justice and behavioral health treatment interventions. The collaborative focus will assist in the fight to reduce recidivism and promote recovery.
The report, “Guidelines for the Successful Transition of People with Behavioral Health Disorders from Jail and Prison,” was developed to assist corrections professionals and mental health professionals.
The Behavioral Health Framework produced a paradigm that categorizes and identifies the subgroups in our society based strictly on behavioral health and criminogenic needs.
The report emphasized that in order to create a realistic opportunity for a successful re-entry, behavioral health, corrections and community corrections agencies must become partners.
A plan for state and local levels of government to interact on this endeavor was based on the following principles: assessing, planning, identifying and coordinating.
1. Assessing the individual’s clinical and social needs, and public safety risk
2. Plan for the treatment and services required to address the individual’s needs
3. Identify required community and correctional programs responsible for post-release services
4. Coordinate the transition plan to ensure implementation and avoid gaps in care with community-based services
Each of these principles addresses an area of importance in the fight against recidivism. They also act as guides to evidence-based transitional planning.
The report concluded that, “applying these principles, state and local policymakers and behavioral health and criminal justice practitioners can promote the development of effective transition and reentry practices for individuals with behavioral health disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system.”
Health Inspection Reveals Unsanitary Prison in Southern CA
A Southern California prison has numerous unsanitary conditions, a health inspection disclosed.
Dozens of violations were reported at the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) in Norco. They include standing water, cockroach infestations, rodent droppings and wastewater not draining, the Reuters news agency reported.
The findings are reported in a 109-page report obtained by Reuters under a Public Records Act request. The report was prepared as a regular review of prison facilities.
There was no hot water in bathroom sinks, and the dishwashers did not reach the temperature required to ensure sanitation, the report added.
“In the kitchen, raw chicken was stored above cooked halal chicken for Muslim inmates, raising the risk that the raw meat could drip onto the cooked food and contaminate it,” Reuters reported.
State Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, called the report “shocking,” and urged closure of the 100-year-old facility, Reuters reported.
CRC houses 2,400 inmates and is considered by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) as necessary bed space to accommodate its overcrowded prison population, Reuters reported.
CDCR spokesperson Deborah Hoffman told Reuters that steps are being taken to improve the facilities’ infrastructure issues and other conditions.
Before becoming a prison, the facility was a naval hospital. Before that, it was a lakeside resort, having originally opened in 1928, according to Reuters.
There have been earlier plans to close CRC, but the federal court order to relieve overcrowding has prevented that from happening, Hoffman said.
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