By Juan Haines and Miguel Quezada
San Quentin News Staff
More than 400 inmates and about two dozen Bay Area volunteers mingled on San Quentin’s Lower Yard at the annual Day of Peace celebration to showcase the various self-help programs available at the prison.
The May 7 event recognized the late Audrey Auld who performed at last year’s celebration. Pam Delgado and Jeri Jones of Bread & Roses performed in her honor.
The Day of Peace is in response to a 2006 interracial riot that occurred just before a scheduled yard event. Afterward, a multiracial group of men, most serving life sentences, came together and went to the administration asking for a Day of Peace.
“Since a lot of youngsters are being sent to San Quentin, the Day of Peace Committee recruited some of them to show prison isn’t all violence and drugs, like what’s on TV,” said committee member Chris Schumacher.
The prison’s Lower Yard was dotted with more than two dozen signup tables for the various programs.
As Prince’s Purple Rain filled the air so did a light rain. By noon, the rain was heavy, soaking the participants.
Some drenched participants began filing back into the cell blocks; however, more than a hundred remained on the yard, continuing the celebration. In the end, the musicians were forced to pack it in because of the rain.
Each year the event holds a sidewalk art contest sponsored by William James Association. Prior to the rain, the pavement in the Lower Yard was divided into 2’ X 2’ squares where 31 artists created imaginative chalk-drawings.
The judge is artist Patrick Mahoney, a volunteer. He carefully observed each of the 31 entries, drawn with “peace” as its theme. Mahoney chose Ronell Draper’s piece drawn on square #43 as this year’s winner. In second place was Cook’s #27, and C.Y. Baker’s #29 was third. He gave an honorable mention to Christopher Christensen’s #7.
By thetime the rain became a downpour, the judging was over; the chalk drawings slowly became more abstract and finally faded.
Prison artists Guss “Lumumba” Edwards and Antwan “Banks” Williams, who worked in a more permanent medium, displayed their oil paintings that represented various self-help groups.
“The painting for Project LA, Shields for Families, offers everything Joe Paul, its manager, wants to do, which is to help people be with their families,” Williams said. “Shields for Families is what a man is supposed to be as a protector and backbone of the family.”
For the third year in a row, Natalie Tovar, customer service representative of Walkenhorst’s, donated more than 2,500 snack bags for inmates to enjoy while listening to Bread & Roses.
“Day of Peace is something we in the company would like to see in all prisons,” Tovar said. “When an inmate is doing good and rehabilitating, that affects the family. That’s what the company is about, family.”
“We take a whole year to organize the one-day event,” said Stephen Pascascio, Chairman of the Day of Peace Committee. “We get together every Friday in the chapel to discuss what we need – such as who is going to give prayers, the gift bags and bracelets, along with the art work for the programs and sidewalk art contest.”
“Thanks to the administration for letting us have this event,” Schumacher added. “It shows they’re behind us for peace.”
Archives for June 2016
80 Committed Men Graduates From GRIP
By Marcus Henderson
Staff Writer
The 2016 Guiding Rage into Power ‘GRIP’ program graduated 80 dedicated men.
The year program guided prisoners on a deep healing journey inside themselves.
“Today these men are graduating from offenders into servants.” Said Jacques Verduin, GRIP Director and host of the event. “This program is ready to replicate.”
Families, friends and volunteers pack the visiting room to witnesses the graduation of tribes 641, 715 and 742. Each group represented its combined amount of prison time served.
That’s a total of 2098 years of incarceration culminating in this graduation.
Graduate and speaker Ferrari Moody captured the men transitions.
“We were dedicated to change,” said Moody. “We made ourselves transparent, open and honest about the thing we suppressed. GRIP helped us to unlock the past and afforded us the tools to promote peace and personal evolution.”
Samone Moody, his wife added, “I was excited to see him speak from his new self. He has learned to communicate better and let things go. That has helped our marriage; pride is not a priority any more. I am proud of him.”
GRIP counselors Susan Shannon and Jesse Estrin shared about their experience with their tribe.
“I was concerned how the guys would respond to a female leading the group,” said Shannon. “I deeply appreciate each one of these men; they are my heroes.”
Estrin added, “It’s hard to put in words a year worth of emotions and learning to be human again. I have learned more from these guys than I have from the outside.”
Graduates Adnan Khan of 715 and Somsak Uppasay of 641 address the audience.
Somsak spoke on seeing a family member being killed at a young age.
“I had no answers for where this anger was coming from and how to deal with the emotional scars,” said Somsak. “I had to embrace that seven year-old kid in me and to forgive.”
Victim advocate, Christine Mason spoke about being on the other side of crime. She talked about her mother being killed and what it took to heal.
“No one is created a criminal in a vacuum,” said Mason. “It’s never just you; we need everybody to heal. Victims rights are: the right to heal–be restored and to bring back home healthy and safe people.”
Mala beads bracelets were passed out by Mason to the men as a reminder for them to think before they react.
Fateen Jackson captivated the crowd with his spoken word called ‘Apologetic Salute’, apologizing to all victims who never received one and honoring the surviving victims.
San Quentin’s choir and the “New Syndicate of Funk” band had the crowd singing along to ‘People get Ready’ by Curtis Mayfield.
Melissa Davis, of the Marin County Probation Department, received the Muhammad Ali Victory Robe Award, for her great work teaching the domestic violence class.
“I’m thankful to be a part of this community and tribe,” said Davis. “We’ve shared and learned from each other; I will take that to the outside community.”
Eleven men completed the domestic violence training to become certified facilitators.
Jesus Garcia witness brother Arnulfo Garcia receive his hard earned certificate.
“I’m proud of him; he has came a long way,” said J. Garcia. “This is what prison is supposed to be about – rehabilitation.”
George Luna, former prisoner and now employed as a GRIP Facilitator shared about his transition in society. He has made the honor roll in college.
“I went from one institution to another,” said Luna. “You can become a success and give back to the community. I don’t get mad I get motivated.”
Richmond Councilmember, Gail McLaughlin spoke on how human tenderness helps connect with the bigger tribe in society.
“The tender side of myself is to advocate for more programs on the outside,” she said.
The May 6 event bought tears through out the ceremony. The men walked confidently with smiles to receive their certificates.
They signed a pledge to commit to a life of non-violence; then filtered through a human arch, formed by guest and volunteers symbolizing a welcome back rite of passage.
“I murdered Tiffany Dawn Boyce,” said Carlos Smith. “I dedicate this program to her. I learned to cultivate mindfulness and develop my emotional intelligence.
Dominic Smith added, “I’m proud of my father’s spirituality and growth. He can still lead us, given this circumstance.”
Pamela Sifuentes came for her brother Miguel Sifuentes.
“I feel great to celebrate the work he has done,” she said. “This is the first time we came to prison for something good. The things he has learned has made our relationship stronger.”
http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/
Opening Day on the Diamond
Warden Ron Davis showed he had some power in his arm throwing out the opening pitch in the season opener.
The San Quentin All-Stars baseball team beat the visiting Bay Area Mission 5-2.
John Windham, All-Stars power hitter, smashed a deep double to center field that started a rally in the bottom of the eighth with the score tied 2-2.
Windham scored off a Richard Zorn single. Zorn stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Rubin Harper’s single past the shortstop drove in Zorn. Harper stole second and moved to third on an error. Veteran Anthony Denard’s line-drive past third brought in Harper. With the bases loaded, Mission’s pitcher caught Chris Marshall leading too much off of third for the final out.
“That happens every year,” said Elliot Smith, All-Stars sponsor and manager. “We will work on that, but I’m happy that we played hard to the end.”
All-Stars premier pitcher Dewey Dumont sealed the game with a pop-up and by striking out the last two batters.
“It’s good to get the first game jitters out the way,” said Denard. “Now we can focus on getting better. I’m just thankful for everything everyday.”
Duane Harris, Mission’s first baseman added, “The wheels just fell off. We made a lot of defensive mistakes, but we are very honored to have played the opening game.”
The Mission stayed in the game, down 2-0 in the fourth. Shortstop Chris Powell singled and stole second. Mitch Burnham walked, setting up first time visitor Elan Lavie, who hit a deep ball in the center field gap. Lavie drove in Powell, but injured himself running to first. Burnham made it to third. Pitcher Sean Presley substituted for Lavie. Presley sacrificed himself by getting caught on a fake steal to second, allowing Burnham to come in for the tie.
“I remember that play from high school,” said Burnham. “I’m just glad to be back. Every time I come, I think about the criminal justice system. All the reforms coming are for the better. I hope to see more on the state level.”
Lavie added, “This is a unique experience. It’s good people and a great view here with Mount Tam in the background. I think it’s healthy to have sports in prison.”
It was particularly healthy for All-Star David Fraire. He was just released from the Security Housing Unit (SHU) after nine years.
“I appreciate the institution and especially the guys who have been out here paving the way for this type of program,” said Fraire. “To play and socialize with people from the streets, this is real life. I’m enjoying this atmosphere of brotherhood without the prison drama. Now I can work on going home.”
The April 30 event started with the San Quentin color guard walking down the first base line and presenting the flags in front of the pitcher’s mound. Inmate Barton “Sky” Buenavista belted out a beautiful national anthem. The All-Stars also debuted their new uniforms.
Mission Head Coach Greg Snyder received a baseball signed by all the All-Stars players in recognition of his service and dedication to the program. Snyder has consistently brought teams in over the years. This was their first opening day.
“I like the ceremony and receiving the ball,” said Snyder. “It was sweet; I thank everybody. I like this program; I think everybody deserve some breaks. These guys make the games fun, and I like playing with people with good attitudes. I congratulate them on their win.”
The game bought out a large crowd of prisoners and staff. It was witnessed by a reporter from the Marin Independent Journal newspaper. The perennial hecklers let both teams know that they were involved in every play.
Matt Goldman, first-time visitor and Mission player, said, “These guys are better than most teams we play on the outside.”
He is the varsity coach at a high school and a sports writer for SB Sport Blog Nation. He went 3 for 1 for the game.
“This was a good win,” said All-Stars inside Head Coach John “Yah Yah” Parrett. “This gave a lot of former (SQ) A’s players a chance to face Mission. We are still young, but as time goes by, we will get better. We will never take any team lightly.”
–Marcus Henderson
CDCR’s New Press Secretary Visits SQ
Vicky Waters, the new California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) press secretary, toured San Quentin.
Lt. S. Robinson, Public Information Officer, gave Waters a tour of the prison’s new Central Health Services Building, one of the general population units, Death Row and the media center.
“Her choosing San Quentin as the first prison to come shows this is where things are happening,” said Larry Schneider, staff and SQ Television Specialist. “We have the most programs and the media center. I’m looking forward to a positive working relationship.”
Waters has an extensive background in journalism that qualifies her for the position.
She has been the vice president of public affairs at Ogilvy Public Relations since 2015, and was the deputy director of public affairs at the California Department of Parks and Recreation from 2012 to 2015.
She was also the director of media relations at the California Charter Schools Association and an account executive at BPcubed Inc.
Prior to that, Waters was a freelance journalist, independent public relations consultant and translator. She also was the Sacramento correspondent at La Opinión newspaper.
“As a minority woman with her diverse background, I think she can also understand the prisoner side of the struggles,” said Charles David Henry, Journalism Guild Writer. “Her résumé shows she can be flexible.”
Waters also has a background in television.
She was an anchor, reporter and producer at Univision Sacramento and evening anchor, reporter and producer at Univision Corpus Christi. She worked as news editor and broadcast operator at WRAL-TV in Texas.
At the media center Waters met with the San Quentin News, SQ Television department and radio staffs. She said she was a regular reader of San Quentin News and was impressed with the quality of reporting.
“I feel privileged to be a part of a newspaper that draws the interest of someone in her position,” said Eddie Herena, SQ News photographer. “She is direct evidence that this is more than a prison newspaper.”
Arnulfo T. Garcia, SQ News Executive Editor, added, “I think her work at Univision will bring an understanding for the Hispanic community in CDCR. Her energy and having worked all aspects of the newsroom contributed to her appointment to CDCR.”
The visit to the San Quentin newsroom after being appointed press secretary showed us how dear and important journalism is to her life.
The SQ TV showed Waters various productions, starting with an introduction piece they did for San Quentin’s TEDx event last January.
“She seemed receptive of what we do here,” said E. “Phil” Phillips, SQ TV cameraman and video editor. “I don’t think she sees us just as inmates, but fellow journalists.
“The videos were to show we can be an asset to the outside community. We just need more people to get involved.”
She viewed two public service addresses, an anti-sex trafficking piece, and an admonishment against criminal behavior. She also saw a promotion video about an ecology program.
“It was productive,” said Antwan Williams, SQPR sound engineer and designer. “It allowed her to put a face with the titles. It gave her a chance to see people working for change.”
Earlonne Woods, SQ TV and radio producer, added, “When it comes to CDCR, you just see the names. So it was good for us to meet the person who would look over our work and might have questions.”
Waters indicated interest in returning to the prison in order to learn more about the stories inmates are working on. She said she was impressed and excited about the reporting San Quentin inmates are doing.
–Marcus Henderson and Juan Haines
Photographer Nigel Poor Conveys the Stories of SQ Inmates
Nigel Poor with the Jefferson Award
Ten years ago the post office delivered a letter from San Quentin State Prison to the wrong address. Professor of Photography Nigel Poor received the letter, wondering why. The correct address was nowhere near hers. She redirected the epistle to the correct person, thinking that would be the end of it. But it happened twice more, sparking her interest in San Quentin prison and how people inside communicate.
“What people inside have to say is amazing,” said Poor. “They are a huge under utilized resource. If more people heard the stories of men behind bars, they would make better decisions about mass incarceration.”
“I photographed humble things. If you investigate something you realize there is a lot more there. Most people think prisoners are nothing. Throw them away. But if you investigate…”
Poor, a professor at California State University, Sacramento, first got interested in prison from hearing on a radio show that Kresty Detention Center in Russia charges admission to tourists.
“Hearing they do zoo tours to make money freaked me out,” said Poor. “I wanted to go to Russia to see what a country is like that thinks that is a thing to do.”
In 2000, she found herself in St. Petersburg, but people wouldn’t help her find the prison. She ran across it while leaving – it was right next to the train station.
“I walked into the prison (on a tour). You could touch the walls. I found cones on the ground everywhere,” said Nigel. “I like things that you can’t really answer; it’s a mystery you can ponder.”
Cones are notes rolled up and placed like long stems with chewed up bread for weight.
“That’s how they sent messages out of that horrible violent place,” said Poor. “The cones were thrown out, but you don’t know if somebody will get it. I picked one up.”
Poor didn’t know that Russian police watch to see who picks up the cones. Sometimes the cones are messages to criminals.
“I didn’t know if it was a romantic gesture or a criminal act,” said Poor. “To me it was a call to connect.”
In 2011, Poor heard about an opportunity to teach photography inside San Quentin as part of the Prison University Project (PUP). She took the chance.
“Photos are a common ground, a form of communication, and teaching photography allowed me to connect in interesting ways,” said Poor. “I got sucked in by all the humanity.”
There Poor met student Troy Williams, who headed the San Quentin Prison Report (SQPR), San Quentin’s TV and radio program. The two planned to do a film about the prison, but it got too complicated, and they ended up doing radio pieces that are sometimes played on 91.7 FM, KALW’s Crosscurrents show on Monday nights at 5 p.m.
“I think that inside and outside people can work as colleagues,” said Poor.
In 2012, after three semesters with PUP, Nigel switched over to SQPR.
“The radio thing is fantastic,” said Poor. “We can do all different types of stories. I feel like I’m part of something that is incredibly innovative, something important. We are going down a route that has not been fully investigated, and all of us are constantly learning. Human nature is constantly being revealed here.”
In 2015, Poor expanded her role inside of San Quentin. She helped facilitate a live story telling event called Live Law.
“I think the live shows are interesting because it’s really surprising for guests to see outside and inside people doing something inspiring, and I hope it inspires them to get involved. That was one of the peak experiences of my life.”
After the Live Law event, San Quentin Media, which Poor sponsors in addition to SQPR, was born.
SQ Media’s next event, called Prison Renaissance, will focus on stories about how art transforms incarcerated people.
“There are so many people with talents and skills that are languishing inside when they could be productive. I think humans need to be productive or there’s atrophy. Working with SQ Media is interesting, a challenge and important, and it feels good to be part of that.”
Additionally, Poor is working on a podcast called Ear Hustle with SQPR’s Earlonne Woods and Antwan “Banks” Williams.
“Taking the chance at volunteering, you just never know what will happen,” said Poor. “Taking the opportunity to go someplace new can completely change your life.”
A Movement to Restore Voting Rights to Ex-felons
A movement is under way to restore voting rights to more ex-felons, The Juvenile Justice Information Exchange reports.
“The biggest obstacle in most states is that people just do not know that they ever could get their rights restored,” said Edward A. Hailes Jr., managing director and general counsel at the Advancement Project, a civil rights organization.
An estimated 5.85 million U.S. citizens cannot vote because they have a felony conviction on their record; most of them are out of prison and on parole, probation or other surveillance having completed their terms, according to the Sentencing Project.
The number quoted reflects an estimate of those who were convicted before they were 18 years old. Some reformers say the concept known as “felony voter disenfranchisement” runs counter to basic ideas about democracy and leaves entire communities without a voice, the Sentencing Project relates.
With contests being decided by a few hundred votes, as was the case in Florida, it is concluded that former felons could help make a difference for candidates in close races.
The Exchange reported there has been a recent easing of state activity around the country as it relates to voting for those with criminal records. This gives some reformers optimism, as involved felons won’t have to wait out their full terms before exercising their newly restored rights to vote.
It’s important to change laws and to make sure those with felony records who can vote know they have that right, said Tomas Lopez, counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice.
The disenfranchised group includes about 2.2 million Blacks – indicating roughly one in 13 Black adults is denied the right to vote because of a felony conviction, the Sentencing Project reported.
“Even if only one person was affected by this policy, it raises fundamental questions by what we mean by democracy,” said Marc Mauer, executive director of the Sentencing Project.
Twenty-eight states passed laws on felon voting rights restoration; many of them lifting restrictions. Seven states repealed lifetime disenfranchisement for some people with felony records, according to the data maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Some states moved in the other direction, such as by Iowa.
Last fall, outgoing Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, issued an executive order that would have made it easier to get people to the voting booth; incoming Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, rolled it back, saying the issue is a legislative one.
In 2015, three states considered major reforms, including Maryland. Wyoming passed a bill that would allow more ex-felons to vote, the Exchange reported. By early February of this year, 46 bills had been introduced in 16 states that deal with felony voter rights, nearly all of which erased the process for offenders or offered support to navigate the rights-restoration process, the story stated.
|“Even if only one person was affected by this policy,
it raises fundamental questions by what we mean by democracy”|
State reforms alone will not be enough, though, said Lewis Webb of the American Friends Service Committee. Better education about who can vote and grassroots action to get people to the voting booths are also needed.
“I do believe for this to have any real traction, it’s going to have to return to the street,” Webb said.
Voting Rights a Major Issue For Upcoming Election
By Isaiah Thompson-Bonilla
Journalism Guild Writer
Voting rights in 2016 will once again become a major issue among eligible voters in 16 states as laws are passed to make voting more difficult.
An interview conducted by Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now, with Ari Berman, a journalist for The Nation, revealed the year 2016 will be the first time in 50 years that full protection of the Voting Rights Act won’t be available to all voters.
Goodman recounted the Supreme Court decision which eradicated important elements of the voting act, in the case Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder. The ruling opened the door for some states with prior voting discriminatory issues to implement changes to their voting laws without getting consent from the federal government.
“South Carolina has a new voter ID law,” said Berman. “63,000 is the number of minority voters without IDs, who could not vote under the law.” Individuals without IDs will need to show a valid excuse as to why they do not have an ID, in order to be considered for eligibility.
Further questioning by Goodman extracted information of even more egregious practices in other states. In Texas, strict voting laws have created a huge disparity in the Black’s and Hispanic’s ability to vote.
Berman elaborated on the matter. “Six hundred thousand registered voters [in Texas] don’t have a government ID.” According to the report, having a government ID is more likely among the White population, whereas Blacks and Hispanics are two to three times less likely to have one.
“In Texas, you can vote with a gun permit, but not a student ID,” Berman added in the interview.
Goodman pressed Berman to lay out a solution to the current problem. She introduced the concepts of early voting, same-day voter registration and automatic voter registration to get a lot more people involved in the political process.
According to the interview, in many instances states are withholding information which would allow affected individuals to still have an opportunity to vote. For example, in South Carolina people are told they need one of five forms of ID to qualify for voting. In actuality, a person could still vote by casting a provisional ballot and signing an affidavit.
This type of deception can lead to frustration by potential voters, prompting these individuals to stay at home and not participate in the election process. Berman acknowledged there could be several reasons why people did not show up to vote, but concludes that “there are certainly some people that didn’t show up because of the voter ID law.”
|“63,000 is the number of
minority voters without IDs,
who could not vote under the law”|
With 16 states presently enforcing voter restrictions, the fairness of the process is being put into question.
One of the most closely contested elections in recent history happened in Florida in 2000 when only 537 votes separated George W. Bush from Al Gore. So many people in Florida were unable to vote for a number of reasons and the discrepancy in the legality of who qualified as a registered voter was contested all the way to the Supreme Court.
The Republican candidates running for president have taken their positions on the voting issue. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump believe restrictions should be put in place or left as they are.
Often during campaign season, candidates on the stump get away with saying things without validity. For example, Donald Trump in New Hampshire spoke at a rally concerning the current voting structure. “Look, you’ve got to have real security with the voting system. This voting system is out of control. You have people, in my opinion, that are voting ‘many, many’ times. They don’t want security. They don’t want cards.”
In the interview Berman said that there’s no evidence that people are voting ‘many, many’ times. While there have been issues in the past with voter impersonation, only 31 cases since 2000 have been reported with approximately a billion votes cast, he said.
In addition, there are other concerns with voting rights, alienating citizens from voting. Berman spoke directly to the disenfranchisement laws. “More than 5 million Americans can’t vote because of felon disenfranchisement laws, including one in 13 African Americans.”
The interview with Goodman addressed many of the problems associated with not having a voting bill to protect the voting public and process. Alternatively, Berman offered an example of a model that appears to be working for at least one state. Though the diverse demographic differs from larger more homogenous states, Vermont has voting laws in place to help its citizens rather than hinder them.
“Vermont has some of the best laws in the country,” Berman said. “They have same-day voter registration.”
Access to true and fair representation from local, state and national politicians is being greatly affected by voter restriction in many states of the country.
Same-day voter registration has produced a 10 percent increase in voter turnout, according to Berman. While states like Vermont and Minnesota have really good voting laws, states such as Texas, Alabama and South Carolina are heading in an opposite direction, he said.
Voter Initiatives Monetize the Petition Process
Sacramento, California
State’s Capitol
This presidential year has inspired many potential voter initiatives and further monetizes the petition process.
In theory, a petition to place an initiative on the ballot is a form of direct democracy, allowing voters to circumvent the legislature to pass a new law. On an average election cycle, five to seven initiatives make the ballot.
SIGNATURES
For the 2016 election, seven have already qualified, and there are petitions for at least a dozen more seeking to meet the statutory minimum requirement of 365,880 signatures by registered California voters.
Political committees have spent almost $10 million in petition payments through 2015, and significantly more will be spent if any additional petitions meet the requirement by the 2016 election deadline, according to The Sacramento Bee.
To supplement volunteers, initiative campaigns hire petition circulation firms to reach a minimum safe threshold of 500,000 signatures to have a good chance of qualifying for the ballot. These firms charge from $1 to $5 per signature, according to Carl Towe, head of one such firm. These costs are in addition to those necessary to defend the initiative from opponents and to educate voters if it makes the ballot.
DEATH PENALTY
Gov. Jerry Brown’s parole initiative and the death penalty repeal supported by M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell are paying $5 per signature.
“I have never, never seen this much money paid on this many petitions. Ever,” said Fred Kimball, head of another such signature firm and quoted in The Sacramento Bee.
With stores like Wal-Mart, Target and Safeway instituting policies to ban solicitors and so many initiatives seeking to make the ballot, the price is only likely to go up. As Towe ended a recent message to his signature gatherers: “Make the hay while the sun shines.”
Boatwright
Treatment Costs of Hep C for Inmates on the Rise
By David Eugene Archer Sr.
Journalism Guild Writer
Only a few states and the federal government have increased spending on a new generation of drugs to treat hepatitis C, reports The Marshall Project.
An estimated 3.5 million people in the U.S. are infected with hepatitis C, and a third of them pass through prisons and jails every year, according to the Feb. 26 report.
For doctors and public health experts, this is an opportunity to wipe out the virus in prisons and possibly lower infection rates nationwide, the report notes. It says prisons see sticker shock: the new drugs cost as much as $1,000 a day.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the corrections department to prioritize the treatment of hepatitis C, said Morris Peters, a spokesman for the governor. He also said, “Testing and treatment will lead to better public health outcomes, saving taxpayer dollars in the long term.”
Left untreated, experts say hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer. A new generation of treatments called direct-acting agents, or DAAs, can cure hepatitis C more than 95 percent of the time in 12 to 24 weeks, according to the project’s report.
Research suggests that aggressive testing and treatment in prisons found that cure rates among patients were higher than among similar populations on the outside, the report stated.
Gilead inaugurated the newest generation of DAAs in December 2013 by pricing Sovaldi at $1,000 per pill, the report says.
Harish Moorjani, infectious disease doctor who treats hepatitis C in New York state prisons, said, “That is a very hard sell for administrators…this has to be governor-driven.”
The report lists increase spending on hepatitis C in prisons by the following states and federal government in 2015:
California spent $57.6 million, a 453.8 percent increase.
New York spent $25 million, a 166 percent increase.
Federal government spent $13.7 million, a 128.7 percent increase.
The federal system treated 200 prisoners with DAAs, while California, under federal receivership, has treated upward of 900, said the report.
New DAAs are entering the market all the time. The newest, Zepatier, was approved in January. Merck, its manufacturer, priced it at $54,600, almost half the competition’s price, according to the report.
Soledad’s Medical Operations Return Back to CDCR
Medical operations at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad were turned over again to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) by J. Clark Kelso, the federal receiver, reports the Correctional News.
It’s only the second prison (after Folsom) to receive a passing grade from the state inspector general in a decade of federal control.
Don Spector, director of the Prison Law Offices, and their experts, however, found problems with the quality and type of care being provided at the Soledad facility and voiced their concerns.
“Some 70 million Americans have a criminal record – a number equal to Americans with a college degree,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice. NEW YORK TIMES July 27, 2018 “Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance”
As a result Kelso and other department officials will have their experts return to Soledad in six months to see if conditions have improved.
“The CDCR must be operating all 34 adult institutions for a year before the court will even consider ending the receivership,” said Thelton Henderson, U.S. District Court Judge.
Last July, the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco also got a passing grade from the receiver, but the decision to return control back to CDCR was stayed in lieu of Governor Brown’s decision on whether Norco would be kept open.
In January, the governor’s office announced that Norco will stay open so the state can stay below the prison population cap set by the federal court.
Over the past decade, California has spent $2 billion on new medical facilities and doubled its health care budget to around $1.7 billion. It has also reduced the prison population by 40,000 inmates, says the CDCR.
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