Archives for July 2019

State auditor reports CDCR has been unsuccessful in rehabilitation needs

July 15, 2019 by Kevin Sawyer

A new study by California’s state auditor reported that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has failed to meet the rehabilitative needs for more than half of inmates released.

The study indicated that the CDCR has been unsuccessful in its efforts to place inmates in proper rehabilitation programs. This situation leads to many inmates paroling from prison without needs being met that contribute to high recidivism—reintegration being the most problematic.

“Corrections has neither consistently placed inmates on waiting lists for needed rehabilitation programs nor prioritized those with the highest need correctly,” State Auditor Elaine Howle reported. “Although the number of inmates housed in state prisons has decreased in recent years, recidivism rates for inmates in California have remained stubbornly high, averaging around 50 percent over the past decade.”

The report found that in fiscal year 2017–18, Corrections failed to meet the rehabilitative needs of 62 percent of the inmates who’d been assessed at risk to recidivate.

California defines recidivism as conviction of a new crime within the three year period after individuals are released from custody.

“Because the Legislature provided Corrections with a significant budget increase so that it could expand rehabilitation programs to all prisons in the state, it is vital that Corrections demonstrate that the additional investment was worthwhile,” Howle said in a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and lawmakers.

The state’s rehabilitation budget went from $64 million in 2013 to about $300 million in 2018, according to Courthouse News Service (CNS).

“We take the state auditor’s findings seriously and have already implemented, or are in the process of implement- ing, most of the recommendations,” stated CDCR press secretary Vicky Waters in an email to CNS. Waters’ email also noted the data used in the audit predates the department’s expansion of rehabilitation programming and new methods used to assess the success of those programs.

The 71-page audit, published in January 2019, stated that the CDCR’s “poor administrative practices have hindered reductions in recidivism and denied inmates access to in-prison rehabilitation programs.”

According to the report, inmates may not be receiving needed rehabilitation pro- grams because the CDCR is having difficulty fully staffing the programs at all of its prisons.

The audit asserted that the department needs to collect additional data and take steps to ensure it delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs to inmates in all of its prisons. But the report also concluded that inmates who completed these in-prison programs “recidivated at about the same rate as inmates who did not complete the programs.”

“The audit only analyzed one type of rehabilitation program known as cognitive behavioral therapy and did not analyze any restorative justice programs or victim awareness programs,” wrote Adnan Khan in CALmatters. He paroled from San Quentin earlier this year after spending more than 15 years locked up.

Khan wrote that his rehabilitation benefits came from San Quentin’s college program and the self-help groups he attended. He said these programs were not funded, nor run by, the CDCR. “Rather, they were provided by nonprofit grassroots organizations and volunteers who would come in (to the prison) weekly to support us.”

Unlike many CDCR prisons, Khan wrote, “San Quentin had a rehabilitative culture.” But he also pointed out that a culture of power and control hovered “like dark clouds.” Contributing to this culture are random searches, pat downs, abusive control- ling language and verbal disrespect which “reminded us constantly that we were incarcerated, a separate class that, in the view of some, is not fully human.”

In response, Michele Hanisee, the president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, said, “If we are releasing more people from prisons and jails and the recidivism rate is the same, as the audit shows, the effort is a disaster.”

Upon arrival at a state prison reception center, incarcerated individuals have their rehabilitative needs assessed and the information is used to place them in necessary classes.

San Quentin resident Emerald “Nunu” Kemp-Aikens is involved in the substance abuse disorder treatment program, but he does not believe that he needs to be enrolled. “On the street, I don’t do drugs except weed,” he said. “They assigned me ’cause I told them I smoke weed in that packet in reception. In the class there’s a bunch of guys talkin’ ’bout crystal, heroin—stuff I don’t do.”

The first tool, the California Static Risk Assessment (CSRA) score, is derived from a person’s prior criminal history. The second, Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS), mea- sures an incarcerated per- son’s need for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and vocational education. Finally, Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE), measures an inmate’s need for academic education programs.

Although the TABE test was validated by an outside agency in 2017, COMPAS has not undergone review since 2010 and CSRA had not been reviewed since 2013.

“One potential reason why our overall analysis did not find that CBT rehabilitation programs are related to reductions in recidivism is that Corrections has not revalidated the accuracy of the tools it uses to assess inmates’ rehabilitative needs since recent statutory changes caused a major shift in the State’s prison population,” the report stated.

Underutilization of enrollment capacity is another factor identified in the report, with a three-prison review re- vealing that, on average, only 76 percent of the seats in CBT classes are occupied.

Despite the criticism and low enrollment rates, the CDCR has expanded CBT, academic, and vocational programs to all 36 state prisons. The CBT programs introduced consist of four classes: Substance abuse dis- order treatment, anger management, criminal thinking and family relationships.

In 2011, federal courts ordered California to reduce its prison population to 137.5% of prison design capacity. Since then, changes in the law such as AB 109 “Re-alignment,” Propositions 36, 47 and 57 have afforded many inmates the opportunity for early release.

“The prospect of early release of dangerous prisoners who haven’t undergone any meaningful rehabilitation is positively unnerving,” said Hanisee.

The audit made recommendations “to ensure that inmates with the highest risks and needs are wait-listed, prioritized, and assigned appropriately.” It said the CDCR should do the following:

• Require correctional counselors to place inmates onto waiting lists once they have five years or less on their sentences.

• Update its waiting list system to prioritize inmates with rehabilitative needs and risks in its target population.

• Assign inmates to reha- bilitation programs in accor- dance with its policies.

In a statement, CDCR press secretary Vicky Waters said rehabilitation will continue to be a top priority to make sure inmates get the skills and education they need to transition back to their communities, CNS reported.

Ronald Joseph Lum Jr., a participant in San Quentin’s substance abuse disorder treatment and anger man- agement classes, offered his observation that since his teacher Ms. Rivera left the program, the instructors have been inconsistent.

Lum said, There has been a revolving door of fill-in teachers who are not familiar with the curriculum, so the flow of the curriculum has been disrupted. Because of that, some students in the class are helping to guide the class forward.

“The group never knows where we’re going to start or continue in the curriculum day to day,” Lum explained, “[So] the people who are taking the group seriously take control of the group and continue with the curriculum.”

Although the state of rehabilitative programs in California state prisons could use improvement, some incarcerated people say they undeniably benefit from CBT programs.

“I feel that these classes will keep me from coming back to prison,” Lum says. What he’s learned in these programs has taught him why he came to prison in the first place. “I’m greatly and highly honored and privileged to have these classes.”

Aron Roy Contributed to this story

East Oakland Times publisher Tio MacDonald

July 15, 2019 by Juan Haines

Many people in the San Quentin writing community are familiar with East Oakland Times and its publisher, Tio MacDonald. Dime after dime goes to his Global Tel Link account to keep in tele-phone contact with the more than 120 people in his literary group of incarcerated people all over the state.

A few months ago, I got my hands on one of his publications, Learning Curve, by Death Row inmate Johnny Duane Miles. The story was powerful, but it was the pref- ace really caught my attention.

JH: In the Introduction of Learning Curve, you said that you correspond with around 120 inmates. How do you manage that?

TM: The East Oakland Times is a full-time endeavor.

I accept calls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. In 2018, I spent over 740 hours on the phone with incarcerated people. The only way I could imagine creating liter- ary works beneficial for both citizens and inmates was to be fully available to the people willing to work with me.

Many people call just to talk. Death Row inmates have a profound need for relationships outside of prison. My work is a balance between an act of compassion for individuals and a concentrated effort to develop writings of literary and public merit.

JH: What have you learned about taking risks in telling the stories of incarcerated people?

TM: I believe that, as people, it is in taking risks that we move forward. By risk, I mean anything done for the sake of others’ happiness or well-being, because, the most important lesson from my interactions with incarcerated people includes writing, phone calls, and visits to now over 25 people, is to take risk. The East Oakland Times is a type of Northern California built in a garage production. The currency at this point that keeps the lights on is the relationships I have formed with people, primarily incarcerated people. The risk I took to write my student and then to reach out to people at SanQuentin and other prisons has been for me a verification of the adage that it is better to give than receive. I understand that all people have needs, and here in California we also have wants, but life ultimately is in considerable proportion about how we treat and respect others.

JH: Why are you interested in the stories of incarcerated people?

TM: I pursued my correspondence with the incarcerated knowing two things, the reputation of present-day San Quentin as a rehabilitation- focused penal institution that heavily emphasizes the liberal and creative arts and that I wanted to create a publication with incarcerated writers. I had never interacted with persons in prison before reaching out to a student of mine, who is im- prisoned with a life sentence. Through correspondence, I began to meet the incarcerated people with whom I would produce a collection of uplifting stories for the people of East Oakland. The work was called Rehabilitation and has been distributed by hand, without cost to the recipients, to over 200 people on the streets of East Oakland.

After Rehabilitation, a few dedicated incarcerated ghostwriters and I developed the My Crime Series, which is a collection of biographies on the incarcerated. These stories are meant to candidly communicate the upbringing, life experience, character and motivations of the incarcerated in order to grant the broader public an understanding of the men and women in California prisons.

In my interactions with the incarcerated, I came to learn of the life experiences of men and
women in prison. I was shocked to hear of the abuses, influences, temptations and life experiences of many incarcerated people. TheMy Crime series is meant to produce empathy for the sake of California citizens’ better under- standing and better evaluation of who the incarcerated are and why each is in prison. The My Crime series accomplishes several goods in that the stories shed light on the mitigating factors contributing to crime in California and the subjects telling their stories gain a sense of giving back.

JH: What is public’s interest in stories from incarcerated people?

TM: The reviews on the My Crime series as well as Learning Curve, have been favorable. Looking at the incredible impact of the pod cast, Ear Hustle has had is encouraging. I aim to create 20 My Crime series books so a wide range of life experiences can be brought to public attention.

East Oakland Times, LLC

P.O. Box 11572

Oakland, CA 94611

Website: www.inmatesmatter.com

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs checks out San Quentin Enneagram program

July 15, 2019 by Juan Haines

Enneagram class on lower yard with Micheal Tubbs & wife Anna Tubbs

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs and his wife, Anna, came to San Quentin to join a class aimed at helping prisoners gain self-respect and overcome childhood trauma.

Anna Tubbs said they came to the prison because they’re “both social justice concerned. It’s important to meet people directly impacted by policy choices—to be seen personally—to understand the needs of the people.”

Michael Tubbs & wife Anna with Enneagram class & Sponsors

The incarcerated men par- take in a program led by Susan Olesek. It is called The Enneagram Prison Project (EPP): Freeing the Incarcerated from the Prisons of Our Own Making. The program takes participants on a 20- week journey aimed at get- ting a better sense of self. rd, Prior to class on June 3 Micheal Tubbs sat down for an interview. He compared the city of Stockton and its “significant amount of re- sources” with coming inside a prison to see programs such as EPP, computer coding, and college programs. His reaction: “Why did I have to come inside a prison to see this? Why don’t we have these programs on the outside?”

Once the class started, Raiveon “Ray Ray” Wooden read a poem, “Temptation Within Myself.”

He then told a story about childhood abuse and how it traumatized him. Trauma turned to shame, he said, which turned to doubt that warped his thinking about himself.

Wooden said coming to prison gave him the chance to rethink his life from “being one of distant loneliness to finding support and love.”

“It’s hard to share these things and not worry about my pride,” Wooden said as he cited a stanza from his poem: “How to love yourself— how to find yourself”

“I came to prison to be safe,” Wooden said.

Olesek told the class that Wooden’s story is “one of a hero’s journey, on how to reclaim his life; to say it out loud to people makes them look at you in a good way.”

She commented on how adults don’t recognize painful lives in their children. Looking at Wooden she added, “Where did he get the idea that he had no worth? Who wasn’t there?”

Olesek turned to the class and said, “Don’t put yourself down by only focusing on what you did to get in prison without putting your life in the context of the circumstances.”

She told the class that “trauma is when you keep re- living the past.”

Then, she asked how many participants suffered from a childhood trauma. All hands went up, including Michael and Anna.

“How do we organize our society so that we value families?” Michael asked. His concern is to provide a safe and healthy environment for growing families.

“How can you protect your child?” Anna asked. “ You can’t control everything, but you can be there 100 percent as a parent who decides to bring a child into the world.”

Anna talked about working with students who felt like they couldn’t tell their own stories.

“But when these kids do get the opportunity to share their stories, they find out that they are not alone and share similar experiences—the sharing gives them the chance to connect,” Anna said.

Some people are locked up emotionally, the mayor implied. “You don’t have to be in San Quentin to be in prison,” he said.

Landmark Prop.57 ruling: In re McGhee

July 15, 2019 by Aron Kumar Roy

Petitioner Tijue Mcghee with his legal guide Rudy Wilkins

A California appeals court has ruled that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has improperly denied parole hearings to thousands of incarcerated individuals.

Approximately 4,450 non- violent offenders who were denied parole consideration due to in-prison rules violations will now be eligible for early release due to the land- mark ruling, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

“The whole objective was to not only find relief for me, but for all those who are similarly situated,” said Tijue McGhee, the petition- er in the case, “All people deserve the same treatment under the law.”

McGhee was sentenced to nine years in state prison, four years for a burglary and five years for a previous felony enhancement.

Under the regulations implemented after Proposition 57 passed, McGhee would have been eligible for parole consideration as a non-violent offender after serving four years.

He had been denied a pa- role hearing due to receiving a Division A(1) Rules Violation for possession of a weapon and for serving a Security Housing Unit (SHU) term, two issues which were related. As a result, McGhee lost good time credits and was also given a DA referral. He was convicted of possession of a weapon within an institution and sentenced to an additional four years at 80% as a non-violent offense.

“What inspired me to file was that the law was being introduced in 2016 [Prop 57] to further reduce the CA state prison population. It was supposed to be a tool for those who are nonviolent offenders as a remedy for further overcrowding,” said McGhee. “Also, nonviolent offenders would have liberty interest that was established by the state law which amended the California Constitution Article 1 section 32 A(1)(A).”

The latest ruling from the California Appellate Court is the third against the CDCR regarding nonviolent parole hearings, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The first ruling struck down restrictions that excluded non-violent three strike convictions from being considered for early parole. The second ruling, which was issued in January 2019, struck down an exclusion of incarcerated individuals who were previously sentenced for a sex crime, but were currently serving time for a nonviolent crime. The latest ruling bars CDCR from excluding nonviolent offend- ers from parole hearings due to in-prison conduct.

“The ultimate decision is to be made by the (parole) board, not the department,” said Presiding Justice Stuart Polack in the 3-0 ruling.

McGhee filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus in Solano County Superior Court while he was being held within their jurisdiction. His friend and legal mastermind Rudy Wilkins assisted him while he crafted the documents.

“More inmates should really begin a study of their constitutional privileges, provisions, and protections that are allotted to them as citizens of the United States,” said Wilkins, “I think this inspires an individual to not so much challenge the authority, but to challenge the procedure and to make sure that the procedure is accurate with regard to all current laws and provisions provided for prisoners.”

Quentin Cooks culinary program serves up big audience

July 15, 2019 by Aron Kumar Roy

Graduate Derry Brown receiving certificate from Chef Huw Thorton

A documentary filmmaker spent a year in San Quentin filming a cooking program as it progressed. He found that learning high-end culinary arts changed the way incarcerated people see the world.

“The guys really talk about the pride of cooking for the other guys,” said filmmaker Santhosh Daniel, “When you cook for someone else and put your soul into it, it changes you from thinking about yourself to thinking about the people around you. The word is love.”

The six men who completed the 12-week course on May 22 will use their new skills to obtain employment upon their release from prison.

Warden Ron Davis addressed the crowd at their graduation.

“I get to see a lot of things here at San Quentin and this is one of the things we’re re- ally proud of,” Davis said. To the graduates, he said, “Believe in yourself.”

The incarcerated cooks prepared a four-course gourmet meal for guests from the Bay Area Culinary community.

The appetizer was grilled shrimp with a fennel and Meyer lemon aioli.

Next up: toast covered with asparagus, ricotta, mush- rooms, fava beans, and peas.

The main course was braised short ribs with a side of cauliflower, almonds, snap peas, and Calabrian chilies.

To finish it off: a banana pudding tart with strawberries and pecans.

“Everything is so delicious,” said Dipti Ghosh, whose favorite dish was the toast and asparagus. “You don’t get something this complex in a restaurant. There are so many different flavors and textures.”

Helaine Helnitzer, a Quentin Cooks co-founder, addressed the graduating men and the guests, saying how proud of the graduates she was. Helnitzer read a letter from Daniel Martinez, a for- mer classmate of the graduates.

Martinez wrote, emotionally, that he wanted to attend the graduation dinner but was unable because he’d paroled a few days earlier. Helnitzer joked about the irony that someone released from prison wants to come back in.

Chef Huw serving food prepared by the graduates

“We aim to be much more than a get-out-of-prison program,” said Helnitzer, who owns a wholesale bakery in San Francisco and is involved with several other rehabilitation programs at San Quentin, “We aim to be a stay-out- of-prison program.”

Three former graduates of the program returned to inspire the incarcerated men with some words of advice.

“Take a look around. All these people are here for you. It’s hard out there, but I know one thing. All of you can make it out there,” said returning Quentin Cooks graduate Joel McCarter. “This graduation is just the first step.”

Chef Huw Thornton and Chef Adelaar Rogers taught the course. They not only taught the incarcerated men skills in the kitchen, but also skills for life.

During an earlier class session, the incarcerated men practiced their knife skills with onions. If the onion is cut against the grain, the onion slices stay together, which is called Parisian. If the onion is cut with the grain, the onion slices fall apart, which is called julienne.

“One rule about kitchen work—first things first—second things second,” Chef Huw said. “Slice through the onions first, then chop the pile.”

The graduates practiced preparing, cooking, and plating dishes from scratch using ingredients and cooking equipment donated by program sponsors The Chef’s Warehouse and VegiWorks, Inc. Cofounder Lisa Dombroski encouraged her employer, The Chef’s Ware- house, to donate all the dry goods and equipment for the program, while VegiWorks donated all of the produce and meat.

The six graduates of Quentin Cooks Class 5 were Alvis Taylor, Derry Brown, Phillip Sims, Ronnie Simmons, Kerry Rudd, and Daniel Martinez.

“Most people would look in a fridge and see nothing. Now I see a meal,” said graduate Phil Sims, “This food right here gives you a taste of freedom!”

Aaron Tillis, Quentin Cooks teaching assistant, said, “Hold on to everything you learned in this class and keep your mind open to learning new things. The world is full of possibilities.”

SQ Garden Chapel hosts Christmas banquet

July 15, 2019 by David Ditto

“Jesus is not only the reason for the season – but for all 365 days a year.”

The gospel song “Lord, We Praise Your Name” rang loudly throughout the San Quentin Garden Chapel as the prison choir greeted more than 300 inmates and guests to celebrate its annual Christian Banquet.

Pastor Tom Pham praying with Vietnamese Bible study group

The May 11 event brought fellowship, food and festivities to honor the hundreds of volunteers who have steadfastly shared the love of Christ with the inmates throughout the year. The banquet is the only time members of the dozens of churches that participate can get to know each other.

The event was scheduled for Christmas time, but was postponed twice due to prison lockdowns, including a quarantine. A gold and white banner hanging on the pulpit simply said “Victory,” capturing the faith and determination of the worshipers, volunteers and organizers.

“I am pinching myself because it is finally happening,” said Chaplain Mardi Ralph Jackson, who welcomed the crowd. “It was a long journey. Thank you, Jesus – Halleluiah!”

Elder Derrick Holloway opened in prayer, “Jesus is not only the reason for the season – but for all 365 days a year.”

New Faith Cathederal with Andress Yancy, Darnell Hill, Leonard Walken, Greg Dixon and Markee Carter

The dozens of volunteers mingled with the incarcerated worshipers as they all sat together at tables spread with tablecloths and bouquets. The overflow crowd meant extra chairs were placed around the walls, where many prisoners wait- ed for an opening at a table.

The music by the prison’s Garden Chapel Worship Team had bodies swaying with hands waving high in the air as the large crowd joined in singing “We praise your name, Lord, and we lift you higher, higher.”

The audience remained standing for the uplifting performance by The Prodi- gal Sons – a inmate quartet – that sang an original gospel song titled “God Answers Prayers.”

Sanet Allen, sporting a red jacket, took the stage next. She dazzled the crowd with an operatic solo of The Lord’s Prayer, prompting a rousing standing ovation.

Tiburon Baptist Church volunteers John Eagan, Susie Erin & Sanet Allen

“Music ministry is part of my life,” Allen told a San Quentin News reporter. “I like to give something back.” She began volunteering in San Quentin last fall. She said she found something unexpected in the prison.

“There was so much love and joy; it was overwhelm- ing,” Allen said. “Now I’m addicted.”

Allen’s professional music career includes singing with the Cape Town Opera in South Africa and touring internationally.

Allen volunteers with the Tiburon Baptist Church, one of dozens of churches and groups that sponsor Christian services in the prison chapel.

“They guide us and let us know we’re not alone,” said Quincy Paige, a 31-year-old inmate. He has attended the services on Saturdays and Sundays since transferring to San Quentin about a year ago.

“When I’m in this chapel, I don’t feel like I’m in prison.”

Paige added that today he was here for the fellowship and the food.

The meal was far finer fare than standard prison chow. Each guest was served roast beef, barbecued chicken, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, corn, carrots, a biscuit, punch, apple crisp, and a cookie.

“This is a banquet indeed,” said one content diner.

“Hace 10 años que no me siento en una mesa con un florero,” (It’s been 10 years since I’ve sat at a table with a bouquet), said 64-year-old inmate Arnoldo Rivas. It reminded him of being home – with friends and family. Rivas attends the services in Spanish on Friday and Sunday nights.

“I was a soldier for a prison gang for years,” said 53-year-old David Rodriguez. Incarcerated for 27 years, he rededicated his life to Christ in 2010. This was Rodriguez’ first banquet. Two days earlier, he was found suitable for parole. “I’m a true miracle of the Lord – He opened the doors.”

Volunteers & Inmate guest chatting in pre-banquet fellowship as music plays

This was also the first banquet for Susie Erin, who has been volunteering in San Quentin for over five years. Every three months she comes in with Tiburon Baptist Church on Saturday evenings. Their pastor delivers the message and Erin sings with their choir.

“The guys sing better than we do, but we sing anyway and they appreciate it,” Erin said.

“The guys that come in are really exuberant. They’re not just coming here to get out of their cells. They really want to worship.” Erin said that was unexpected at first.

After the meal, the celebration continued with some comedy by inmate Jessie Ayers. On stage, he said he was asked to do a clean comedy act, but couldn’t comply – because he got barbecue sauce on his shirt. The comedian wished the mothers a happy Mother’s Day and added, “I want to invite you all to the Mother’s Day banquet. It will be in December – right around Christmas.” The chapel roared with laughter through Ayers’ entire routine.

Musical worship by Sister Linda Jackson and The Well got the audience sing- ing and moving again.

Then Chaplain Jackson took the stage. “We’d like to acknowledge all the volunteers with certificates of appreciation,” she said.

“The San Quentin Garden Chapel Christian Fellowship presents this certificate to (each group) with our deepest gratitude and thanks. This certificate expresses our gratitude for you and all you do to share the love and fellowship of Jesus Christ with us,” Chaplain Jackson read.

Some of the groups and volunteers recognized were Cornerstone, One Accord Ministry, Malachi Dads, Aldo Yannon, Steve Wiegert, Overcomers, Evangelist Leslie Smith, Brother Donald Mack, Pastor Tom Pham, Elder Darryl Jenkins, Nathaniel Sparks, Anthony Evans, and Sister Hipple.

Chaplain Jackson concluded, “I really do love each and every one of you. God bless you.”

The Prodigal Sons delivering "God Answers Prayers" — The Prodigal Sons delivering “God Answers Prayers”

Solid gospel by New Faith Cathedral had the entire crowd on their feet, clapping, swaying, and repeat- ing full-volume, “Halle – Halle, luiah – luiah!”

After the grand gospel finale, the audience settled down for the closing prayer by Brother Patrick Baylis.

—Marcus Henderson contributed to this story

New York parolees renovated transition house

July 15, 2019 by Marcus Henderson

Parolees leaving New York’s prisons were having trouble finding housing, so they took matters into their own hands, with help from the New Beginnings program, which bought a vacant dilapidated dwelling for the formerly incarcerated men renovate.

New Beginnings is a transitional housing program in New York and was created by Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison to deal with the reentry issue.

“It was a huge leap…a magnificent leap of faith,” Damian Rossney, project manager for New Beginnings told San Quentin News, referring to the purchase of a run-down single-family home in Ossining, NY, near the notorious Sing Sing prison, and having ex-prisoners carry out the renovation.

Hudson Link transitional house renovated

Hudson Link has awarded more than 800 college degrees in the New York State prison system during the past 20 years, according to its website. It provided vocational training and reentry services programs for graduating students who have returned home.

“The relationship with our students doesn’t end when they get a degree,” said Rossney, who is also a former prisoner. “By far the biggest transition is when you come home and being able to demonstrate how you’ve changed your life.”

Hudson Link began hiring its former students and increasing services for others, but some were leaving prison only to end up in a homeless shelter.

Rossney paroled to a family that had a support system for his reentry, but he still struggled with the readjustment to society, so this work is personal to him. Rossney went to prison at 18 and came home at age 34.

Hudson Link purchased the single-family home that had remained vacant for seven years. The purchase was made possible with the help of private funders. The home needed to be gutted. Sean Pica, the formerly incarcerated founder and executive director of the organization, was the first to take a sledgehammer to the house interior.

“We believe the future residents of this home, having fulfilled their debts to society, have every right to a second chance,” said Pica.

Single-family home Hudson Link purchased

The reentry home didn’t open without controversy, as some neighborhood parents signed a petition in opposition to the housing plan. The parents cited the house being across the street from a school. Hudson Link reassured parents that sex offenders, who are prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of a school, would not be allowed to live in the building.

“The home was empty and dilapidated until these guys came,” said Lisette Marino, a neighbor. “I don’t have any of those same anxieties. I’ve had a completely different experience. They’ve already done a service for the community by rehabilitating this house.”

The home will accommodate up to five people. There is a basement with a bathroom, laundry room and a big open space. The main floor has the living room, dining area, kitchen, front patio and back patio.

The upstairs has bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living room has pocket doors so the men can create private spaces, if they need to meet with family or their parole officer.

“This is not a shelter; this is a family,” Rossney said. “This is a family of five formerly incarcerated people living together.”

One neighbor went so far as putting a security camera on their porch facing the reentry home. Meanwhile, the Hudson Link home has its own camera and security system, Rossney said.

Having launched the reentry housing program, Hudson Link is looking into offering more comprehensive services to assist people leaving prison. This first home for men is going to be a true test to see if the organization can handle housing.

Hudson Link purchased another home about five minutes away to serve women leaving prison. It is expected to open within one year and will have four or five bedrooms.

All residents would be college graduates of Hudson Link program.

“It’s about second chances. That’s what’s ringing in my head right now,” said William Garland, a student of Hudson Link, who helped renovate the home. “It’s about people being in the communities and getting a second chance.

“Also, you have part of society that says no second chances. You have to deal with it,” Garland concluded.

—Freelance writer Emily Nonko contributed to this story.

Florida county jail injury

July 10, 2019 by Amir Shabazz

A mentally ill prisoner at the Broward County Jail in Florida used a razor to commit an act of self-mutilation, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

“I have a real medical emergency,” the prisoner, who goes by the initials J.I., told an officer. “I just cut off my penis and flushed it down the toilet. I have no need for it anymore.”

J.I. was sent to solitary confinement for yelling at staff and had been there for 112 days prior to the incident. Even before his placement in solitary confinement he exhibited abnormal behavior — he refused to eat or take his medication and had public masturbation episodes.

These behaviors were red flags that the doctors overseeing J.I’s care failed to notice. J.I.’s medical files contained little information about his status and, as his mental state declined, his treatment plan was not updated. Prisoners in solitary are isolated in a cell roughly the size of a parking space. These conditions are often consequential for an individual’s mental health, which should be assessed and monitored before placement in solitary. J.I. was not assessed before his placement in solitary, according to the ACLU.

J.I.’s self-mutilation was only one case involving prisoners with mental health issues at the Broward County Jail. One prisoner diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder starved himself to death. Months before, another prisoner starved to death— standing six- foot-two-inches tall and weighing 240 pounds at his arrest, he weighed a mere 120 pounds at his death.

Prior to J.I.’s mutilation, a court-appointed expert issued a report finding life- threatening shortcomings with the jail’s mental health program, citing a failure to exclude patients with serious mental illness from solitary confinement. The expert concluded that the mistreatment and neglect of those with mental illness at the jail was “absolutely inhumane.” The ACLU has filed a civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the prisoners at Broward County Jail.

A comprehensive plan to remedy the problems has been crafted but must be approved by a federal judge before it is implemented. Once approved, those with serious mental health issues will be excluded from solitary, treatment plans will be developed, and patients will be placed in psychiatric hospitals rather than being housed at the county jail.

The nature of our addiction

July 10, 2019 by San Quentin News Contributer

“The men at Avenal State Prison find support in rehabilitation”

The men at avenal State Prison program participants

Today is a day of Victory. For most just an ordinary day, but for some of us, that’s not the case. As we manage to live one more day, hour and minute from the destructive addiction that is trying to destroy not only us, everyone we come across, every day of our lives.

As addicts, we lost hope and gave up the idea that one day we would be able to stop this deadly addiction. In most situation’s it takes years to actually accept and admit that our lives had become out of control.

It isn’t until we suffer the separation from family members, society and dealing with courts, prisons and ultimately total withdrawal from moral decency and abandonment of spiritual hope that we realized the negative effects that our addiction led us to.

We are fortunate to have a program like Narcotics Anonymous, where the primary purpose is to stay clean and carry the message to the addict who still suffers. NA has taught us that if you’re serious about recovery, it WILL work.

Through the support of the group, sponsors and volunteers, we began to change attitudes, choices and decisions, rather than support our old way of thinking.

In this Edition of the San Quentin Newspaper, we dedicate this article to Avenal State Prison “B Yard” Narcotics Anonymous group. None of this would be possible if not for our Warden R. NDOH, B yard Captain N. Gonzalez and supporting staff and volunteers who actively participated. Thanks to Ms. Jimenez

who recently volunteered her time to be part of this new initiative to promote rehabilitation to those inmates seeking ways to better themselves.

We would like to give special thanks to our Facility B NA sponsors, L. Robitaille of 2 1⁄2 yrs. and J. Hignojoz, our newest sponsor. On behalf of the whole group, we would like to thank them for their endless hard work and sincere dedication to provide necessary materials to make this group a huge success. It’s because of people like them who believe in rehabilitation, that we are able to see this program truly succeed. Thank you for participating in this new chapter of our lives. Now we seek to develop and exercise a better way of living, reaching out to help others find the same peace we are finding.

California court rules against juveniles under 16 tried as adults

July 10, 2019 by Joe Garcia

A California appellate court ruled in late April that juveniles under the age of 16 cannot be tried as adults—or face adult life sentences.

The court upheld the new law established last year under Senate Bill 1391. Solano County prosecutors attempted to challenge SB1391 in the case of Alexander Cervantes—a young man who was 14 when he committed the attempted murder and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl, said the San Francisco Chronicle.

The new law acknowledges “overwhelming scientific evidence that children who are 14 years old have a fundamentally different brain functioning and level of culpability,” said Peter Obstler, attorney for Cervantes. “Not like an adult criminal.”

SB1391 serves to recognize this now accepted scientific fact regarding youth offenders.

As it stands, “juvenile life” sentences mean the offenders can only be held in custody until they are 25. Cervantes previously had been tried as an adult and handed a 61-years-to-life sentence under statutes in place since 1995.

Solano County’s prosecution team tried to argue that 2016’s Proposition 57 permitted Cervantes’ adult life sentence to remain because Prop. 57 included wording that allows a juvenile-court judge discretion to transfer a juvenile’s case into adult court.

Prop. 57 “left in place mechanisms to protect the public from violent offenders who preyed on the innocent, took advantage of the vulnerable, and acted with violence,” said Solano County’s court filing. Because Prop. 57 was enacted through the statewide vote of the people, the prosecutors argued that it could not be circumvented by a legislative bill.

In the First District Court of Appeal’s 3-0 ruling, Justice Alison Tucher stated that Prop. 57 “sought to promote juvenile rehabilitation by channeling more minors into the juvenile system”—a system theoretically geared toward creating educational and training opportunities for its youth, said the Chronicle.

SB1391 “is consistent with and furthers Proposition 57’s goal of emphasizing rehabilitation,” said Tucher.

She also noted that advocates of Prop. 57 say keeping young offenders within the juvenile justice system— rather than mixing them into adult courts—actually increases and promotes public safety because “minors who remain under juvenile court supervision are less likely to commit new crimes.”

Solano County may still continue to argue against Cervantes’ reduced sentence by challenging the appellate ruling in California’s Supreme Court.

Prop. 57 allows a juvenile court judge the discretion to consider a juvenile offender’s criminal and personal history, their capacity for rehabilitation, as well as the very nature of their charged crime—and based on that criteria, determine whether their case belongs in an adult court.

SB1391, which took effect at the onset of 2019, prevents any offender under the age of 16 from being prosecuted as an adult. Therein lies the crux of this ongoing legal debate.

And although youth of- fenders sentenced to juvenile life face release at the age of 25, the juvenile court system still holds the authority to order a “safety hold” to continue detention if necessary— either in a medical center, mental health facility or some other secure institution.