Dr. Downey, a staff psychologist at San Quentin, is no stranger to overcoming obstacles in life. “I fell behind in grade school because no one knew I was deaf,” Downey said. “It wasn’t till middle school that I got the resources that helped me adjust.” Her hearing disability became something that gave her a distinct perspective. “I like the silence because you can be with yourself, but there is a need for the chaos that is in the world,” she said. “Coping with the struggles is what helps mold us.” There were times when Downey … [Read more...] about Dr. Downey overcomes hurdles
SQ’s 2018 graduating class thanked D. Searle
Families gathered to celebrate their loved ones’ accomplishments at the Robert E. Burton Adult School annual graduation ceremony, held on July 20 in San Quentin’s main visiting room. “This is the first time I’ve been able to complete any type of vocational program,” said Francisco Ortiz, a graduate from the Vocational Plumbing class. “I’m proud because I was able to participate in some- thing that will help improve my chances for success.” The students completed a vocational training course, passed a High School Equivalency … [Read more...] about SQ’s 2018 graduating class thanked D. Searle
Center Point graduates 100 San Quentin men
Packing the house in recognition of their achievements San Quentin’s Garden Chapel was filled to near-capacity, with almost 400 seats occupied during Center Point’s annual graduation ceremony. One hundred men received recognition for their participation and successful completion of a Center Point program. “This program has helped me see addiction in a new light,” said Troy Dunmore, a graduate of the Substance Use Disorder Treatment class. “I understand now that I used drugs to cope with the pain of reality.” According to … [Read more...] about Center Point graduates 100 San Quentin men
Reducing mass incarceration may reduce hunger and poverty
An analysis of multiple studies found that reducing mass incarceration could reduce hunger and poverty in the United States. Research analysts claim that if the U.S. had not escalated incarceration rates, poverty would have dropped by 20 percent between 1980 and 2004. Hunger and poverty in America are collateral consequences of mass incarceration, according to a report from the Bread for the World Institute (BWI), Mass Incarceration: A Major Cause of Hunger. Marlysa D. Gamblin, domestic advisor for policy and programs at BWI, … [Read more...] about Reducing mass incarceration may reduce hunger and poverty
San Quentin’s big transition as non-designated facility
San Quentin State Prison’s transition from a General Population (GP) facility to a non-designated programming facility has uncovered old prejudices and uncommon collaborations. The inmate response to the new housing designation is as diverse as the prison population. Most inmates have been indifferent to the inflow of newcomers, while others have been cautious and alert. Some prisoners transferred out of San Quentin because they did not want to deal with the unknown. Few inmates, and administrators, could predict what was going to … [Read more...] about San Quentin’s big transition as non-designated facility
More inmates taking meds for mental health issues
The number of offenders in county jails on psychotropic medications increased 25 percent in 45 California counties in the past five years, reports California Health Policy Strategies (CHPS) for Kaiser Health News. The Kaiser Health News report shows that a shortage of community-based treatment centers have made county jails a warehouse for mentally ill people. A separate report by the Council On Mentally Ill Offenders (COMIO) found that the mental health prison population grew from 19 percent in 2006 to 30 percent in 2016. Since the … [Read more...] about More inmates taking meds for mental health issues
Fathers and families: A traditional celebration
Father’s Day came early for dads at San Quentin State Prison. On June 1, incarcerated fathers started filing into the main visiting room for the annual Get on the Bus (GOTB) event, which brings families together for Mother’s and Father’s Day. GOTB works with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) months in advance to coordinate the one-day event. “This is the only visit I get every year,” said Ruben Becerrada, who has been on Death Row since 2009 “It feels great to be able to spend time with my family. It’s … [Read more...] about Fathers and families: A traditional celebration
A path of criminal justice takes an educational turn
Corporate executives and administration officials have a high turnover rate, but secretaries tend to stick around, and some have interesting stories. Ms. Garcia, the office technician for Robert E. Burton Adult School at San Quentin, almost became a parole officer. She studied criminal justice in college because something in society caught her attention. “I wanted to work with parolees because most of them have more motivation in bettering themselves after being incarcerated for so long,” Garcia said. “According to a RAND analysis, every $1 … [Read more...] about A path of criminal justice takes an educational turn
US Senate focusing on alleviating mass incarceration
In early February, national government officials grappled with trying to implement cost-effective strategies to alleviate mass incarceration. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is focusing on reducing sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and facilitating reentry for the formerly incarcerated. Columbia University’s Justice Lab discovered that since the 1980s, an increase in county supervision programs, like probation and parole, without an increase in funding, has contributed to an increase in incarceration. According to a 2009 Pew … [Read more...] about US Senate focusing on alleviating mass incarceration
Trump credited with expansion of hate groups
A recent report credits President Donald J. Trump’s administration with boosting the recruitment and expansion of hate groups in America. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) Year in Hate and Extremism report identified 954 hate groups in America, more than 600 of which are devoted to some type of White supremacy. “President Trump in 2017 reflected what White supremacist groups want to see: a country where racism is sanctioned by the highest office, immigrants are given the boot and Muslims banned,” said Heidi Beirich, director of the … [Read more...] about Trump credited with expansion of hate groups