Pregnant women face heart-wrenching consequences when they are incarcerated: not only must they give birth under harsh conditions, but then, most likely, they will be forced to surrender their newborn into the hands of others. Prison nurseries offer some of these women a chance to keep their babies with them, but is that always in the child’s best interest? “Incarcerating babies may strike many as unconscionable,” child welfare advocate Naomi Schaefer Riley said recently in a National Affairs article. “We must grapple with the ethical … [Read more...] about Prison nurseries: incarcerating newborns with their mothers
Dear Kid CAT
Hello KidCAT Speaks, My name is Deontre Brown. I’m 21 years old and currently serving a 25-year bid at SATF/ Corcoran Prison. For some reason while at the law library I picked up a SQN October 2018 issue, and I read about “Antoine Brown Is a Free Man After 22 Years.” I noticed we both had the same last name—that’s what caught my eye (but no relation). Any- way, after I read it, it inspired me. It brought more faith to my situation. To know that you could go through a bad situation and turn it to a good situation. I finished … [Read more...] about Dear Kid CAT
Miracles do happen: The power of truth and honesty
Tom Morgan, Jason Samuel and Christy Morgan in the SQ visiting room after the last VOD After seeing and hearing his victim at trial, Jason Samuel knew in his heart that he needed to come clean and be honest—both with himself and everyone else. “My crime was so senseless,” Samuels recently told SQ News. “I felt so sorry for what I did.” What he did was shoot peace officer Tom Morgan in the neck in 1997. “Once I was convicted, it didn’t matter anymore. I mean, why lie about it?” Samuels said. “What good would all those lies do me … [Read more...] about Miracles do happen: The power of truth and honesty
Curb Service shares truth, harmony and love
Rob Woods, Aaron Davis and Chris Balderas on stage performing From an Oakland street corner to San Francisco’s “Tenderloin” district to San Quentin State Prison, the music of freestyle collective Curb Service screams of power, truth, harmony and love—lots of love. They arrived at the prison on Feb. 22, six men and one woman who would soon erupt from their quiet demeanors to become superstars for an hour and a half in SQ’s Chapel B. “I could feel the energy when I walked through the gate,” said Kalin Freeman, who goes by the stage … [Read more...] about Curb Service shares truth, harmony and love
Kid CAT’s hygiene drive raises money for homeless youth
Kid CAT members with hygiene products donated from the residents of San Quentin for Huckleberry Youth Multi-Service Center A group of San Quentin prisoners collected money and hygiene items for Bay Area homeless youths. “Even in prison, guys got that spirit of giving,” said Gregory “Eagle” Coates, a member of the youth offender organization Kid CAT. Gregory Coates, Tommy Ross, Nou Phang Pang and Kid CAT Chairman Si Dang loading hygiene products in the rain “It’s always rewarding, especially for the guys that’ve had the … [Read more...] about Kid CAT’s hygiene drive raises money for homeless youth
Prisoners contributed their input on criminal justice reform
Participants sitting in a small circle share their personal experiences in the San Quentin Protestant Chapel Criminal justice reform took center stage at a San Quentin State Prison forum that brought together inmates, social justice advocates, formerly incarcerated citizens and public officials. “Reform has to change, as we all together are changing,” said Assemblymember Timothy Grayson, D-14th District, Concord. “We all still are rehabilitating. When I leave here, I’m going to tell people I just came from a place called ‘Project … [Read more...] about Prisoners contributed their input on criminal justice reform
Eight emerging artists turn chapel into raucous concert hall
Students in the Kurt Huget guitar class On an otherwise quiet Sunday evening, nine guitars rang out in harmony and transformed San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel into a raucous concert hall. “This was a great opportunity for us to communicate musically with no boundaries and just let our hair down,” said volunteer instructor Kurt Huget. He showcased eight emerging artists from his weekly guitar clinic as they all plucked and strummed their way through a handpicked playlist of crowd favorites. “I just love these guys,” Huget said. “They’re … [Read more...] about Eight emerging artists turn chapel into raucous concert hall
Coalition For Justice: furthering community reform in prison
Every six months, new relationships are forged and the power of community becomes renewed through San Quentin’s Coalition For Justice (CFJ). The self-help program’s latest cycle produced 23 graduates. These men gathered on Feb. 13 alongside their volunteer facilitators and incarcerated mentors to receive their certificates, celebrate together, and reflect on their personal transformation. “We don’t just teach social justice here,” said CFJ President Darnell “Moe” Washington. “What makes this group so different is that we go further … [Read more...] about Coalition For Justice: furthering community reform in prison
Incarcerated student challenges educators at national conference
An incarcerated Black college student challenged the nation’s prison educators to rethink how they consistently force predominant White cultural perspectives onto the non-Whites who fill their classrooms. James King’s voice reached across the country to Indianapolis by way of video, where he introduced an academic paper he co-authored with Prison University Project (PUP) colleague Amber Shields at the National Conference on Higher Education in Prison. Amber Shields with James King (video screen) presenting their … [Read more...] about Incarcerated student challenges educators at national conference
Former youth offenders start Kid CAT program at Lancaster
The successful San Quentin Kid CAT program for youth offenders is expanding to Lancaster Prison, thanks to help from three former inmates. “It was really the guys inside’s hunger to get the program,” explained Tommy Winfrey, who left San Quentin in 2016. “There was a hunger there to change their lives. I saw the same concern and willingness to change that I witnessed during my time at San Quentin.” Kid CAT alumni Winfrey, Philip Melendez and Anouthinh Pangthong recently visited Lancaster to help them start their own Kid CAT chapter. After … [Read more...] about Former youth offenders start Kid CAT program at Lancaster