The United States has the world’s largest private prison population, according to a study by The Sentencing Project. The study compares America’s growing private prison industry to government-run prisons and found that increased profiting from incarceration is tied to prison building, inmate population growth, and lower wages for guards, which resulted in decreased institutional safety. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), In August 2000, 4,535 inmates were listed as housed at a private Community … [Read more...] about Largest private prison population
21st Century programs graduate apprentices
More than a dozen inmates sat in the front row of a prison chapel on June 15 to graduate from one of three well-regarded 21st century training programs. Looking past the graduates to the men who had recently arrived in San Quentin, Warden Ron Davis said, “those of you not familiar with this prison, the guys in blue, this is a celebration of great programs.” Davis was referring to the programs that are helping men gain job skills for re-entry: Code.7370, a computer-coding class; The Last Mile Works (TLM Works), an employer of Code.7370 … [Read more...] about 21st Century programs graduate apprentices
The show goes on for SQ Shakespeareans
Drama therapy was in full display on May 18 as a nine-day quarantine ended at San Quentin for inmate performers in the Shakespeare play King Lear — a week later, the prison was on normal program for Comedy of Errors. “First, I was in shock,” said Jason Robinson about West Block getting off the quarantine. “But, Steve Emrick (Community Partnership Manager) said, ‘The show must go on.’ I was humbled that the administration made it happen, so outside people could see this play.” The King Lear Performance Robinson played Oswald, a servant to … [Read more...] about The show goes on for SQ Shakespeareans
SQ’s Third Annual Gospel Music Workshop
A stream of more than 200 blue shirts flowed into San Quentin’s Garden Chapel June 23 for the Third Annual Gospel Music Workshop. As the men-in-blue took their seats, an unrehearsed Christian rap performance by inmate Calvin Johnson brought the younger members to their feet. “I was asked to sing something,” Johnson said after he entertained the head-bopping audience of black, white, Mexican and Asian inmates. “When God calls you, just answer the phone.” Johnson, 25, has been incarcerated almost six years. “What I’ve learned most about being … [Read more...] about SQ’s Third Annual Gospel Music Workshop
Public safer when released inmates supported
With 95 percent of people in America’s prisons and jails getting out eventually, a new study finds that public safety benefits by reuniting them with their families, helping them with housing, employment, and healthcare. An Overview of Offender Reentry found that family ties provide the “greatest tangible and emotional support to offenders as they reenter the community. Former offenders who are married or have long-term relationships are less likely to recidivate or use drugs or alcohol compared to those in more casual relationships.” The … [Read more...] about Public safer when released inmates supported
Becoming Ms. Burton: … by Susan Burton
Of the many memoirs that have landed on my desk, Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women (2010) is one of the most inspirational. In the foreword, writer Michelle Alexander sets the stage by drawing a comparison between the memoir’s author, Susan Burton, and the legendary Harriet Tubman. Tubman helped create the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves yearning to be free; Burton helps women held captive by our prison system make a constructive break for freedom and rebuild their lives. “African … [Read more...] about Becoming Ms. Burton: … by Susan Burton
Van Jones’ Redemption Project
CNN commentator Van Jones, Jones was at San Quentin on May 10 working on his latest show, The Redemption Project. It consists of eight episodes that feature restorative justice in action. Jones, a political pundit and author of Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart — How We Come Together seeks to tackle Americans’ toughest challenge — how to get Americans working together in the age of Trumpism. “We need a positive populism,” Jones said. “Right now, Donald Trump is using negative populism that divides people with a neo-Nazi … [Read more...] about Van Jones’ Redemption Project
New bill keeps youth offenders out of adult prisons
Human Rights Watch (HRW) continues to back legislation that gives youthful offenders a second chance at life after committing serious crimes. Most recently, law changes in California have allowed offenders who were under age 25 when they committed the crime to seek a sentence review after serving between 15 and 25 years— depending on the category of crime. HRW is now working on new legislation geared to stop offenders 16 years old and younger from ever being sent to adult prisons. Currently, when an offender under age 18 is sentenced as an … [Read more...] about New bill keeps youth offenders out of adult prisons
Use of force bill underway
State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) plans to introduce a bill that would require the public disclosure of investigations of serious uses of force within police departments, including police shootings. Some of the most rigid laws that block the public from police personnel records are in California. California’s rules are so tough that last year a state appellate court ruled the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department can’t tell prosecutors the names of deputies with confirmed cases of misconduct, the Los Angeles Times reports. The case is … [Read more...] about Use of force bill underway
Beyond the Messy Truth by Van Jones
Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart*How We Come Together (2017) is a frank reading of American-style democracy that encourages an honest debate on how to shape the country. Author Van Jones travels around the country, touting The Beautiful Work: Four Solutions that he says would clean up the “Messy Truth” concerning the way Americans came apart and what conservatives and progressives could do to find unity. Beyond the Messy Truth takes readers through a fact-based history that is hard to dispute. In 2016, American voters were fed up … [Read more...] about Beyond the Messy Truth by Van Jones