Anthony Lasallie Coleman Anthony Lasallie Coleman, 57, has been incarcerated since 1996, for constructive possession of guns and drugs. That means that although the items were not physically on his person, they were in a place deemed under his control. Coleman said he rented a motel room where the police discovered the contraband — that was enough under Californian law for a conviction. He was sentenced to 55 years to life under California’s Three Strikes Law. Since his incarceration, Coleman has come to terms with why he ended … [Read more...] about A story of coming to terms with a three-strikes sentence
Once incarcerated, Borey Ai loses battle with immigration
Borey Ai Borey Ai was 14 years old when he shot and killed a storeowner during a 1996 robbery. It made him the youngest juvenile lifer in California’s prisons. When he appeared before parole board commissioners in 2016, they said he was no longer a danger to public safety and recommended his release from prison. Waiting at the gates, however, were Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who took him to a detention facility. Ai said his plans about how he was going to live his life “all went crashing down” when he was put … [Read more...] about Once incarcerated, Borey Ai loses battle with immigration
CGA banquet graduation focuses on recovery and change
Facilitators, former graduates and 2018 graduates CGA Dining on chicken and pizza, on Feb. 8, dozens of inmates picked up certificates after completing a program aimed at changing criminal thinking and putting gang life in the past. The program, Criminal Gangs Anonymous (CGA) models itself after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)—the first step—admitting that they’ve lost control of their life to gangs. Tommy “Shakur” Ross has been a CGA facilitator since 2012. “I really enjoy watching you guys doing the work,” Ross told the graduating … [Read more...] about CGA banquet graduation focuses on recovery and change
Dealing with an unexpected loss of a loved one
Author Sheryl Sandberg and co-writer Adam Grant For the most part, incarcerated people aren’t worried about the impact of social media—we’re disconnected. And, if I walk around the prison yard 100 times and talk to dozens of my fellow inmates, I’d be lucky to find one who’d know that Sheryl Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook. That being said, all of my fellow prisoners could connect with Sandberg’s grief—the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. After her husband died, Sandberg wrote Option B (2017), an incredibly … [Read more...] about Dealing with an unexpected loss of a loved one
Prison University Project celebrates the year with Open Mic
David Schiltz Personal stories, comedians, singers and dancer entertained an audience made up of about 300 incarcerated men and 40 local volunteers late last December at the Prison University Project (PUP) annual open mic. San Quentin State Prison’s Christmas decorations were still on display in the Protestant Chapel as more than two dozen inmates, who attend PUP classes, entertained the audience that included many of their teachers. Jonathan Chiu (San Quentin News staffer) began the show with a standup monologue that about … [Read more...] about Prison University Project celebrates the year with Open Mic
Thu Hồi Án Phạt
Dựa theo luật California Penal Code 1170(d) mới được ban hành, hầu như tất cả tù nhân ở California đều có thể hội đủ điều kiện được tòa xét lại án và giảm án. Phương thức luật mới này cũng đã được ghi rỏ trong sách quy luật dành cho tù nhân, sách California Code of Regulations (CDCR), Title 15, section 3076, Recall of Commitment Recommendation Circumstances. Quy luật án phạt mục 1170(d)(1) của California cho phép Bộ Tổng Trưởng của Bộ Học Tập và Cải Huấn (CDCR), hoặc người đại diện của bộ được đề nghị với tòa thu hồi án phạt … [Read more...] about Thu Hồi Án Phạt
Writer draws inspiration from incarcerated pen pals
Take Two: A Collection of Short Stories (2018) If your writing is to be believed, experience is the best teacher. However, that’ll be a tragedy, if you’re writing about prisons. Nonetheless, C.P. Henderson, a retired federal employee, tells very interesting stories without the incarceration experience. What I’ve learned about Henderson is that she took an old fashion way to get information about fictional characters—she took pen to paper and became pen pals with some incarcerated people. She did a good job in the 11 short … [Read more...] about Writer draws inspiration from incarcerated pen pals
Recall of sentence may allow time reduction for prisoners
Nearly all California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) prisoners may be eligible to have a court reconsider and reduce their sentence, according to new rules. The prisoners’ rulebook outlines the procedure in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 15, section number 3076, Recall of Commitment Recommendation Circumstances. California Penal Code Section 1170(d)(1) allows the Agency Secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) or its designee to recommend, at any … [Read more...] about Recall of sentence may allow time reduction for prisoners
La nueva ley conocida como 1170 beneficiará a muchos internos en prisiones de California
Español Casi todos los prisioneros del Departamento de Correcciones y Rehabilitación (CDCR) de California pueden ser elegibles para que un tribunal reconsidere y reduzca su sentencias, por medio de recomendaciones del liderazgo de CDCR, o de las agencias de las fuerzas del orden, acuerdo al Código Penal de California 1170 (d). Reglamentos de las prisiones describen el procedimiento en el Código de Regulaciones de California (CCR), Título 15, Sección número 3076, titulado Recall of Commitment R e c o m m e n d a t i o n … [Read more...] about La nueva ley conocida como 1170 beneficiará a muchos internos en prisiones de California
CALPIA GM Chuck Pattillo retires
The longest serving general manager in the history of the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA), Charles L. “Chuck” Pattillo is stepping down from that post, but will still assist incarcerated people prepare for good jobs, once released. Pattillo’s effort continue to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in incarceration cost, yearly. Pattillo supervised all 27 CALPIA activities for 14 years. It employs 8,000 offenders throughout California’s 36 prisons. Chuck Pattillo walking with Mark Zuckerberg in San … [Read more...] about CALPIA GM Chuck Pattillo retires