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
Videogame-based novel draws influences from real life
I recently walked into San Quentin’s library and noticed on a whiteboard a list of books. I asked the clerk, Kevin Rojano, “Which one of these would you want reviewed in our newspaper?” The bright-eyed 23-year-old recommended Halo. Halo: The Fall of Reach by Eric Nylund (2001) is the first in an ongoing series of the videogame-based novels. It takes place in the 26th century. Humans have settled on planets throughout the galaxy. Aliens attack “Reach”—a first strike that jeopardizes all of humanity, including earth. Tasked with taking down … [Read more...] about Videogame-based novel draws influences from real life
Insight Prison Project announces appointment of new Executive Director
After 23 years in prison, Leonard Rubio got out and began recapturing his life. Today, he’s the Executive Director of Insight Prison Project (IPP). The executive position opened after Billie Mizell stepped down in November 2017 to pursue other restorative justice work. “There could be no better person to pass that baton to than our own beloved Leonard Rubio,” Mizell said in her resignation letter. Mizell said that she believes those most impacted, “should lead the movements of their own transformation and liberation.” She added, “As a … [Read more...] about Insight Prison Project announces appointment of new Executive Director
CDCR issues new regulations for non-violent three-strikes offenders
California set a nationwide trend in sentencing reform when, in 2012, voters passed an initiative that reduced the sentences for non-violent three strikers. The result: thousands of prisoners serving life sentences got out of prison. Other initiatives in 2014 and 2016 chipped away at the Three Strikes Laws. Thousands more prisoners earned release. The latest development comes from an appeals court case, re Edwards. Edwards holds that California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) regulations preventing nonviolent … [Read more...] about CDCR issues new regulations for non-violent three-strikes offenders
ICE detention center at Adelanto, CA faces serious suicide problems
A private prison hired by the federal government to detain people for civil proceedings treats them like criminals, is plagued by suicides attempts and fails to provide detainees with adequate dental care, a new report shows. Federal investigators recommended a full review after a May report by the Inspector General found “significant health and safety risks” to detainees at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Adelanto, California. GEO Group, a private prison company, owns and operates the facility is under a … [Read more...] about ICE detention center at Adelanto, CA faces serious suicide problems
Centro de detención de ICE en Adelanto California enfrenta problemas de suicidios
Una prisión privada contratada por el gobierno federal para procedimientos civiles y la detención de personas trata a estos como criminales, está plagada de intentos de suicidio y faltas en los cuidados dentales adecuados para los detenidos. Investigadores federales recomendaron una revisión total después de que en mayo un reporte del inspector federal encontró “riesgos significantes de salud y seguridad” para los detenidos en la prisión federal de Inmigración y Aduanas, (Immigration Customs Enforcement, ICE), en Adelanto, California. … [Read more...] about Centro de detención de ICE en Adelanto California enfrenta problemas de suicidios
Gabriel Cannon creating his own fame at SQ prison chapel
Walking in the shadow of fame and being showered with gifts and admiration was subject of an Oct. 21 sermon to a jam-packed prison chapel by Gabriel Cannon, the brother of superstar Nick Cannon, who said that worldly goods and special treatment did not bring him happiness. Gabe Cannon told an audience of more than 300 in- mates, some sitting in folding chairs along the aisles, about his interview with Rapzilla. He said as Nick’s fame grew, he was “thrilled to just be identified” as his little brother. Celebrity status, however, caused … [Read more...] about Gabriel Cannon creating his own fame at SQ prison chapel
Short story illuminates themes from two classic novels
I love short stories. The challenge of the short story writer is to be concise without being shallow. As such, the form requires that settings be suggested, characters be sketched and complexities be implied. A story I stumbled upon this month -- An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Pierce – does all of that but also, in a succinct way, illuminates and ties together the themes of two classic novels: The Red Badge of Courage (1895) and Johnny Got His Gun (1939). All three have war themes. Each exposes the inner thoughts of the main … [Read more...] about Short story illuminates themes from two classic novels
Breaking the cycle of incarceration with music from behind prison walls
The day before inmates Thanh Tran, Eric “Maserati-E” Abercrombie, and Gregg “G” Sayers, created Reality Check — a song that describes the human condition—they sat in a small room in San Quentin to rehearse it for their first time on-stage performance as a group. As Sayers softly plucked his guitar, Maserati-E sang Reality Check’s hook. Tran chimed in with harmony. They made small corrections as they had only put the song together the day before, in a matter of hours. One of San Quentin’s radio producers, inmate Louis A. Scott, brought … [Read more...] about Breaking the cycle of incarceration with music from behind prison walls
PEN America releases Issue: 21 Mythologies
No matter the restriction, the control mechanism or oppression, PEN America is a platform for authentic stories—voices that ring loud and free on the page. Jennifer Finney Boylan contributed to PEN’s latest publication Issue: 21 Mythologies, with Transfigured. It connects with incarcerated readers as she writes, “For a long time, I thought I didn’t exist...It was like walking on a long-deserted beach without any footprints.” Searching for identity is not limited to incarcerated people — agency is a normal, human want and need — it’s the … [Read more...] about PEN America releases Issue: 21 Mythologies