Bob Goff speaking to the crowd about ambition Bob Goff refers to him- self as a “recovering lawyer” after practicing law for 25 years. In May, he returned to San Quentin, along with some friends, to speak with the inmates who assist the many guests who tour the prison. Goff met these inmates when he toured San Quentin, and he wanted to speak directly to them. He first engaged them in the Protestant Chapel with dialog that involved comedy. Then he asked about their ambitions. “When people know what you want they want to help you,” … [Read more...] about Bob Goff returns to San Quentin with friends
Prison to Employment Connection prepares men for the workforce
PEC staff and inmate volunteers Prison to Employment Connection (PEC) at San Quentin graduated 44 men from its ninth session in June. The week before graduation, more than 40 business, career and education professionals attended Employer Day at the prison to do one-on-one interviews with the men. PEC’s 15-week program prepares men to be “job ready” before paroling. According to statistics from Diana Williams, PEC executive director, 210 men have graduated from the program since 2015. Of that number, 96 have paroled and only one has … [Read more...] about Prison to Employment Connection prepares men for the workforce
Program helps at risk youth through music
John Wallace at his studio John Wallace went to jail and prison19 times, starting at age 18. Then he was sent to San Quentin, where he served two terms and started writing rap lyrics on his last trip there in the prison’s West Block. An initial opening to a career in music happened by chance when Wallace and other inmates created what he described as a “radio show” called K-FU** Radio in the cell block where they would sing, rap and tell jokes at night. He said it was like comedy night in the cell block, and it inspired him to … [Read more...] about Program helps at risk youth through music
Two Marin professional classic musicians join Zuill Bailey to perform at San Quentin
Jeremy Constant, Zuill Bailey and Jenny Douglass performing at San Quentin Protestant Chapel Grammy Award winning cellist, Zuill Bailey, returned to San Quentin State Prison’s Protestant Chapel for a third time to perform for an audience of inmates, staff and outside guests. “Thank you for taking me out of prison for a while,” an inmate in the audience said. It was by far the best turnout for one of Bailey’s performances. The audience kept growing during the performance as inmates and staff trickled into the chapel for the noontime … [Read more...] about Two Marin professional classic musicians join Zuill Bailey to perform at San Quentin
CDCR agrees to legal settlement over disciplinary documents
“I spent five years to get them to dismiss the write-ups which should never have been filed in the first place” The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) agreed to pay an inmate $8,400 in a legal settlement for disciplinary and non-disciplinary documentation the inmate claimed were false and retaliatory. The settlement agreement, entered in April 2018, also required the CDCR to remove all paper and electronic copies of the documents from the inmate’s file in exchange for his dismissal of two other lawsuits. … [Read more...] about CDCR agrees to legal settlement over disciplinary documents
Personnel Spotlight: Former Counselor T. Dunckley
Counselor T. Dunckley Many correctional officers have long, interesting careers. Some remain nameless and their stories untold. Counselor T. Dunckley worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) more than two and a half decades. He worked in many capacities and retired in late 2016. Dunckley was a counselor for 23 years; 21 of those years were spent working in the prison reception center. In 1990, Dunckley started his career in the department as a parole agent. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in … [Read more...] about Personnel Spotlight: Former Counselor T. Dunckley
Warden Janel Espinoza has high hopes for incarcerated females
Warden Janel Espinoza Warden Janel Espinoza of the California Correctional Women’s Facility (CCWF) has high hopes for the women incarcerated there. Among her many goals is the successful transformation of inmates to become assets to their family and society. In late August, Espinoza visited San Quentin State Prison to learn about some of its programs to use for the women at CCWF. It was her first time visiting the prison. “Historic,” is how she de- scribed the 166-year-old prison. “It’s majestic, beautiful and breathtaking,” she … [Read more...] about Warden Janel Espinoza has high hopes for incarcerated females
WALL CITY VOLUME 1: LIFE AFTER THE SHU
Between them, five men spent nearly a century inside a prison within a prison, California’s notorious Security Housing Unit (SHU). Isolated from contact with other inmates, they endured sensory deprivation, an unavoidable consequence of solitary confinement. They didn’t commit any crimes in prison, nor did they violate any rules. All but one was serving a life term. Their charge: gang membership. That was reason enough under a previous California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) policy to confine them indefinitely … [Read more...] about WALL CITY VOLUME 1: LIFE AFTER THE SHU
Prison to Employment Connection teaches returning citizens job skills
A record number of inmates at San Quentin State Prison completed the Prison to Employment Connection’s (PEC) eighth session and graduated in November. About 40 inmates finished the program. This gave them the opportunity to assess their employment interests, learn resume-writing and how to conduct themselves during an interview. Potential employers meeting with Prison to Employment graduates At employer day, the men spent two hours using what they learned on how to present themselves to more than 30 employers, … [Read more...] about Prison to Employment Connection teaches returning citizens job skills
Magical tones from Bach played by cellist Zuill Bailey
The magical tones of Bach compositions filled the San Quentin Protestant Chapel under the masterful hand of Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey. It was Bailey’s second performance this year at San Quentin. Each time he’s played at the historic prison, he’s moved some inmates to tears when they listened to his melodic solos. Zuill Bailey “I wanted to make them feel some- thing, even though it was uncomfortable,” Bailey said in an interview. To do that, he used a 325-year-old cello on loan to him for life. “These kind of … [Read more...] about Magical tones from Bach played by cellist Zuill Bailey