“Some 70 million Americans have a criminal record – a number equal to Americans with a college degree,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice. New York Times July 27, 2018 “Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance” … [Read more...] about AROUND THE WORLD NOVEMBER 2018
50 men graduate from California Re-entry Institute
The idea behind the California Re-entry Institute (CRI) is to begin the re-integration process in prison and continue support services once released. The 18-24-month-to-the- gate program recently graduated more than 50 men in San Quentin State Prison’s Garden Chapel on Sept. 7 from its two programs of Crime Impact Awareness and Empowered Re-entry. “It’s amazing the work they’ve done,” CRI executive director Collette Carroll said. “They come every Saturday. They work hard. They share. They ask for case management. “They are always … [Read more...] about 50 men graduate from California Re-entry Institute
Facial recognition technology poses privacy issues
New facial recognition technology may be used to target returning citizens. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” warns the Brookings Institute in a TechTank blog by Nila Bala and Lars Trautman. Most recent news stories focus on the facial recognition technology’s mistakes. For example, the ACLU conducted a test of Amazon’s new technology “Rekognition,” and the software misidentified 28 members of Congress as having a previous criminal record. The Brookings Institute said privacy rights activists claim that in the near future … [Read more...] about Facial recognition technology poses privacy issues
November 2018 Upcoming Events at San Quentin
November 2018 Upcoming Events at San Quentin Nov. 11th Veteran’s Day @ Lower Yard 10 a.m. Nov. 16th 1000 Mile Club Marathon 8 a.m. Nov. 16th Queens of the Stone Age @ Chapel 5 p.m. Nov. 27th San Francisco Opera @ Chapel Nov. 29th Veterans Healing Veterans … [Read more...] about November 2018 Upcoming Events at San Quentin
San Quentin holds 15th Annual Health Fair
Hundreds of prisoners formed long lines on San Quentin’s Lower Yard at the prison’s 15th Annual Health Fair on Aug. 24. Stations were set up throughout the prison where volunteers offered medical services and wellness information, ranging from blood pressure checks and chiropractic services to mental health seminars, diabetes tests and nutritional information. In total, 156 volunteers served more than 2,000 prisoners throughout the day. “It’s important for everyone to have the education to take care of themselves,” said Madeline … [Read more...] about San Quentin holds 15th Annual Health Fair
States struggle to carry out executions
Lethal injections, legal battles and difficulty obtaining drugs have forced a number of states to find alternative ways to carry out the death penalty, reports the New York Times. Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi have authorized the use of inhaling the inert gas nitrogen for executions. “An oxygen-deficient atmosphere” can knock a person unconscious after just one or two breaths and “the exposed person has no warning and cannot sense that the oxygen level is too low,” according to a report from the United States Chemical Safety and … [Read more...] about States struggle to carry out executions
New technology aids police oversight
New technology exposes an old and persistent problem of the criminal justice system — false testimony by the police. “Behind closed doors, we call it testilying,” a New York City police officer, Pedro Serrano, told The New York Times. “You take the truth and stretch it out a bit.” Policing experts anticipate that access to smartphones, security cameras and police body-cams would greatly reduce police lying. “However, video seems more capable of exposing lies than vanquishing them,” The Times reports. The Times article shows that … [Read more...] about New technology aids police oversight
Long road to perform Shakespeare’s “King Lear”
It is a long road to a performance of Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” held on May 18, and “Comedy of Errors” on May 25. The cast has been rehearsing since last November. How a theater troupe creates the rollercoaster ride of emotions expected at a Shakespearean play is a mystery to most audiences. To appreciate the effort that goes into building that rollercoaster ride, you will have to go behind the actors’ curtain and see the real secrets of the theater troupe sponsored by the Marin Shakespeare Company at San Quentin. “Tragedy and how we … [Read more...] about Long road to perform Shakespeare’s “King Lear”
Marijuana convictions can be erased
If other counties follow San Francisco’s lead, district attorneys’ offices across the state can erase pot convictions under California’s new legal marijuana laws. “Our vision is to help government clear all eligible criminal records starting with convictions under Prop. 64,” said Jennifer Pahlka, executive director of Code for America, a non-profit with the goal of making government more efficient, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The November 2016 passage of Proposition 64 prompted San Francisco’s District Attorney to announce in … [Read more...] about Marijuana convictions can be erased
San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise
GO HERE TO SEE SAN QUENTIN NEWS & WALL CITY MERCHANDISE! Buy a mug, t-shirt, tote bag or sticker and support the San Quentin News and Wall City magazine. Inmates at San Quentin strive to report on rehabilitative efforts to increase public safety and achieve social justice. Net proceeds of merchandise sales go to Friends of San Quentin News via the Social Good Fund and support the inmate journalism programs. Merchandise purchases are not tax deductible. To make a tax deductible donation, click here to give directly to Friends of … [Read more...] about San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise