PUP team Roosevelt “Askare” Johnson, Angel Alvarez and Randy Akins San Quentin inmates prevailed against University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) students in the second Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl match hosted by the Prison University Project (PUP). About 100 people, including PUP, gathered in the prison chapel for the lively debate on February 15. After two rounds of engaging discussion seeking resolution of ethical dilemmas, the judges narrowly decided in favor of the inmate/students on the San Quentin-PUP debate team. Combined … [Read more...] about San Quentin college students triumph over UC Santa Cruz in Ethics Bowl debate
Education
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative holds criminal justice workshop at SQ
PUP student Isaiah Love presenting his criminal justice reform idea to philanthropists The Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) sponsored a Criminal Justice Reform workshop with the Prison University Project (PUP) at San Quentin during the fall semester. The “Criminal Justice Reform, Philanthropy, and Social Change” workshop was designed to include incarcerated voices in the decisions that affect them. The framework for the non-credit college workshop revolved around participatory action, which seeks to ensure that the people directly … [Read more...] about Chan Zuckerberg Initiative holds criminal justice workshop at SQ
Storytelling: bridging the divide between prison and the free world
Performance of Women Theater Work at LA Trade-Tech Center The “right road lost/FOUND” is a play based on the memories, life stories and experiences of five formerly incarcerated men and women who navigate their personal paths through reentry into the free world. The production had its debut at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC), a community college in South Los Angeles. It was also performed at the Los Angeles County Probation Department. The performance piece is based on the writing of Antoineeta Phillips, Pam Torrence, … [Read more...] about Storytelling: bridging the divide between prison and the free world
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
UC Davis launches social media campaign to combat ex-prisoner perceptions
A group of formerly incarcerated university students is launching a social media campaign designed to combat society’s negative perceptions of ex-prisoners. The University of California at Davis students call their campaign “We Are All Students” (WAAS). The aim is to help others to respect former inmates for who they are as people. “We are producing a year-long social media campaign that conveys the social situations and experiences of people who attend higher education in the shadow of incarceration,” Zach Psick told the San Quentin … [Read more...] about UC Davis launches social media campaign to combat ex-prisoner perceptions
Wake Forest University gains experience with Prison Letter Project
Wake Forest University law students are providing North Carolina prisoners legal help through its Prison Letter Project and gaining experience in the process. The letter program is a part of the school’s Pro Bono Project. The school’s law library is the only publicly accessible law library between the state capitol and the Tennessee border. “We’re not allowed to give them legal advice and give an opinion,” Suzanne Cavanaugh, Prison Letter Project coordinator, told San Quentin News. “But I can bring the horse water and hope that it … [Read more...] about Wake Forest University gains experience with Prison Letter Project
Incarcerated student challenges educators at national conference
An incarcerated Black college student challenged the nation’s prison educators to rethink how they consistently force predominant White cultural perspectives onto the non-Whites who fill their classrooms. James King’s voice reached across the country to Indianapolis by way of video, where he introduced an academic paper he co-authored with Prison University Project (PUP) colleague Amber Shields at the National Conference on Higher Education in Prison. Amber Shields with James King (video screen) presenting their … [Read more...] about Incarcerated student challenges educators at national conference
El Ingles es un obstáculo para Latinos en segregación
El lenguaje se ha convertido en un obstáculo para los latinos que se encuentran en aislamiento en cárceles de máxima seguridad, según un artículo en el Washington Post. Prisiones estatales y federales de los Estados Unidos usan unidades de máxima seguridad para albergar a miles de reos relacionados con pandillas o por razones de seguridad. Abogados de La Unión de Libertades Civiles (ACLU) y el Centro de Justicia MacArthur están representando a Nicolás Reyes, quien dice que la barrera de lenguaje ha sido un obstáculo para que … [Read more...] about El Ingles es un obstáculo para Latinos en segregación
Brown signed two laws giving the public more access to police records
In 2017, police officers shot and killed 172 people in California. The police didn’t have to make public any records that could help distinguish between self-defense and murder. Recently Gov. Jerry Brown signed two laws that give the public increased access to police records. “Californians have a right to know when officers are dishonest, use deadly force,” said Sen. Nancy Skinner ( D-Berkeley) to the Courthouse News Service. Skinner introduced the first law under Senate Bill 1421 requiring internal investigation records of police … [Read more...] about Brown signed two laws giving the public more access to police records
CIW hosts second annual Suicide Prevention Week
Women prisoners at the California Institution for Women (CIW) were given the knowledge to promote awareness at its second annual Suicide Prevention Week. CIW prisoners enjoying the day on the yard The September event started with the inmate Suicide Prevention Outreach Committee members distributing posters and passing out program pamphlets to inform the incarcerated women of the upcoming week’s events, according to the prison’s press release. CIW prisoners dunking a staff member “The inmates played games, spoke with community … [Read more...] about CIW hosts second annual Suicide Prevention Week