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
Education
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
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
21st century solutions to 20th century problems
They came from all over the prison and the nation. Scholars dressed in standard blue prison uniforms walked down a staircase that leads from the cellblocks, while a group of civilians hiked down a ramp that leads from a courtyard just inside the entrance to the prison to meet on the San Quentin Lower Yard for the Prison University Project’s first ever academic conference. The conference, called Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reform: 21st Century Solutions to 20th Century Problems, was organized by Amy Jamgochian and consisted of nine … [Read more...] about 21st century solutions to 20th century problems
Illinois shut down prison debate team after successful public event
After a successful public debate on reforming, the Illinois parole system, prison officials shut down the Stateville Debate Team in April. The goal of the team was to use debate as a tool to “connect prisoners to the broader debate community” and provide an opportunity to learn and practice the principles of debate, said Katrina Burlet, director of the Justice Debate League (JDL) and coach of the Stateville Debate Team. JDL hosted a public debate on reforming the Illinois parole system with an audience of about 75 people “including state … [Read more...] about Illinois shut down prison debate team after successful public event
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
Monica Campbell takes over San Quentin News’ Journalism Guild
A change came in late September for the San Quentin News Journalism Guild. The guild’s volunteer instructor, Yukari Kane, is bound for Chicago to begin the next chapter of her life. She is passing the reins to former Harvard University Nieman Fellow Monica Campbell. “[Kane] put us in way capable hands,” said Marcus Henderson, the Journalism Guild chairman who has spent more than two years with Kane. Though Henderson is sad to see Kane go, he has confidence in Campbell’s abilities. Campbell attended San Jose State University and has written for … [Read more...] about Monica Campbell takes over San Quentin News’ Journalism Guild