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
Education
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
SQ Journalism Guild promotes next class of writers
The Journalism Guild of San Quentin held its first formal graduation in the prison’s Garden Chapel in late September. More than 50 people attended the ceremony, including current and former students from UC Berkeley, who worked with the men in the Guild and San Quentin News. “I’m filled with so much pride,” said Yukari Kane, the guild instructor for the last two years. “You remind me of why journalism is important.” “It’s been such a privilege,” Kane said before congratulating the men and presenting them with certificates of … [Read more...] about SQ Journalism Guild promotes next class of writers
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
Coding program attracts wide range of media attention
The Last Mile Works buzzed with excitement when two filmmakers and a formerly incarcerated graduate returned, accompanied by several co-workers from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), to tour the prison and get stories for their website. Code 7370 teaches inmates the fundamentals of coding, while The Last Mile Works (TLM Works) is composed of seasoned coders who work on paid contracts as part of a joint venture between California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) and private companies. Aly Tamboura, a graduate of Code.7370 and … [Read more...] about Coding program attracts wide range of media attention
GED class develops handcrafted DNA
In a classroom at the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, inmate students had an opportunity to do something “outside the box.” Instead of the usual books, paper, pencils, and calculators, the students used toothpicks, wooden splints, colored marshmallows and red and black licorice to learn about and construct DNA molecules. The kinesthetic learning exercise was an idea to make the material interesting. I had worried that the lab would be too complicated for my inmate students or that they would struggle to assemble the model or … [Read more...] about GED class develops handcrafted DNA