Letters

Dear Kid CAT, I have been in prison going on 15 years, and I’ve tried to change my life for the best. I was 16 years old when I was alleged to be a part of a violent cocaine racketeering enterprise and was charged and convicted of murder and aiding and abetting under the RICO act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) and was sentenced to life in federal prison. Despite the fact that I was a juvenile and incarcerated at a young age, I basically grew up to become a man behind these walls. I have obtained my GED, participated in a … [Read more...] about Kid CAT Speaks

Dear SQ News, Greetings to each of you, I am an old ex-resident of the S.Q., haven’t been there since 1990, the beginning of the change over from Level IV, to Level II. Several of my old friends are still there I see in your paper, it’s great to see that they are still going strong and moving with positivity. My name is R. Ross, and I am the founder and coordinator for the LWOP Activity Group here at CSP-Solano. I have noticed in your paper that it appears that people all over the world are reading it which is great, SQ has come a long ways … [Read more...] about Letters to the Editor

Dear Kid CAT, I am a juvenile offender and lifer. I was 16 when I was arrested for murder in 2003. I am very hopeful about the new youth laws sweeping across the U.S. I am hoping that any changes to Prop. 57 will be retroactive. I can honestly say that I am totally different today than I was even three months after turning 16. I did not realize the severity of the situation or the way death affects so many lives. I was a brat as a teenager and had no idea this was the path that I was taking…until I participated in a murder and received life … [Read more...] about DEAR KID CAT

Christopher Geier passed away on Aug. 30. He was one of those rare people in the world who was able to lighten any situation for others in it. He thought first of his friends, and tried to make their time here better. Sure, he had his faults in life. The stress of being on Death Row, and of everything that comes along with that, got to him like it does every inmate, but when you saw him care for elderly inmates, or try to help a fellow veteran, you saw his true character. He faced many health concerns, most stemming from injuries sustained … [Read more...] about LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Kid CAT, I am currently a chairman for the lifer group here at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison. My obstacle is this, we are extremely limited in curriculum material regarding insight programs. In my position as chairman, I believe it is my responsibility to search, create or bring rehabilitation programs so that we lifers/non-lifers can truly alter that distorted thinking that governed our lives. I would like to make a humble request to you, Kid CAT, if we can be privileged to receive a curriculum of this program that San Quentin is … [Read more...] about Dear Kid CAT

Dear San Quentin News, I know you don’t hear much from Death Row, most of the inmates here don’t hold much interest in the rest of the prison as it doesn’t affect us. We live in a very different program so what happens in other units and places matters little to our lives. It is rare that you put anything in the paper about Death Row except news on execution issues in the court or political scene. I have written many things to the editor and never hear back. It's as if we don’t exist. I’ve got 22 years here and I never seen so many inmates … [Read more...] about Letters To The Editor

Dear San Quentin News, I’m currently incarcerated in the Florida Department of Corrections with a life sentence, eligible for parole after 25 years. The current parole system doesn’t work in Florida. There are about 4,500 of us left of about 100,000 inmates and a lot of these guys are old. Why is Florida not giving these guys a shot at society after 28, 30, 40 years? I admire what the state of California is doing, particularly San Quentin with the programs. E. Wilridge Hamilton Correctional Institution Dear Mr. Wilridge, Thank you for … [Read more...] about Letters To The Editor

Dear Kid CAT, I have just read your article about Borey Ai, and let me just say it was both inspiring and motivating. I am currently serving a 50-to-life sentence and I have been incarcerated since 2006. As in Borey’s case, I was also 14 years old. Throughout my time I’ve had many obstacles to overcome, but I feel I’m now on the right track. I’m currently working on my A.A. degree. I’m also taking multiple correspondence courses, both self-help and religious, but I feel I need to do more. I would greatly appreciate any advice and guidance you … [Read more...] about Dear Kid CAT

S. Nieves I just found out about the San Quentin News (by accident). There are 22 women on condemned row here in Chowchilla, yet we’ve never heard of nor seen this newspaper before. We aren’t allowed access to go to our library. We request books by title, author or subject, through institutional mail (only). Is there any way that you can send me a copy (or two) each month that we can circulate between us here on the row? It would be greatly appreciated by all of us, my address info is above, in the “from” section. Please remember there are 22 … [Read more...] about Letters To The Editor

Dear Kid CAT, My name is Sang “David” Kim. I am 31 years old and serving a 15 to life sentence for second-degree murder. I committed my offense when I was 20 years old. My goal is to help at-risk youth not to make the same mistakes I did. I’ve written several letters to Prison Letters 4 Our Struggling Youth, and I’ve written to a kid who is currently locked up in juvenile hall through a pastor. I’m writing because I wanted to know what I needed to qualify as a mentor/youth counselor (what type of schooling or training do I need)? This is … [Read more...] about Dear Kid CAT