At age 8, singer-song writer Queeny King sang in a Soviet Union prison. In March, she performed at San Quentin State Prison. Dressed in black bell-bottom pants with buttons along the side and wearing a black blazer with a shiny brown blouse, King put on a look that, on its face, could have been interpreted as belonging to rock, goth, punk or the pop genre of music. It became obvious none of that was her once the music played and she started singing. King’s song Run for the Hills opened the early evening performance with DJ Kraig (Frank Tyler) … [Read more...] about Queeny King performs at SQ
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French journalist films San Quentin Death Row inmate
Keith Zon Doolin is on death row despite evidence of his innocence, according to Agnes Buthion, a French journalist who has directed a documentary called “20 Years on Death Row.” Interviewed by The Fresno Bee, Buthion said that she hoped to highlight Doolin’s innocence. In 1996, Doolin was convicted of a crime spree shooting six sex workers in Central California. The result of his conviction was a sentence of death. Doolin is housed in East Block at San Quentin death row. During her filming Buthion interviewed Doolin and visited the crime … [Read more...] about French journalist films San Quentin Death Row inmate
Overview of inmate deaths in 2017 in CDCR
The thought of dying in prison is every inmate’s worst fear, be it the death from violence, old age or disease. It’s a nightmare. Nevertheless, inmates should keep their emergency information updated said Dr. Tootell, San Quentin’s chief medical officer (CMO). Unlike Charles Manson, the cult leader who died in November, the majority of prisoners won’t have people fighting it out in court over who gets their remains. In 2017, 11 men died serving time in San Quentin. “The men should consider using a younger family member to receive … [Read more...] about Overview of inmate deaths in 2017 in CDCR
Actor Danny Trejo escaped the death penalty
After facing a possible death penalty, Danny Trejo wove his prison experience and tough-guy persona into a successful movie career. The now well-known actor spoke of how striking a corrections officer in the head with a rock during a prison riot inevitably changed his life, as contained in a Dec. 16 article for LADbible. “I was throwing it at a group of guys, and he happened to be hit,” Trejo said. “So we all had gas chamber offenses, and we were taken to the hole. “I remember saying, ‘God, if you’re there, everything will turn out the way … [Read more...] about Actor Danny Trejo escaped the death penalty
Prison’s newspaper celebrates 100th edition
When the San Quentin News was revived nearly 10 years ago, a staff of five put together a four-page issue and distributed it to 5,000 inmates inside the prison. Today, the newspaper has a circulation of 30,000, distributed across 36 prisons across the state as well as to individual inmates in 43 states. In addition to news stories and features, the paper includes a crossword puzzle, cartoon, book reviews and columns. San Quentin News staff, volunteers and supporters in and outside of the prison celebrated the publication of its 100th … [Read more...] about Prison’s newspaper celebrates 100th edition
Ear Hustle wraps up first season with over six million downloads
The hit podcast Ear Hustle, launched from inside a prison, started its first season with the goal of starting a dialogue about incarceration and humanizing people inside. With 6,268,176 downloads, it has achieved more than it ever dreamed. “I thought people would be interested, but I didn’t think it would be so big,” said co-host Professor Nigel Poor. “I see the emails, Twitter, Instagram and I still don’t understand what it means. People tell me it’s huge; it’s changing people’s minds.” Ear Hustle features stories told by incarcerated … [Read more...] about Ear Hustle wraps up first season with over six million downloads
Beauty Behind Bars visits San Quentin Prison
Beauty Behind Bars, a female self-esteem program, entered a men’s prison to share how they overcame trauma. Normally, Beauty Behind Bars seeks to free women from the mental incarceration they locked themselves in after abuse by men. However, on Sept. 28, five women of color visited San Quentin State Prison to help the men free their minds. “This is our first time speaking to men,” said Beauty Behind Bars founder Tiffany “The Spiritual Bail Bonds Woman” Love. “My job is to make you feel good. You see people on the outside and they are more … [Read more...] about Beauty Behind Bars visits San Quentin Prison
People’s Fair Sentencing & Public Safety Act 2018
WeThePeopleorg.com, a new organization, plans to file the People’s Fair Sentencing & Public Safety Act of 2018, an initiative to stop the waste of billions of dollars spent keeping non-violent, rehabilitated people in prison for life. “We’re hoping to clean up where Proposition 57 failed the will of the people,” said WeThePeople.org.com, President Tom Loversky. “It wasn’t air-tight and allowed CDCR [Califoria Department of Correction and Rehabilitation] to leave behind non-violent offenders.” Specifically, the proposal would stop serious … [Read more...] about People’s Fair Sentencing & Public Safety Act 2018
SQN launches new website, SanQuentinNews.com
The Last Mile inmate coding program, Code.7370, has designed a new website for San Quentin News at www.sanquentinnews.com. Inmate Harry Hemphill built the website. He graduated from the coding class in April 2015. His work is the third iteration of the website since it debuted in 2010. “I’ve acquired a lot of technical skills,” said Hemphill. “I’m passionate about giving back to the community.” According to Hemphill, the project was budgeted for 150 hours of work, but he said it probably took a little more time. He said working on … [Read more...] about SQN launches new website, SanQuentinNews.com
Hip-Hop artist J. Cole visits San Quentin
Platinum Hip-Hop artist Jermaine Cole (“J. Cole”) used a day off during his tour to come see mass incarceration up close. In a two-hour visit with a juvenile lifer support group at San Quentin, Cole reaffirmed his belief that we need education instead of mass incarceration. Scott Budnick, producer of the Hangover movie series and founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, invited Cole to visit the Kids Creating Awareness Together (Kid CAT) group. By working together, Budnick, Kid CAT members and many others have gotten some harsh laws … [Read more...] about Hip-Hop artist J. Cole visits San Quentin