Advocates are mounting a fight to end the other death penalty—life without the possibility of parole. These “hidden death sentences” mean prisoners must live the rest of their lives in “prisons with extraordinarily high suicide rates, with substandard medical, dental, and mental health care and with scant rehabilitative programs. Prisons rife with gang violence, racism, and despair,” said Kenneth Hartman in a Truthout article. Hartman was recently released from a life without possibility of parole sentence by the California Parole Board, … [Read more...] about CCWP advocates mount a fight to end LWOP
Recently Posted
NEWS BRIEFS: November 2018
1. USA—The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in early 2016 that sentencing juveniles to life with no chance for parole is unconstitutional. The states with the highest juvenile lifers were Pennsylvania, Michigan and Louisiana. As of mid-September, The Advocate reports that Pennsylvania had 530 juvenile lifers affected by the decision—375 were resentenced and 150 were paroled. Michigan’s juvenile population was 360. One-hundred- twenty were resentenced. Fifty were paroled. Louisiana had 302 juvenile lifers affected—218 were resentenced and 23 were … [Read more...] about NEWS BRIEFS: November 2018
November 2018 Upcoming Events at San Quentin
November 2018 Upcoming Events at San Quentin Nov. 11th Veteran’s Day @ Lower Yard 10 a.m. Nov. 16th 1000 Mile Club Marathon 8 a.m. Nov. 16th Queens of the Stone Age @ Chapel 5 p.m. Nov. 27th San Francisco Opera @ Chapel Nov. 29th Veterans Healing Veterans … [Read more...] about November 2018 Upcoming Events at San Quentin
Rising operatic star mesmerizes SQ
Rising opera singer Sara LeMesh brought her musical talents to San Quentin State Prison, mesmerizing her captive audience with her singing and charm. In the prison’s Catholic chapel, LeMesh used the power of her soprano voice to entertain an audience of more than 100 as she ran through a set of 19 songs on a Sunday evening in August. The men appeared focused as LeMesh sang, relaxing them all into a contemplative mood. “I never thought I’d see this in prison,” Benito Sosa, 32, said. He arrived at San Quentin six months ago. “I think … [Read more...] about Rising operatic star mesmerizes SQ
News briefs October 2018 Tennessee, Georgia, Texas…
1. Tennessee –A lawsuit raises inadequate treatment for claims diabetic inmates as well as claims of under-staffing since the private prison firm, CoreCivic Inc., opened Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility in 2015. Last year an audit reported that gangs run rampant in Trousdale because of insufficient security, according to the Nashville Tennessean. Understaffing is also key to the diabetes lawsuit, alleging that Trousdale goes on lockdown for weeks at a time — causing diabetic treatment to become worse. 2. Georgia –A federal court has … [Read more...] about News briefs October 2018 Tennessee, Georgia, Texas…
Formerly incarcerated author, Donna Hylton
Donna Hylton, who was abused as a child, spent 27 years in prison and wrote a book about how she turned her life around. She said her mission today is to be “a voice for the silenced” women still in prison. At age 20, Hylton was sentenced to 25 years to life for her role as a nonviolent accessory to kidnapping and second-degree murder. She is finally freed. Hylton’s childhood was a living hell. She was abandoned by her mother in Jamaica, N.Y., at age 8, according to the article by The Glow Up. At that time, she was subjected to … [Read more...] about Formerly incarcerated author, Donna Hylton
Dr. Downey overcomes hurdles
Dr. Downey, a staff psychologist at San Quentin, is no stranger to overcoming obstacles in life. “I fell behind in grade school because no one knew I was deaf,” Downey said. “It wasn’t till middle school that I got the resources that helped me adjust.” Her hearing disability became something that gave her a distinct perspective. “I like the silence because you can be with yourself, but there is a need for the chaos that is in the world,” she said. “Coping with the struggles is what helps mold us.” There were times when Downey … [Read more...] about Dr. Downey overcomes hurdles
Last RISE inmate graduation for Dante Callegari
Dante Callegari has announced his retirement after training hundreds of San Quentin inmates in modern construction technology (MCT). The announcement came Aug. 28 at the graduation for the first class of the job-readiness program called RISE. “We do a lot here at San Quentin to teach job skills,” Warden Ron Davis said at the event. “There’s Dante’s program, coding and the machine shop. There’s a lot we do here to give you guys the skills to get a job and stay out.” RISE aims to prepare incarcerated people how to interview for … [Read more...] about Last RISE inmate graduation for Dante Callegari
San Jose Earthquakes shake it up at Quentin, 4-1
Representatives from the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team jumped at the chance to shake the field at San Quentin State Prison and left with much more than a 4-1 victory over the home team. “Soccer is more than a sport,” SQ player/coach Tare “Cancun” Beltranchuc said. “It’s an opportunity to build community. And, I can transfer these skills into my real life. Like today we faced adversity and we didn’t give up.” Active first year Earthquake (EQ) players Eric Calvillo and Frenchman Paul Marie came to support the EQ staffers who teamed … [Read more...] about San Jose Earthquakes shake it up at Quentin, 4-1
Casey Affleck and LA Love split doubleheader
It was a star-studded event on San Quentin’s Field of Dreams as the visiting L.A. Love baseball team did battle against the home team A’s. Oscar award-winner Casey Affleck, actor and producer, returned and added retired NFL quarterback Matt Moore to his Love roster for the annual game. The teams split a double-header as they dominated each other. The Love racked-up a 10-3 win in the first contest. The A’s paid back the favor with a 12-2 rout in the second game. “I never been or played in a place like this before, but I have played in some … [Read more...] about Casey Affleck and LA Love split doubleheader