Uncategorized

Tom Morgan, Jason Samuel and Christy Morgan in the SQ visiting room after the last VOD After seeing and hearing his victim at trial, Jason Samuel knew in his heart that he needed to come clean and be honest—both with himself and everyone else. “My crime was so senseless,” Samuels recently told SQ News. “I felt so sorry for what I did.” What he did was shoot peace officer Tom Morgan in the neck in 1997. “Once I was convicted, it didn’t matter anymore. I mean, why lie about it?” Samuels said. “What good would all those lies do me … [Read more...] about Miracles do happen: The power of truth and honesty

Warden Janel Espinoza Warden Janel Espinoza of the California Correctional Women’s Facility (CCWF) has high hopes for the women incarcerated there. Among her many goals is the successful transformation of inmates to become assets to their family and society. In late August, Espinoza visited San Quentin State Prison to learn about some of its programs to use for the women at CCWF. It was her first time visiting the prison. “Historic,” is how she de- scribed the 166-year-old prison. “It’s majestic, beautiful and breathtaking,” she … [Read more...] about Warden Janel Espinoza has high hopes for incarcerated females

More than a million former Florida prisoners have regained the right to vote, thanks to a ballot initiative. As of January, released prisoners could simply fill out the existing application, signing under oath that their voting rights have been restored, reported the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida in an Associated Press (AP) article. The ballot initiative approved in November excludes those convicted of murder or sex offenses, the AP noted. “Voting is one of the most sacred and valuable rights you have as an American. A … [Read more...] about Florida restores voting rights to more than a million

Anna Steiner warns that going home from prison can be hazardous to your health. Steiner is a social worker and medical discharge planner at San Quentin. “Individuals being released from prison are at a high risk of dying within the first two weeks of release,” Steiner told the San Quentin News. “These risks are from causes such as drug overdose, heart attack and cancer.” Steiner runs a San Quentin medical discharge clinic for chronically ill prisoners who will soon be going home. Steiner’s goal is to educate inmates about their … [Read more...] about Social worker addresses inflated health risk to those released from prison

More job opportunities are opening up for parolees and others with criminal records, according to CNBC.com. The Prison Policy Initiative estimates unemployment among ex-felons at 27 percent, but some corporations and human resource executives show signs of interest in hiring former inmates, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management, (SHRM). “This is not a problem of aspirations; it’s a structural problem, involving discrimination and a lack of opportunities made available to people who have been to prison,” said … [Read more...] about More job opportunities opening up for formerly incarcerated

Hasta hace algunos años, el comienzo de una sentencia de cadena perpetua parecía ser el fin para muchos prisioneros, hasta que los cambios en las leyes abrieron esperanza para muchos de ellos y les permitieron iniciar un proceso de rehabilitación. En décadas pasadas muchos presos sentenciados a cadena perpetua tenían que iniciar sus sentencias en los niveles de máxima seguridad. Estos niveles no contaban con ningún tipo de programas de rehabilitación que los ayudaran a mantenerse ocupados y trabajando para mejorar su vida. Daniel López, … [Read more...] about Programas de rehabilitación dan esperanza a reos

Performance of Women Theater Work at LA Trade-Tech Center The “right road lost/FOUND” is a play based on the memories, life stories and experiences of five formerly incarcerated men and women who navigate their personal paths through reentry into the free world. The production had its debut at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC), a community college in South Los Angeles. It was also performed at the Los Angeles County Probation Department. The performance piece is based on the writing of Antoineeta Phillips, Pam Torrence, … [Read more...] about Storytelling: bridging the divide between prison and the free world

A Muslim prisoner awaiting execution for rape and murder in Alabama lost a court appeal that claimed that his religious rights were being violated by not allowing his spiritual prayer adviser (imam) to be present during his execution, according to the ABA Journal. com Domineque Ray was put to death after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated his stay of execution by Alabama’s lower courts. Ray wanted the state to allow a local imam at his execution, not the Christian chaplain, who worked for the state. The state contended that the imam did not … [Read more...] about US High Court excludes Imam at execution