For many of us who are incarcerated, the ultimate dream is freedom. The question of whether we will achieve that dream, however, often lies in our pursuit of it. Kid CAT members My name is Si Dang, and I am the new chairman of Kid CAT. Over the last 22 years, I have pursued my freedom in a variety of ways, many of them dysfunctional and leading me right back to where I started: without freedom and with no meaningful change in who I was. It was not until six years ago that I finally tapped into my courage and begin facing my … [Read more...] about Kid CAT Chairman Si Dang’s 2019 youth address
Youth Offender
Risk assessment tools designed against youth offenders
Risk assessment tools designed to decrease prejudice in sentencing may be causing discrimination toward youth offenders, reports Wendy Sawyer for the Prison Policy Initiative. These risk assessment tools score people based on many factors that can add to risk, including criminal history and age. Judges use them when sentencing, and parole boards rely on them to determine parole suitability. “Eighteen-year-old defendants have risk scores that are, on average, twice as high as 40-year-old defendants,” law professors Megan T. Stevenson and … [Read more...] about Risk assessment tools designed against youth offenders
Kid CAT curriculum now available
Attention Readers: Kid CAT Childhood development curriculum and facilitator manual is now available. If you are interested in creating a Kid CAT branch/youth offender support group at your institution, please have your sponsor/volunteer or community partnership manager contact Kid CAT Speaks c/o San Quentin News, 1 Main Street, San Quentin, CA 94964 for a copy of our curriculum and facilitator’s manual. The curriculum’s objective is to help participants address the root causes of criminal thinking, childhood trauma and violent … [Read more...] about Kid CAT curriculum now available
CA court orders new board hearing for youth offender William Palmer
A California State Court of Appeal ruled that the Board of Parole Hearings (Board) denied parole without considering the youth of William Palmer, who committed kidnapping for robbery as a juvenile. The court ordered the board to give Palmer a new parole hearing and consider his age at the time of the crime. “Considering the Board’s statutory obligation to give “great weight” to those (youth) factors, its decision to find Palmer unsuitable for release, despite the presence of almost all the variables the Board itself has deemed indicative of … [Read more...] about CA court orders new board hearing for youth offender William Palmer
Homeless center helps to reduce overdoses of addicted teens
A homeless center for youths in San Francisco has found success reducing overdoses and helping addicted teens find sobriety through harm reduction. “(We) now have a suboxone clinic at our syringe access site! This is a huge lifesaver, removing bureaucratic roadblocks from the paths of people who want to get off opiates,” said Mary Howe, executive director of Homeless Youth Alliance (HYA) in San Francisco. “Now young people, who are in withdrawal, can come to HYA’s site—a place where they already feel safe—and have a consultation with our … [Read more...] about Homeless center helps to reduce overdoses of addicted teens
Former youth offenders start Kid CAT program at Lancaster
The successful San Quentin Kid CAT program for youth offenders is expanding to Lancaster Prison, thanks to help from three former inmates. “It was really the guys inside’s hunger to get the program,” explained Tommy Winfrey, who left San Quentin in 2016. “There was a hunger there to change their lives. I saw the same concern and willingness to change that I witnessed during my time at San Quentin.” Kid CAT alumni Winfrey, Philip Melendez and Anouthinh Pangthong recently visited Lancaster to help them start their own Kid CAT chapter. After … [Read more...] about Former youth offenders start Kid CAT program at Lancaster
Kid CAT banquet honors the forgotten voices of youth
Kid CAT celebrated the “forgotten voices” of youth at its 2018 annual banquet. “Tonight’s Banquet was about bringing awareness to the youths, who think that their voices are not being heard and are afraid to express how they feel to their parents or caretakers,” said Si Dang, Kid CAT chairman. Kid CAT is a group of men who committed their crimes as juveniles and are serving adult sentences. Capturing the night’s theme of “forgotten voices” was a series of speakers, actors and musicians who dug into the topics of foster care, … [Read more...] about Kid CAT banquet honors the forgotten voices of youth
Letter to Kid CAT by Ashley Fehrmann
Dear Kid CAT, Thank you so much for your generous gift of $617.50 from the San Quentin Kid CAT program in support of Social Advocates for Youth’s programming. On behalf of the homeless and disconnected youth of Sonoma County, we express our deep gratitude for your outstanding level of support! Our youth have taught us that programs and services make the most impact when they are accessible, appropriate and flexible. Your gift of unrestricted funding will allow us to continue this critical work and serve our vulnerable youth when they need … [Read more...] about Letter to Kid CAT by Ashley Fehrmann
HR 6011 a bill to end children’s life without parole
A Republican congressman introduced a bill to end life-without-parole and defacto life sentences for children in the federal criminal justice system. The bill, known as HR 6011, was introduced by congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), according to an opinion piece published on September 16 in The Hill by Marc Levin (vice president of criminal justice policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and its Right on Crime initiative) and Jody Kent Lavy (executive director of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth). “Should it pass, HR … [Read more...] about HR 6011 a bill to end children’s life without parole
Dear Kid CAT, Vicki and Steve – Project Avary
Thank you for including us on the Project Avary walk in September. It was an truly an amazing day, far more powerful and thought-provoking than me and my husband Steve ever could have imagined. We had many conversations about it since that day, and we really just can’t stop thinking about the men – especially the Kid CAT members – locked up for huge swaths – if not all – of their lives. We had a talk with a man name David, a deeply thoughtful articulate young man who reminded us very much of the sons of some of our best friends. I was so … [Read more...] about Dear Kid CAT, Vicki and Steve – Project Avary