As San Quentin News moves into the New Year its staff and advisors would to take this opportunity to reflect back on the accomplishments achieved in 2011 and to express to our readers what we hope to accomplish in 2012.
We successfully printed nine editions of the newspaper in 2011 and it is our goal to publish and print 12 editions in 2012.
Since the return of San Quentin News in 2008, we have had the opportunity to closely examine what is happening around the world and report news-making events from a different perspective – a perspective that affects the everyday life of the incarcerated.
It gives us the opportunity to communicate to our community that we no longer wish to be defined by the crime that we committed. The power of the press gives us the chance to illustrate that rehabilitation is possible – that we may re-enter back to our communities in a positive way.
Today the streets of communities are rippled with gang violence and drug use. Instead of building more pro-social programs, our political leaders are finding ways to ship these children, men and women into a prison industrial complex for longer and longer periods. All the while the system is cruelly overcrowded, according to the United States Supreme Court.
If we keep looking for space in county jails and out-of-state private prisons, we will only add to the economic crisis that our state is suffering. While this strategy may ultimately reduce the state’s prison population, it will only add to the already ballooning prison budget and take away from programs proven to reduce crime.
San Quentin News wishes to continue to alert, interpret, educate, lead to persuade, provide a forum for the voiceless, and entertain the men and women of the great state of California.
All those interested in solving the problems associated with mass incarceration and high recidivism rates should examine the pro-social programming model of San Quentin.
The San Quentin News wants to wish all of you in these difficult times happy holidays.
