I got to CIM level one minimum yard Feb 22, 2019 and have yet to see any of the things that they told me about. At this place it still seems to be about punishment and not rehab like it says in the title of CDCR. There is so much division here amongst staff, inmates, free staff, it is very discouraging. We were promised microwaves and here at CIM the other two yards has gotten theirs and we have yet to receive ours or a reason as to the delay.
Some yards are still being stand offish towards the LGBTQ community. They refuse to let them be housed in the West dorm setting, which is a single cell unit. South dorm allows them to house there where I am currently housed and there have been no problems between them and the rest of the inmates in here.
No one can stop all the things that go on in a prison setting. Violence, drugs, removals, it’s going to happen because there is nothing new under the sun. What’s done has been done and it will continue to be done. Each of us is created for a purpose, some for honor some for dishonor. So in order for things to stop, the good Lord would have to create robots with no free will. And according to the Word, that’s not something he is going to do. Or whoever your higher power is because if he/she was go- ing to do it, it would’ve been done long ago.
I have spent the last 10 plus years working my way down this prison system. You would think the lower you go the better it would be, but no. It gets worse. Some of us have made mistakes whether it’s the first or however many it’s been. To be on this low yard most of us have learned a lesson and just want to go home. I know I am. Lord willing I’ll be home soon, but I will still try and fight for the rights and the equality for all inmates no matter who they are or what they done. I’m not the judge God is.
Sincerely,
J. Arnold
California Institute for Men
Jonas Koel – Outside Reader
Hello San Quentin News,
Just want to say that you are doing a really good job and San Quentin News is one of the few newspapers that I read regularly. The difference between San Quentin News and other media is that it is genuine and credible, which in this context means everything.
I am from Sweden myself, live in Denmark and I look forward to more good articles and hope you all have a good day,
Best Regards Jonas
To San Quentin News,
I write to you because there is a problem that
many inmates are having with the interpretation of SB136, the new law that removes the 1-year prison prior enhancement. The counselors are telling us that they know nothing about it. The case records departments are saying that it is up to the inmate to petition the court, and the courts are saying that it is up to the prison admin to recalculate your time. On top of that some people are saying that SB136 isn’t retroactive so people already sentenced don’t qualify. But even if that’s true SB136 clearly states and I quote, “SB136 removes the 1-year sentence enhancement that is applied to current sentences.” Please can you bring some clarity to this very important issue?
Your loyal reader, S. Chase
California Rehabilitation Center Norco
To SQ News,
Since the Row @ CCWF was able to receive SQ News monthly about 3 years ago I was faithfully collected as much as any issues other rowers had done, so I can send them to my pen pals in other states, including England and Germany. I’ve taken the task as a privilege to spread- ing the good info to people in free world.
Tanya Nelson
Central California Women’s Facility
Chowchilla
Nuff Blessing ‘n Guidance My Youths!
Realistically I’m a 39 year old Fella from New York City born and raised!
I’m of West Indian descent; My parents are natives of the islands called “Trinidad & Tobago”. True in deed it dawned upon me to holla at you because fact is Life is a Test & I’m speaking from the perspective of been there * done that from all the crap you seen on TV or heard in songs bottom line. Be Smart & Think Twice cuz drugs, gangs, guns & crime is not fun!
I’m also a survivor of the 9/11 event & the recent Ve- gas shoot out! The best I can do is instill my advice & philosophy as a Role model that changed from that life- style. I’m now focused on my purpose in life. To be real & up-front Drugs will make you do things you’ll regret. It plays tricks with your mind. Stay away from it all—No Tobacco, No Vape, No Alcohol, No Cocaine, No Crystal Meth, No Heroin, Look up the word tobacco it is a poisonous substance. Also, alcohol is poison.
Enjoy your life & health take vitamins, listen to mom & dad. That’s gangster you heard-getting a job, paying off on a house and going to college.
Kari Anthony Hunkar
I get released January 2020, I’ll be okay this time cuz I’m a new person. In the past I’ve done 20 years…it’s a long story, you just pray & think positive!
Affected California Inmates Hope to Challenge Their Restitution Obligations
California inmates have privately expressed hope in reducing or possibly eliminating their restitution obligations in the wake of Timbs v. Indiana (Timbs), 2019 US LEXIS 1350,203 L. Ed. 2d 11, the United States Supreme Court decision that found the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution applies to the states under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due process clause.
In Timbs, a defendant pled guilty drug and theft offenses. Based on these criminal convictions, the State of Indiana initiated a civil suit under its civil forfeiture laws to seize Defendant’s Land Rover (“vehicle”) since it was used to transport drugs. Since the vehicle’s value ($42,000) exceeded the maximum fine allowed under the applicable penal statutes ($10,000) defendant pled guilty to, the trial court and Court of Appeals found that the forfeiture of the vehicle would be “grossly disproportionate to the gravity” of the defendant’s offense and thus, would be unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment.
However, the Indiana Supreme Court, without decid- ing whether the fine was excessive, held that the Excessive Fines Clause only applies to the federal government and does not apply to the fines imposed by a state.
In reversing the Indiana Supreme Court, the Timbs court held that the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution applies to the states under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Pro- cess clause and remanded the case back to the Indiana courts for further proceedings not inconsistent with its holding.
In California, recent California appellate decisions have come to conflicting decisions on whether a defendant must object to the restitution amount at his or her sentencing. For example, in People v. Frandsen (2019), 33 Cal.App. 5th 1126 the Second Appellate District, Di- vision Eight, found the restitution challenge forfeited on appeal because the defendant did not object to the restitution fine at sentencing. But in People v. Jones (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 1028, the Fourth Appellate District, Divi- sion Two, found the restitution challenge not forfeited on appeal, even if the defendant did not object to the restitution fine at sentencing. Clearly, many restitution issues will need to be decided by the California Supreme Court and California Appellate courts to provide guidance to trial courts and the legal bar.
If inmates believe that their restitution amounts may violate the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment, an inmate may obtain relief by exhausting their administrative remedies through the CDCR 602 process and, if the issue is not resolved at Third Level Appeal stage, then filing a petition for a writ of habeas corpus with the appropriate court may be necessary.
R. V. Morales
California Men’s Colony
CDCR and CCHCS Unveil Expanded Priorities
Through Renewed Mission and Vision Statements
SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) have unveiled expanded mission and vision statements meant to reflect the joint priorities of creating a prison environment that provides the incarcerated population with the tools necessary to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society upon their release.
The expanded priorities in the new mission and vision statements focus on enhancing public safety by providing treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs to our population, in a safe and humane environment. The new vision and mis- sion statements result from legislation in 2016 (AB 2590) that added restorative justice to the purpose of imprisonment, along with punishment and rehabilitation, and directed CDCR to update its mission statement accordingly.
“We are envisioning new ways of fulfilling our mission of public safety that align with our ideals and values for 2020,” said Ralph Diaz, CDCR Secretary, and J. Clark Kelso, CCHCS Receiver, in a joint statement. “Most of California’s incarcerated individuals will one day return to their community. When we address the roots of criminality through addiction treatment, mental health care, and education, combined with reentry services in the community, we are helping to make California safer and more productive.”
Vision
We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.
Mission
To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with
the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.
Some highlighted examples of how CDCR and CCHCS are fulfilling their new missions:
Expanding substance use treatment: In 2020, CDCR and CCHCS will roll out an enhanced Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment program, which uses a scientifically based treatment approach to battle the chronic illness of addiction. This program will offer participants medicated assisted treatment, comprehensive cognitive behavioral interventions and safe, therapeutic housing. This initiative will focus on whole-person treatment from incarceration through return to the community.
Addressing criminality: CDCR has increased capacity in Cognitive Behavioral Intervention programs focused on criminal thinking, anger management, family relationships, and victim impact by almost 300 percent over the last five years. Career training: The department has more than doubled the capacity of Career Technical Education opportunities, providing our population with real-world job skills. The new “Microhome” initiatives at Correctional Training Facility in Soledad and Folsom State Prison in Sacramento provide in-demand job training to help inmates succeed when they return to society.
College education: CDCR offers face-to-face community college programming in 34 prisons, with more opportunities growing every day. When California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi offered only distance learning college courses, it averaged 200 to 250 participants a year. When the prison introduced face-to-face courses, in partnership with Cerro Coso Community College in 2017, enrollment in those classes jumped to 740 with an additional 200 enrolled in distance learning courses. Providing face-to-face instruction at Kern Valley State Prison, offered through Bakersfield College, increased the number of students from 30 to 498.
Restorative justice: In 2019, CDCR awarded grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to implement victim impact
programs in California prisons. These programs will share a common goal of giving victims the opportunity for their voices
to be heard and for incarcerated men and women to fully understand the consequences of their actions.
Reentry: Since 2014-2015, CDCR has increased its Transitions reentry program capacity from 2,430 to 20,734, a more than
753 percent increase. Transitions is a five-week program provided near the end of an inmate’s incarceration to focus on their
community reentry needs; such as, financial literacy, job search skills, and provides community resources. This increase
aligns with our priority of facilitating the successful reintegration of individuals in our care back to their communities.
Community partnerships: We continue to expand our relationships with community partners throughout California, including an historic undertaking to open the first-ever firefighter training program for recently-paroled firefighters. Through a partnership with CAL FIRE, California Conservation Corps and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, the Ventura Training Center provides advanced industry training and reentry services aimed at helping those who served as incarcerated firefighters find success in the fire service field.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: (916) 445-4950
