One of the hardest, most challenging and difficult aspects of being incarcerated at Valley State Prison (VSP) in Chowchilla, California has been attempting to place a collect call from one of the four phones located in the dayroom of a building packed with 256 inmates, which is designed for 256. I
t isn’t just the overcrowding that makes it so frustrating to call someone; it’s the lack of consistent programming. Between lockdowns, staff shortages and program shutdowns, it’s a near-impossible nightmare to call someone who cares. All of that changed in August 2021 when Global Tel-Link (GTL) distributed 8” tablets to the entire population of roughly 3,000 prisoners over a two day period. The thick, heavy, durable tablets came with a bright yellow pair of ear buds that include an in-line microphone to pick up sound. The tablets allow a secure connection to a cloud service. This enables users to access a range of content and services without storing anything on the device itself.
For example, GTL has placed educational content such as math tutorials (videos), science, physics, etc., as well as Podcasts ranging from talk shows to tiny desk concerts. There’s a music streaming app with an impressive selection. A large selection of movies and some television series like the Big Bang Theory and Two and half Men. There is a law library section where you can access current bills being considered, and a religious app with lots to choose from. As for communications from the tablet, a user can place calls and message at USP from 6am to 11pm. The messaging service is from GettingOut.com.
Anyone can log onto the website or download the app and sign up to message any incarcerated person. The service enables messages, photos to be sent and 30 second videos. Services cost senders 5 cent each. There are also seven face-time consoles in the dayroom that allow face-time to those signed up on GettingOut.com. Face-time is – 20¢ per min.
Daniel Henson
Valley State Prison
Dear San Quentin News, I am writing to say how much I have enjoyed reading your paper. I’m always interested in the stories whether they are of prisoners, staff or famous folks. I’m also writing regarding the elderly prisoners. I am 70-years of age. Incarcerated 26-years. I’m told that I’m not sick enough to be ‘medically unassigned.’ I’m tired! I program five days a week, and there’s no retirement. It’s sad. Some elderly jokes or stories would be great to read…to make our day. Also, if you discover any new bills or laws, or pending items of interest to us elderly, it would be greatly appreciated. Can’t the elderly be put on ankle-monitoring bracelets? Can we get a movement? Do you have any information to share about us from your prison?
Thank you,
Donna Lee
CCWF
Dear San Quentin News, I am writing to say how much I have enjoyed reading your paper. I’m always interested in the stories whether they are of prisoners, staff or famous folks. I’m also writing regarding the elderly prisoners. I am 70-years of age. Incarcerated 26-years. I’m told that I’m not sick enough to be ‘medically unassigned.’ I’m tired! I program five days a week, and there’s no retirement. It’s sad. Some elderly jokes or stories would be great to read…to make our day. Also, if you discover any new bills or laws, or pending items of interest to us elderly, it would be greatly appreciated. Can’t the elderly be put on ankle-monitoring bracelets? Can we get a movement? Do you have any information to share about us from your prison?
Thank you,
Donna Lee
CCWF
Dear staff.
God bless you all, as well as every other incarcerated prisoner. I want to thank you with all my heart and soul, because I am soon to be released after 21 years. I didn’t know that a bar fight would carry a sentence of 59 years. But thanks to your newspaper and the impact you have had over many laws changing, I will come home soon. Over the years, a lot of my family have faded away. The word “freedom” looks very haunted to me now. Everything is backwards. It seems like we need gun towers on the streets, but I look forward to being a positive example of never coming back to prison and never forgetting those I am leaving behind.
Tony Haro
CSP-Susanville
Inmates housed on Facility B of CCI-Tehachapi find themselves wedged between clashing cultures. As a level 4, 180 design, housing California’s maximum-security inmates, it is often a place filled with violence and self-destructive behaviors.
However, it also a place to plant productive seeds of positive energy, as men such as Kevin Walsh, Cory Belcher, Barrett Fadden and I (William Jones) have done, by seeking out and taking advantage of various programs and rehabilitative opportunities provided by CCI, along with being of service to others during our journey forward, we have utilized education and self-help programs to further our personal rehabilitative goals. We took on leadership roles in various programs to allow ourselves to rise like phoenix’s, above our negative environmental conditions.
Thanks to Cpt. E. Garcia of Facility B, who mentored us and was instrumental in guiding us towards our rehabilitative goals, we have all made it to the Progressive Program Facility (PPF) here on C-Yard. While the last of us arrived only in July of this year, Kevin has earned two AA degrees and paroles at the end of this year. Cory and Barrett each have earned AA degrees and have been accepted into the Offender Mentor Certification Program (OMCP), and I am continuing as a Peer Literacy Mentor with over a dozen mentees and adding more weekly.
I am currently training to become a senior inside Organizer for Initiate Justice, and I am only a few classes shy of obtaining my Master’s Degree in Counseling with Therapist Certification. C-Yard offers a variety of opportunities and all you have to do is apply yourself to reap the benefits. Consider taking your own journey forward.
William J. Jones
CCI-Tehachapi
