MAN SHARES PRIDE FOR NEWS FEATURE
Dear SQNews:
This evening I was blessed with a sense of pride. In 2019 I was part of the “1,000 Mile Club,” located within the walls of San Quentin. While Christine Yoo was present filming and documenting we decided to take a still photograph of the club. Tonight while watching the PBS Newshour, I was able to finally see that picture for the first time. Although, my time with the club was short, I will never forget the people who were kind enough to embrace me when I truly felt alone. Thank you.
— Lee Adams California Men’s Colony San Luis Obispo, California
APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FROM STOCKTON
Dear SQNews: I enjoy San Quentin News and appreciate the tremendous effort involved, having spent six years producing Solano Vision, which, before its demise featured SQN features.
I also enjoy reading SQN’s editorials from the current Editor-in-Chief, and look forward to the insightful articles by contributing writer Kevin Sawyer.
— Wendell Bigelow CA Health Care Facility Stockton, California
RECEPTION MAN FINDS HOPE DURING SOBRIETY
Dear SQNews:
I just arrived in North Kern reception and found the September issue in my cell. I spent all day reading it and was inspired by your community and all activities you guys do.
I am a low level-2 and was hoping to get involved with your great community. I hope I get transferred to your location. I feel you guys have safe programs and excellent school programs.
I heavily want to strengthen my algebra to become an electrician. I dream about it day and night. I have been sober since January 2022, and I noticed I am developing positive goals and dreams. I hope the Warden there will accept me. Hope to hear from you soon.
— Daniel Matteson North Kern Delano, California
A SALUTE, EXPOSE, AND GOODBYE
Dear SQNews: I want to say that I really enjoy each and every issue of SQNews. It is really informative and has interesting articles.
I was found suitable for parole for the second time. I really believe this time the governor will not refer me to an en banc hearing like he did my first time.
I also need to comment on the state of affairs here at V.S.P, as this is supposed to be the California Way. The program here is really inconsistent. There are YOP here that some of them are nothing but trouble and all they get when they get in trouble is a slap on the hand. There are older high risk medical incarcerated individuals here such as myself who do not belong here. Furthermore, as of September 2023 VSP was at 172% of design capacity, being the most crowded prison in the state. Well, if all goes well and I am released I will write from the street. My best to all staff there at San Quentin News. Stay safe and take care. Thank you for your time and attention, it is appreciated.
— Timothy O’Keefe Valley State Prison Chowchilla, California
SOON TO BE FREE MAN DISCUSSES C.H.A.N.G.E.S.
Dear SQNews: “CHANGES”
Most people reject making CHANGES because of the fear’ of adapting to something outside of what they have grown accustomed to all their lives.
Nothing about it is easy, and for a long time I was one of those same people who rejected everything outside of my “identity.” I found comfort in my belief systemnot because I believed that it would lead me towards success in life, but because of my own ‘fear’ of doing something different.
Some people view making CHANGES as weird, and strange. Is it because it is against the ‘code’ or because of the ‘fear’ that is evoked from the thought of doing something different? I believe it’s the latter.
I have come to a point in my life where I no longer fear making CHANGES- but embrace it wholeheartedly. Making CHANGES actually, in fact, requires courage, and through my own cultivation of CHANGES in my life, I have discovered true comfort in self. I have discovered Jaubrae.
By the time my submission reaches you all, I will have been released already.
After 9 years of being incarcerated I am finally blessed with my opportunity at this next chapter of life. Through the last 9 years so much has changed in my lifeinside and out.
I was housed at CSP-LAC for 6 years and that is where my transformation happened.
I am proud to say that before my release I successfully established and facilitated a self-help group, I worked three years building.
The name is C.H.A.N.G.E.S.
This experience has been life changing and I intend to expand to every facility.
As I mentioned this has been a journey of a lifetime. I had intentions of submitting my work to the SQNews’ paper previously, but failed to do so, for that reason I am submitting my writing now. I hope that I am blessed with the opportunity to have them submitted.
— Jaubrae Dixon, CSP-Lancaster Lancaster, California
AN IDEAL PRISON: “HABILITATES” AND ACTS HUMANELY
Dear SQNews: What would an ideal prison look like if it actually rehabilitated people.
1) (Re)Habilitation assumes that we were habilitated and can return to some prior state. This is an error in thinking. We don’t need rehab, we need habilitation first. Most of us, myself included, grew up dysfunctionally, this the need to be positively socialized.
2) As Craig Haney pointed out in re; prison experiment by Phil Zimbardo in 1971 at Stanford. “Prison must look as much like society as possible.”
3) As Stanton Sanenow, Ph.D. pointed out in the book “Inside the Criminal Mind: “If you have to lock people up for the sake of separating them from society, make it comfortable and humane.
Lastly ideal prison: no such thing the whole idea of putting people in cages is cruel and history will judge us for it, as we do the past.
— Grey McKay Ione, California
CVSP MAN SEEKS TO FURTHER HIS EDUCATION
Dear SQNews: My name is Eric Gonzalez and I am currently incarcerated at Chuckawala State Prison and have been successfully doing my time without any disciplinary problems since I came into the system on March 28, 2017.
I am writing this letter in regards to an article I read about a “Trucking Correspondence course,” in your August issue. This article very much caught my interest and I would like to know if there is any way that I can possibly receive any of the curriculums that goes along with the program. I truly wish to participate in any way possible.
I honestly believe this program will be very beneficial to the incarcerated population. Any type of information you can send me will be greatly appreciated. I would love to see this program expand to other institutions because I hope to enroll, if not while I am here, possibly when I am released. Thank you very much.
— Eric Gonzalez Chuckawala Valley-SP Blythe, California
