Released from San Quentin State Prison after 33 years in prison, Albert Hernandez will be home for the holiday, proclaiming that is a very different man than he was when he was sentenced to prison for murder.
“It is a blessing to end my sentence here at San Quentin where I began,” stated Hernandez. After transferring back to San Quentin in 2002 Albert said that he did everything the parole board asked of him; however, after being found unsuitable 13 times, he decided to try something different.
Albert began participating in spiritual programs that would satisfy his personal flaws and found that God was guiding his will. He became very involved in programs such as Kairos with Bart Brett, Restorative Justice, Prison University Project, church and everything that he believe would make him a better person.
“It is a blessing from our heavenly Father” Albert explained “I want everyone to know that San Quentin has an abundance of programs…however, in case you don’t want to participate, don’t stand in the way of others that do”.
Albert worked in the lamination shop as the lead man in Prison Industry Authority. He was a mentor to others who came to the shop. Coworkers said he never raised his voice and was polite with those around him.
“My change happened right before I got to S.Q. That was about 11 years ago. All the races were interacting; Mexicans were hugging whites, talking to blacks, whites were talking to blacks. When I saw all these changes, I realized that there were people here that saw something in me that I did not see. They saw the person in me that was ready for change,” he said in an interview shortly before his release in October.
Eddie Renteria and Juan Gonzales became a big influence in Albert’s life, he stated. They helped him change into a better person, he said. “I believe that was the Holy Spirit pulling me to them, I belong with the nice people, not with the bad people. That is when my life started to change gradually in 2004,” when he went to the Kairos program and was befriended by Marcus Jackal.
Albert said the first thing he planned to do when he got out of prison was to go to the highest mountain, drop to his knees, kiss the ground and thank God for yet another blessing. He stated that he would ask God to help all those that he left behind the walls.
Albert said he really wants people to see him as he is, not what he used to be. “It is amazing how, when you get found suitable (for parole), everybody knows who you are all of a sudden,” Albert stated. “Just yesterday that guy wanted to beat me up; now he’s shaking my hand, congratulating me. Many people still judge me for who I used to be and I understand that I can’t change my past, but I thank God for giving me another chance to help those that needs help and show everyone who I am now.”
