In the midst of reimaging San Quentin, self-help groups are made available in North, South, and West Block housing units, due to long waiting lists.
According to the Reimagine report dated January 2024, SQ is highly recognized for its current rehabilitation programs, but there is a need for space and shorter wait lists.
In NB, second watch Correctional Lieutenant Reynolds sponsors positive programing. The programs in NB are led by mentor Rodney “Pit” Baylis, and co-facilitators for the groups are Marcus “Mo” Washington, Thai Hieu, and John Czub.
According to Baylis the groups developed when a tour group came to NB, and saw people running around “rapid” within the building, one tourist said, “Don’t they have something to do?”
“When residents aren’t able to access any of that programing—sometimes after working hard to be transferred to the facility [SQ], they sometimes feel tricked and frustrated,” stated in the report.
Baylis said he and his fellow peer mentors developed a curriculum for Criminal Thinking, which is held in the dayroom, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 — 10:30 a.m.
A NB group participant told SQNews about the significance of a self-help program. “Regardless of what an inmate is in prison for, we are all in here for some type of criminal or addictive thinking,” said resident Ellis Lockett. “They go hand in hand with each other, we should be involved in these groups, and they’re very informative.”
According to the CT curriculum, the group sheds light on how to manage CT. Subjects covered are self-disclosure, conveying information about your past instead of disclosing information about others, and countering the minimization of past criminal behavior.
The group also teaches participants to be receptive to suggestions about bad habits made by responsible and accountable people.
Correctional Lt. B. Haub told SQNews, he sponsors the programs in SQ’s South Block, and Lt. K. Mok in West Block so residents can go-between housing units for groups.
“When I first got here [SQ I tried to get into groups, other people felt the same, therefore I started Victim’s Awareness,” said Larry “Ali” Deminter group facilitator.
The Victims’ Awareness group is held in SB’s dayroom on Wednesdays from 10—12 p.m.
“The process for learning about and signing up for programs is opaque, manual, and overwhelming,” specified in the report. “Access to programs support rehabilitation and reduces recidivism.”
According to Deminter, he facilitates Victims Awareness using the “Six Victims’ Rights” based on the Prison of Peace, co-founders Laurel Kaufer, and Doug Noel of Pepperdine University. The rights include:
- Vindication
- Validation
- A right to create meaning
- A right to be heard
- Safety
- Vengeance
A SB resident expounded on his experience with VA, and how it brought him awareness of the impact of his criminal behavior.
“By taking Victims’ Awareness it helped me understand the magnitude of my actions,” said resident Charles Williams. “My behavior has had ripple effects; I now see the impact of my criminal behavior.”
Group co-facilitator John Czub conveyed to SQNews, the participants partaking in these groups deserve credit because they have an open mind to adjust their belief system. The incarcerated facilitators came from a pro-social perspective and not an authoritative one, something their fellow residents can relate to.
“The feedback I have gotten is I don’t tell them, I ask them to prove their beliefs to me,” said Czub. “The real reason why I facilitate is to give people space to explore the understanding of their own belief system.”
