It’s not uncommon to see prisoners working with welding equipment around San Quentin. Maintenance workers are on call for emergencies on everything from plumbing problems in cellblocks to repairing light fixtures in the hospital. Currently, workers are busy fabricating benches for the baseball diamond by cutting and welding angle iron and steel rods in preparation for baseball season beginning in April.
“Prison maintenance crews work in more areas throughout the interior and exterior of a penitentiary than any other group of employees behind prison walls,” says supervisor Ty Twist, a certified welder/teacher, and one of San Quentin’s maintenance supervisors. He’s been employed at San Quentin for seven years.
San Quentin’s physical plant is unique as some of the structures (cellblocks) being more than 100 years old. These cellblocks demand special attention and a certain antediluvian application of services, such as maintaining steam lines that are some of the oldest systems in the state.
Recently, one of four steam boilers in San Quentin’s “boiler room” was on the verge of exploding, due to an expanding metal plate that insulates the steam inside the boiler. Twist and his crew sprang into action and saved the boiler as well as saving the state an estimated $58,000 that an outside contractor was asking to do the job.
Assignments vary from week to week. “Installing metal bedplates (known as ‘cookie sheets’ to prisoners) to replace broken bedsprings is a constant job for us,” said welder Donald Coleman. “It’s gratifying when a job is completed and you’ve learned something new or interesting in the process.”
Maintenance crews ensure that all systems and conditions throughout the institution are safe and functioning properly. Support services such as the custody operations, the Food Service Department, and medical clinics depend on maintenance crews to keep their services in good quality operation. Prisoners take pride in assisting in the maintenance crews where they are able to apply their skills in an effective way.
“I like specific assignments such as fabrication in various locations throughout the institution,” said David Gonzalez. “What I love about my job is that we all work together as a team, one man helping the next. We truly are proud of our accomplishments.”
Prisoner T. Slaughter told the San Quentin News, “Although I was an electrician in other prisons, I now have this great opportunity to advance my knowledge of welding and other metal applications under the guidance of supervisor Twist.”
According to Twist, the smooth operation of the institution’s maintenance department (operations) depends on the responsibility of dozens of maintenance employees. Each supervisor oversees a number of prisoners who are, as a rule, skilled in a particular vocation.
“Whether it is the electrical systems, plumbing, heating and ventilation, or carpentry, painting, and glazing, each department is no less important than the next,” said Twist.
If a man has a specific ability, maintenance supervisors will interview and assess his skill level, then speak with Inmate Assignment Lt. D. Graham. Although qualified workers are preferred, there is no waiting list for maintenance assignments and experienced maintenance supervisors are willing to work with those men with obvious potential to do the job. Lt. Graham added that all department areas are racially balanced as fairly as possible and the best way to obtain a maintenance position is by word of mouth.
Dino Dinoso summed up an attribute shared by Twist and his maintenance crew, “We work as a team. When we finish a specific assignment, the pride my co-workers and supervisor have is as real as it gets.”
