MAKING IT HAPPEN
Since the 2021 seasons of all sports at The Q have been suspended due to COVID and the variants that followed, the commissioner and coaches have been innovating and finding ways to keep sports relevant at the prison. SQ has been partially open since May 5 and residents have been allowed to partake in some activities on the yard and throughout … [Read More...]
Grudge match: Two old B-ballers go one-on-one
On July 9, two SQ B-ballers challenged each other to a one-on-one game of basketball. The 2020 DuPont Award-winning and Pulitzer Award-nominated Ear Hustle co-host Rahsaan Thomas, 50, and Trevor Woods, 54, the older brother of Earlonne Woods, the formerly incarcerated co-founder of the hit podcast, settled their differences on the court. “He was … [Read More...]
RUNNING: The feeling of freedom
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit San Quentin and tents took over the Lower Yard, all sports were tabled and so were some residents’ ways to find their peace. Despite the obstacles presented by prison hurdles, some residents use the sport of their choice to find the freedom they seek. One of those sports events that have been missing is the … [Read More...]
El periodo posterior al COVID-19
En el estado de California muchos prisioneros perdieron la vida y otros apenas sobrevivieron la pesadilla dehaber sido infectados con el virus del COVID-19. Sobrevivir un ataque cardiaco y no poder respirar, hablar, caminar,o pensar claro, cuando todo se les olvida a las víctimas del virus fatal. “Cuando trataba de hablar se oía como que estaba … [Read More...]
Tres prisiones juveniles cierran en California
El periódico L.A. Times reporta que California esta lista para cerrar sus últimas instituciones de detención juvenil en julio del 2023. En el condado de Los Ángeles, centros de detenciones de seguridad y alivio albergará jóvenes que hayan sido arrestados y convictos. Bajo el plan del condado tendra lugares de detención, como si fueran casas … [Read More...]
Papa Francisco habla en contra de la pena de muerte
Ciudad del Vaticano — Después de siglos de evolución, el Papa Francisco ha declarado la posición de la Iglesia Católica en contra de la pena de muerte y la cadena perpetua, haciendo el llamado para su total abolición en su nueva encíclica, “Fratelli Tutti” según el noticiario American Magazine. “No olvidemos que ni siquiera un asesino pierde su … [Read More...]
GTL expands free calling for all California prisoners
Telephone service provider collaborates with CDCR to offer additional free call minutes Global TelLink (GTL), the telephone service provider for all California prisons, recently issued the following releaseexplaining the expansion of free calling minutes for all prisoners. All incarcerated individuals will receive 75 minutes of free calling … [Read More...]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, October 2021
Poem:Not By Choice – By ChanceI’ve had plenty of time to vindicate my mind, heart, plus my soul, from my tribulations. Incarceration is self-inflected humiliation. In a mirror I see a clown looking dead back at me.A tear or two falls and so does my head. What I cherished most in life has been put on pause. My imaginations now from behind these … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS: October 2021
Pennsylvania — The advocacygroup Straight Ahead! issupporting two new bills. Thefirst would allow the possibilityof parole for over 5,000 currentlyserving sentences of lifewithout the possibility of parole.The second bill offers the samebenefits to an aging incarceratedpopulation instead of focusingon a fixed number of years. Pennsylvania — T he … [Read More...]
BOOK REVIEW: ‘American Dirt’ by Jeanine Cummins
A mother and her 8-year-old son flee northward from deep in southern Mexico. Hard on their heels is the cartel intent on their murders. Cut off from conventional means of travel, Lydia and little Luca resort to “la bestia,” the perilous freight trains poor migrants to ride to Mexico’s northern border. At the same time, Soledad and Rebecca, … [Read More...]
CA increases canteen spending limits
A September memo from the CDCR Accounting Services Branch (ASB) has authorized a roughly 10-percent increase to the spending limit for each privilege group. The canteen spending limits had not seen an increase since January 2010. Elvira Melendres, ASB’s acting Associate Director, recommended that institutional canteen managers stock … [Read More...]
Rehabilitation hurdles in the COVID era
While people in society were shocked when schools, churches, restaurants, and salons were shut down due to the pandemic, prisoners weren’t shocked when their rehabilitation programs were shut down. For years, prisoners have had to rely on each other and assistance from people in the outside world for their rehabilitation. “During the … [Read More...]
CDCR’s 3-phase plan for reopening prisons
A detailed plan has been adopted for restoring normal operations to California prisons after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Roadmap to Reopening was the work of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS). The roadmap dated April 20 was developed to ensure a smooth … [Read More...]
Heart tissues suffer lasting damage from COVID-19 coronavirus
In March 2021, well-known cardiologists discovered COVID-19 “cuts through the vertical muscle tissue of the heart.” They found COVID-19 is more than a respiratory disease and consider the virus harmful to several vital organs, including the heart. Journalist Julie Langelier’s report in Science Translational Medicine revealed the findings of the … [Read More...]
Transitions Clinic Network: FAQs about Medi-Cal
Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) hosts a monthly reentry health-focused Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) column. This column is a space where we can answer questions regarding healthcare in reentry. Our goal is to provide information and empower individuals to prepare them for healthy reentry. For this column, we will focus on Medi-Cal, the public … [Read More...]
Honoring David – Gun violence survivor voices call to action in brother’s name
In February we acknowledge National Gun Violence Survivor week. I would guess that many of you, like me, are survivors of gun violence. It’s a club no one wants to be part of, but we have no choice in that. Forty years ago, my 27-year-old brother David was shot and injured and it changed our lives forever. At the time I was a carefree college … [Read More...]
Prison medical staff often lack qualification
Free citizens can pick their medical provider and choose good care or at least not go back to a doctor they find incompetent. Prisoners don’t have that option. Federal and state prisons routinely hire underqualified, unlicensed, and even disgraced medical staff, the Marshall Project reported July 1. Since 1999 the nonprofit National … [Read More...]
Community-driven public safety recommended
The federal government has implemented new public safety strategies that are difficult for communities to understand, the Urban Institute reports. “Too many families, particularly families of color, live in neighborhoods that have suffered from decades of disinvestment, and are excluded from neighborhoods with opportunity,” the report … [Read More...]
No search warrant necessary
Tech giants Apple, Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Microsoft are major suppliers of personal information to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, according to an article in The Associated Press. The most recent figures available, which cover the first half of 2020, show that over 112,000 requests for data went to Apple, Google, … [Read More...]
FCC creates new phone rules for prisoners
Federal regulators have lowered the rates on fees for out-of-state calls made from prisons and jails, Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) reported in June. This was an “historic order” that indicated lower rates — which are different from fees — may be forthcoming. This will go along with new Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules for companies … [Read More...]
Federal prison system severely understaffed
Juan Ramon Rodriguez-Barbosa, 47 years old, hung himself and died on May 26 at FCI Mendota, a medium-security prison west of Fresno. Rodriguez-Barbosa was serving time for illegally reentering the United States after being deported, said The Associated Press. He was found hanging in the prison’s segregated housing unit by officers doing their … [Read More...]
Formerly incarcerated find it hard to vote
Five million formerly incarcerated people in America must overcome a vast assortment of obstacles to enjoy the privilege of voting, reported Vice Newshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/7kvx3z/this-is-how-hard-it-is-to-vote-after-youve-left-prison. “When you’re unable to vote, on top of all those other issues like the hardships of searching for a … [Read More...]
CA Legislature considers expansion of resentencing law
The California Legislature’s 2021-2022 Regular Session is currently considering several bills which, if passed, would change resentencing procedures. In some cases, that even means creating a presumption that resentencing is in the interest of justice. Senate Bill 775: Felony Murder – Resentencing Current state law allows some persons … [Read More...]
California’s prison population shrinks while the Corrections budget continues to balloon
$102,000 annually for California is spending more than each person held in the state’s prisons, according to news reports. This cost is expected to increase to almost $113,000 in the fiscal year 2022. Despite reduced prison and parole populations, the state prison/parole budget climbed $1.2 billion in the new year. Details of the … [Read More...]
Transitions Clinic Network provides national healthcare resources for formerly incarcerated
“Health not incarceration” is one of the mottos of a group of medical advocates helping formerly incarcerated individuals with their health care and reentry needs. The Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) operates 44 programs in community health centers in 10 states and Puerto Rico. California has 21 programs in 14 counties, according to the … [Read More...]
Humanizing the survivors of SQ’s COVID outbreak
A new organization is helping San Quentin’s incarcerated cope with the fear and trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic. Humans of San Quentin helped humanize the men when COVID-19 ravaged the prison in the summer of 2020, leaving dozens dead and thousands trapped in cells trembling with fever. Founded by teacher Diane Kahn, the organization’s … [Read More...]
Incarcerated women join California’s firefight: Female prisoners log millions of hours in the battle against the state’s intensifying wildfires
Year-round, incarcerated women in California prisons are putting their lives on the line fighting fires up and down the state to limit major disasters, according to an Op-Ed by Jaime Lowe in the Los Angeles Times. California prisoners started fighting fires in 1946. In an average year now, about 2,000 incarcerated men and women log about three … [Read More...]
RETURNING TO FREEDOM: Heriberto ‘Eddie’ Arredondo, Jr. released after 29 years’ incarceration
Heriberto Arredondo, Jr., 46, a San Quentin News staff member, was released on parole in August. He was 16 years old when he was sent to prison. Thirty years later he is a changed man. Everyone in the newsroom called him “Eddie.” “I was just a kid when I came to prison,” Arredondo said. He was found suitable for parole on Cinco de Mayo, … [Read More...]
Virtual gala raises over $70,000 for SQNews operations
A virtual fundraising event in August raised over $70,000 to help finance the printing and distribution of the San Quentin News. An online flyer touted the event as “our opportunity to celebrate the transformative impact California’s oldest prison publication has had on the men and women incarcerated in the state and raise money to help the San … [Read More...]
Aaron Martin granted medical parole
Two state senators and two San Quentin program coordinators assisted Aaron Martin to win a medical parole after he suffered two post-COVID strokes. Martin was given only 60 days to prepare for his suitability hearing. The hearing was deemed necessary even though he couldn’t talk or write after a month of physical rehabilitation in Marin General … [Read More...]
Steve Brooks wins prestigious SPJ Award SQNews Staff Writer recognized for ‘Excellence in Commentary’
San Quentin News journalist Steve Brooks has earned the 2020 “Excellence in Commentary Award” from the Northern California Society of Professional Journalists. Brooks was recognized for his articles “Hidden Heroes Forgotten Inside” and “Violent Criminals Deserve a Second Chance Too.” “I wrote ‘Violent Criminals Deserve a Second Chance Too’ … [Read More...]
Arthur Yeary brings people and animals to life
San Quentin State Prison has a diverse population of artists who work in a variety of styles and mediums. Each edition of SQ News seeks to highlight the amazing creativity among us. Arthur L. Yeary is one such artist whose incredible talent shines brightly. “When I was 13, I started learning how to draw by doodling,” said Yeary. “The … [Read More...]
Robert Guzman’s hands express his father’s legacy
Robert Guzman is a 54-year-old Native American who found a new life as an artist and amateur counselor in prison. His bloodline includes Ute, Blackfoot, and Mexican. He arrived at San Quentin in 2019. Throughout his 21 years of incarceration, Guzman honed skills he developed as a young boy working with leather, beads, paints, and woodcarvings — … [Read More...]
Hunger strike anniversary sheds light on SHU conditions
Ten years ago, 10 prisoners in Pelican Bay’s Segregated Housing Unit (SHU) set aside their racial and political differences to work together to file a lawsuit about their conditions and to organize a hunger strike in peaceful protest. They wanted the Pelican Bay administration and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation … [Read More...]
Ron Broomfield receives official confirmation as SQ’s new Warden
51-year-old Ronald J. Broomfield (above, right) has been sworn in as San Quentin State Prison’s new Warden. Over the past 20 years, Broomfield has risen through the CDCR ranks to his current position, beginning as a Correctional Officer at Salinas Valley State Prison. From 2002 through 2017, Mr. Broomfield worked at California State Prison - … [Read More...]
Court orders use of body cams in prison
A federal court has expanded a mandate that requires California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officers to wear body cameras. “The court order originally only applied to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility,” the Sacramento Bee reported. Later, the court expanded its order to five prisons to include Kern Valley … [Read More...]
Mental health treatment in San Quentin’s EOP program
By Jesse Ayers, Contributing Writer A team of mental health professionals in San Quentin’s H-Unit worked tirelessly during the pandemic to maintain the health and safety of the men in the Enhanced Out Patient (EOP) program. H-Unit houses 100 Enhanced Out Patients (EOPs). EOP is a term that describes a level of mental health … [Read More...]
Mental Wellness Month addresses psychological self-care
When a person starts to serve a sentence in a California prison, depression and despair are leading causes for a mental health crisis. Feeling abused and isolated are added factors. Salinas Valley State Prison recorded the highest number of suicides during a 10-year period, according to the California Department of Corrections and … [Read More...]
Mt. Tam College classes resume
A year and a half after canceling all classes due to the pandemic, Mount Tamalpais College (MTC) reopened in-person instruction inside San Quentin on September 14. Twenty classes are now starting for some 300 students, including more than 50 new college students this Fall 2021 semester. “It feels so empowering to be back in class,” … [Read More...]
Tracing prosecutorial mistakes
Thousands of people have been prosecuted and convicted in the past 32 years of crimes they did not commit, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. “The damage caused by these wrongful convictions is immeasurable,” the May 19 story stated. “Lives have been crushed, families ruined, millions upon millions of dollars in compensation paid out. Often … [Read More...]
Ending slave labor in California prisons
Incarcerated workers may soon have a reason to celebrate Labor Day as a lawmaker’s work to remove the last vestiges of slavery from California’s Constitution. Assembly Constitutional Amendment 3 (ACA 3), if placed on the November 2022 ballot, would remove a clause in the State’s Constitution that allows criminal punishment to include involuntary … [Read More...]
Repealing the Prison Litigation Reform Act after 25 years
A study done by the non-profit Prison Policy Initiative (PPI) demonstrates why it recommends the 25-year-old Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) should be repealed. The PLRA makes federal civil rights lawsuits filed by prisoners more difficult, according to PPI. It was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in … [Read More...]
City sues Gov. Newsom following prison closure announcement
The citizens and the local government of Susanville are suing Gov. Gavin Newsom for the imminent closure of the prison, California Correctional Center, that is located in their city, according to the Sacramento Bee. In sticking with his plan to close several prisons over the next few years, the Governor and his administration are taking a lot of … [Read More...]
Death rate among prisoners on the rise
Prisons are becoming more dangerous as the number of inmates dying in custody is on the rise, a recent report by the Prison Policy Initiative concludes. The report indicates causes for the upsurge in deaths are from major and unnamed illnesses, along with unnatural causes such as suicide, homicide, alcohol and drugs. “The answer isn’t just … [Read More...]
Judge rejects credit challenge
A California judge ruled against a challenge made by 44 district attorneys against CDCR. The DAs are contesting the implementation of new CDCR credit earnings awarded to state prisoners. Superior Court Judge Shama H. Mesiwala denied a request by the DAs for a preliminary injunction against the California Department of Corrections and … [Read More...]
Reentry barriers plague new parolees, inhibit successful reintegration
Across the country, 600,000 prisoners are released annually from prisons. Many face obstacles in obtaining housing, food, and medical services. Prisoners are more likely to go without food than the general population; one out of five have difficulty obtaining meals. A 2013 survey of 100 prisoners revealed that of those released, 90% were food … [Read More...]
Survivor finds strength to heal
It’s hard to describe the impact of what being assaulted and raped had on my life because it changed my life completely. For years I thought my life had been destroyed. I worked really hard to rebuild everything. I had to re-create who I was and who I wanted to be because the person I had been was gone. I felt broken after I was raped. It was as … [Read More...]
Paying it forward in the “Comm-Unity”
A group of formerly incarcerated people joined community members and organizations to provide food and cleaning supplies to needy families in the Oakland area. The Oakland Post reported in June the men recently paroled from San Quentin aimed to give back to their community, calling their effort “Comm-Unity.” Richard Johnson coined the slogan … [Read More...]
CDCR acknowledges Nation of Gods and Earths as spiritual group
A group previously known as a radical Black Supremacist gang is now recognized as a spiritual group in California prisons. The Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE) will now receive the same rights as all religious groups in facilities operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The change results from a lawsuit by … [Read More...]
San Quentin’s 1000 Mile Club
Whether it’s wildfires or pandemics, the San Quentin (SQ) 1000 Mile Club faces challenges getting its running events back on track. “A lot of us caught COVID and we were worried about how the virus would affect our lungs, so our training got off to a slow start,” said club President Tommy Wickerd. However, for the second year in a row, … [Read More...]
Tier Talk with San Quentin A’s veteran pitcher
I talked to the San Quentin A’s pitcher Gary “Cool Aid” Townes about him being compared to one of the old-time greats and oldest pitcher to ever pitch baseball in the Negro League, Satchel Paige. Townes has been with the SQ A’s since 2012 and he is the oldest pitcher on the team. TH: Let’s get right into this. You are one of the SQ … [Read More...]
RISING FROM THE ASHES
Football legend, Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl Champ, star cornerback, and member of the hard-hitting defensive backs called the “Legion of Boom” is now SQ resident Brandon Browner. San Quentin Prison houses another great star who was once at the height of his career. Now Pro Bowler Brandon Browner wakes up in the confines of a four-by-nine … [Read More...]
Passing the torch to new All-Madden coach
SQ resident Bryant Underwood, 36, is the new All-Madden Football head coach. He is taking over the position that long-term resident Dwight King, 47, held for three years until he recently became eligible for parole. “I'm passing the torch to a younger guy to create a platform for younger men to have the opportunity to build community relations … [Read More...]
Spring tryouts commence for SQ Kings and Warriors
Tryouts for the SQ Warriors and the Kings got underway in June and through July with a mixture of talent that coaches have to choose from. Young and older residents scrimmaged against each other and the game revealed those who may make it and those who may not. “We're looking for desire, passion, and some new guys to step up and … [Read More...]
Prison environment inherently unhealthy
Prisons nationwide haven’t made permanent changes to prevent illnesses or death from the coronavirus, news sources report. Measures taken to deal with the chaos and deadly circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic weren’t substantial or permanent, according to a report by The Marshall Project and The Associated Press. “What we’re seeing over … [Read More...]
Nieta de Arredondo-Cesar Chávez una uva dela misma cepa
Julie Chávez Rodríguez nieta de Cesar Chávez, construyó un gran currículo y un legado propio, a través de su arduo trabajo y dedicación representando las minorías, reporto Darlene Superville del Washington (AP). (Prensa Asociada) Rodríguez tiene 43 años de edad y nació en Delano, Calif. Ella es la hija de Linda y Arturo Rodríguez. Los abuelos de … [Read More...]
GTL ofrece llamadas internacionales gratuitas
Por aligerar las dificultades financieras causadas por la pandemia GTL está ofreciendo 15 minutos de tiempo gratis de teléfono cada dos semanas. Empezando el 4 de julio de 2021 todos los individuos encarcelados que están recibiendo 15 minutos de llamadas gratuitas podrán usar esos minutos, exceptos de cargos, también en llamadas internacionales, en … [Read More...]
Correctional Training Facility creates hub for veterans
Soledad – On May 28, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Correctional Training Facility (CTF) for the first Veterans Hub in the nation with the capacity to eventually house some 1,200 incarcerated veterans, the largest program of its kind. The facility will offer programs and … [Read More...]
SQ DEAF COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19
A new community of unique deaf people arrived at San Quentin and had to endure a prison programming change plus a devastating COVID-19 outbreak. “My COVID experience was awful,” said Jaime Paredes, SQ incarcerated deaf resident. “We were housed in North Block, but were getting quarantined in Badger Unit. We (the deaf community) was on … [Read More...]
IRS Stimulus checks for incarcerated are delayed
Stimulus checks from the IRS for incarcerated men and women across the country are experiencing delays, according to The Intercept. In addition, some state correctional systems levy heavy deductions against the checks before the incarcerated people receive their checks. Last year, incarcerated people won a class-action lawsuit filed by Lieff … [Read More...]
Deadliest Day in San Quentin’s History–August 21, 1971
The deadliest day in San Quentin’s history took place 50 years ago on Aug. 21, 1971. On a single day of violence, three guards and three prisoners were killed. In the ensuing decades, one name from that day has reverberated throughout the nation’s prisons: George Lester Jackson, 28. He was fatally wounded after being shot by a … [Read More...]
The Incarcerated Deaf Have Extra Challenges
A new community of deaf people has finally arrived at San Quentin Prison. After battles in the courts and multiple fights contesting the ability of the deaf to function on non-handicapped prison yards, officials have conceded that deaf people may attend the programs that they desire, said one ex-prison official. “I love the environment and … [Read More...]
Wardens Broomfield, Allen Describe Their Journeys
San Quentin’s acting warden, Ron Broomfield, recently accepted an invitation to sit in and speak directly with the incarcerated participants of Power Source, a San Quentin self-help program designed for young adults. But more than talk, Broomfield and Chief Deputy Warden Trent Allen also came to listen to the voices of the young individuals sent … [Read More...]
Mt. Tam College Is Born at San Quentin
For the first time in history, an incarcerated community has an independent, accredited college program all its own. Newly named Mt. Tamalpais College (MTC) has established residency at San Quentin State Prison. “Everything happening right now is an affirmation of the unique challenges and questions we’ve faced. Every prison should have a … [Read More...]
The Early Warnings Of a Prison Pandemic
Timothy Hicks wrote the following article well before the COVID-19 pandemic hit San Quentin. It foretells the disaster that would unfold at prisons generally and at San Quentin in particular. The Corona Virus has hit the U.S., prompting a fear is that it may hit prisons, with many questioning its possible impact. “Given the volume of … [Read More...]
Around The World
America stagnated by “compounding moral debts”
Two essays that appeared in The Atlantic magazine set up Ta-Nehisi Coates as a voice for African-Americans. He wrote The Case for Reparations in 2014 and in 2015, he produced Letter to My Son. In The Case for Reparations Coates cites, “Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow. Sixty years of separate but equal. Thirty-five … [Read More...]
Pelican Bay’s new podcast ‘UNLOCKED’
Creators of a new Pelican Bay podcast look to build community and prisoner relationships—one story at a time, reported the Lost Coast Outpost. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/ “These guys just want to better themselves and create a stronger, more resilient, community,” said Paul Critz, a journalist who teaches inmate students the tools they need … [Read More...]
Storytellers polish their craft through the San Quentin News Journalism Guild
The second annual San Quentin News Journalism Guild Graduation took place in the Garden Chapel on Jan. 17. Twelve graduates from November’s class combined with this current class of 11 to celebrate finishing the six-month course. The event honored the graduates, recognized advisors and brought attention to the impact of programs like the guild … [Read More...]
Marin’s Chief Probation Officer focuses on restorative justice
Mike Daly, the chief probation officer in Marin County, believes in restorative justice, something he’s put into practice instead of talking about it. During an interview with SQ News in January, Daly discussed pro-social thinking and how to “rewire’ people to be the best they can be after becoming involved in the criminal justice … [Read More...]
What role does society play in the development of felons?
Be it California or Mississippi, when news of suicides, murders or riots reaches any prison population the feeling is always the same: “damn”—if it’s spoken or not. Especially if you’ve been through it or witnessed these things. Society might think “there goes those violent monsters acting up again.” What is rarely discussed is that we are a … [Read More...]
Nearly 15,000 meals per day served at San Quentin with a special touch
San Quentin’s newest food manager says in a predominately-male prison, it takes a woman’s touch to balance out the population, especially when it comes to food. “I worked with men and around men my entire career,” said Martha Garcia, Correctional Food Manager II.https://www.calhr.ca.gov/state-hr-professionals/Pages/5480.aspx (CFM). “So it’s … [Read More...]
Newsom proposes reducing probation and boosting rehabilitation programs
Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing major changes in California’s criminal justice system by reducing probation to two years and boosting rehabilitation programs for offenders. Newsom said the change is aimed at cutting costs and reducing recidivism. He said he proposes spending “an unprecedented amount of money” -- $210 million over four years … [Read More...]
Trump creates committee to address equality in law enforcement
President Donald Trump used another one of his executive orders to create a committee dealing with how to enforce the law equally and without bias, according to Tom Jackman of the Washington Post. With endorsements from organizations like the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and others, the law would deal with equal protection, … [Read More...]
Rural prison locations make visiting more difficult
Families visiting incarcerated loved ones throughout the country have to go through numerous challenges just to see a prisoner, according to the Marshall Project. Those without transportation, as well as with those who drive, have difficulty getting to the prison sites because of where the prisons are located, usually in remote areas, the Dec. … [Read More...]
Facebook and CDCR join to stop criminal activity
Facebook has policies in place to thwart inmates who use their system to harass, threaten or make unwanted sexual advances. “Access to social media allows inmates to circumvent our monitoring process and continue to engage in criminal activity,” said former Secretary of Corrections Matthew Cate. “This new cooperation between law enforcement and … [Read More...]
Investigation of LAPD falsifying documents leads to larger scandal
The elite Metro Division of the Los Angeles Police Department is under investigation for falsifying documents that identify people as gang members, newspaper stories report. The probe was prompted by a mother who said police improperly identified her son as a gang member. The resulting preliminary investigation uncovered discrepancies between … [Read More...]
New San Francisco DA to reform criminal justice system
Recently sworn in as San Francisco’s new District Attorney, Chesa Boudin has bold plans to reform the city’s criminal justice system. “Our criminal justice system is failing all of us. It is not keeping us safe,” said Boudin in a recent SF Examiner article. “It is contributing to a vicious cycle of crime and punishment.” As the head of … [Read More...]
Prison bans on literature becoming more commonplace nationwide
Prison officials throughout the country are restricting reading materials in prison libraries. The state of Florida has banned 20,000 titles, and Texas has banned 10,000 titles, claiming that the prohibited reading material could stir up disorder. Officials say there has been an uptick of drug smuggling via books, whose pages can be soaked with … [Read More...]
Que es el corona virus y como se puede prevenir
El Corona Virus conocido como 2019-nCoV se está expandiendo a lo largo del planeta. El virus ha causado la muerte de casi mil personas y contagiando a un número cada vez mayor. El Centro para las Enfermedades Prevención y Control público una gaceta que responde a unas preguntas simples que son de interés para la comunidad. Esta información … [Read More...]
Donovan Correctional Facility becomes first American Prison to break ground on restorative justice
By Shawn Khalifa, Contributor Writer History was made and we were there. It was the first Restorative Justice Fair held inside an American prison. The three-day August fair opened inside the Facility-E Gymnasium at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility. One hundred chairs formed the foundation of a connecting circle. Brahmankyrie, a … [Read More...]
SQ Hosts 13th Annual Brothers in Pen Public Reading
Zoe Mullery has listened to thousands of stories inside San Quentin since 1999. She facilitates a weekly creative writing class for about two dozen men. Mullery’s small frame is a big presence on the prison compound as she’s watched several men from her writing class make parole and continue writing. “I do it because I love the power of … [Read More...]
Looking at 2020 and beyond
It’s a new year, the start of a new decade, and where is San Quentin sports going? During the month of February, there were tryouts for the San Quentin A’s, Kings and Warriors. These are some of the teams that represent the prison and, in doing so, help to build public interest in the CDCR from a recreational perspective. The 1000 Mile … [Read More...]
Willie O’Ree: 1st Black NHL player
Willie Eldon O’Ree, (born Oct. 15, 1935) a former professional ice hockey player from Canada, is called the “Jackie Robinson of Ice Hockey” for having broken the color barrier in the National Hockey League, https://www.nhl.com/ or NHL. O’Ree, who played as a winger for the Boston Bruins, has said he met Robinson twice in his younger years. … [Read More...]
San Quentin Kings hold tryouts for the 2020 season
The 40 and Over San Quentin Kings held their annual tryouts to pick their team for the 2020 season. After running drills and scrimmages against pick up teams made up of younger players who were watching the tryouts, head coach Orlando “Duck” Harris called the men to center court and announced this season’s roster. Bryant Underwood, at age … [Read More...]
USC Law Professor fights to give lifers a second chance
Law professor Heidi Rummel fights to give thousands of men and women a second chance—many of them sentenced decades ago to life-terms for crimes committed as youths. As co-director of the University of Southern California’s Post-Conviction Justice Project (PCJP), Rummel teaches and leads a team of certified law student interns. They represent … [Read More...]
NFL players identify an urgent need to transform the youth justice system
“Youth of color are more likely to be targeted in the school-to-prison pipeline...” Criminal justice reform has becomes a key issue in the 2020 presidential race, but some National Football League players say the candidates are not addressing the urgent need to transform the youth justice system. “Our work with young people has made it … [Read More...]
Dear Kobe,
Dear Kobe, You don’t know me. I’m a fan speaking for fans that asked me to send this letter to you from The Q. Here, there are Laker fans that love and miss you, alongside Warrior fans that respected you. We are going to miss what you meant to the game of basketball. I’ve watched you since you came into the NBA in 1996. I wondered what … [Read More...]
The Q reacts to Kobe Bryant news
The death of Kobe Bryant and his 13 year old daughter Gianna – along with the other seven people on that fatal crash – has had an impact on the San Quentin community as whole. Many within the population wanted to offer their condolences and say a few words about the man known as “The Black Mamba.” “Kobe is the Jordan of my generation, … [Read More...]
League MVP listens to the incarcerated
The Milwaukee Bucks and league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo entered a Wisconsin prison facility with a lot more at stake than just basketball. They came to listen to the voices and stories of the incarcerated. Organized by film producer Scott Budnick and the NBA’s Play For Justice initiative, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes … [Read More...]
Coalition for Social Justice graduates 17 participants
Karen Lovaas, PhD, the program coordinator of Coalition for Social Justice saw 17 of her 21 participants graduate from its sixth cycle on Feb. 12, in the ARC Building in San Quentin. “The primary goal of the group is to help develop community leaders who deal with criminal behavior from a perspective of social justice and transformation,” … [Read More...]
SQ Music and lyrics workshop attracts professionals
Twelve songs, featuring music and lyrics written and performed by inmates at San Quentin turned the prison’s Catholic chapel into a concert hall in January. Musicambia Composition Workshop was an intensive four-day event facilitated by the New York-based nonprofit Musicambia, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the William James … [Read More...]
SQN Johnson earns first Master’s Degree in 10 years
Striving for a good education has its challenges for anyone, but for incarcerated students those trials and tribulations are greater. However, one incarcerated man has persevered and has become the first student to earn a Master’s of Business and Administration (MBA) degree at San Quentin State Prison in almost a decade. Michael Johnson, 37, … [Read More...]
Reckoning with compounding moral debts leaves America unfulfilled
Two essays that appeared in The Atlantic magazine set up Ta-Nehisi Coates as a voice for African-Americans. He wrote The Case for Reparations in 2014 and in 2015, produced Letter to My Son. The Case for Reparations Coates cites, “Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow. Sixty years of separate but equal. Thirty-five years … [Read More...]
Vermont juvenile center to close
Vermont’s only juvenile detention facility no longer has children confined behind its walls, after being targeted by lawsuits in recent years for its restraint practices. “It’s the first time the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Essex has been empty since it opened more than 30 years ago,” said the Nov. 21 VT Digger article. The … [Read More...]
144 graduate from Division of Rehabilitative Programs
San Quentin’s gym includes a sign stating “a second chance at a first class life.” One hundred and forty- five incarcerated people celebrated completing the initial step to acquire that second chance on December 18. One-hundred and forty-five men graduated from recovery and life skills classes designed for transitioning home, allowing men a … [Read More...]
An unusual family visit at San Quentin
On the first day of 2020, Marion Wickerd --wife of 1000 Mile Club member Tommy Wickerd—shared a special moment with her husband of 15 years: The Wickerds were spending a family visit together at The Q. However, instead of watching the New Year’s Day Rose Parade on television, the two were going to watch to the 4th Annual San Quentin New Year’s … [Read More...]
Rock guitarist Craig Bartock shares his talent in prison
Rock guitarist Craig Bartock, who plays for the band Heart, earned a star for com- ing to prison. In December he visited the Thursday afternoon guitar workshop sponsored by the William James Association and taught by Kurt Huget. One of the many treats participants get out of attending the guitar workshop is meeting great musicians like Bartock, … [Read More...]
Prison Truth: The Story of the San Quentin News
Veteran journalist Ted Koppel got it right when he said William J. Drummond proves to be the right person to tell the tale of San Quentin News (SQN). Drummond’s credibility as the storyteller comes from his long and eventful career as a journalist, UC Berkeley journalism professor and his once or twice a week venture inside the SQN newsroom office … [Read More...]
Ruling makes more prisoners eligible for parole hearings under Proposition 57
A new court ruling makes more prisoners eligible for parole hearings, according to the Second Appellate District's recent decision. The ruling makes persons with violent convictions eligible for parole consideration under Prop. 57—if their crimes include a non-violent offense. Previously, inmates with violent offenses were not given parole … [Read More...]
Homelessness is a serious problem for America’s formerly incarcerated
Homelessness is a serious problem for America’s formerly incarcerated people, and it’s even worse in the United Kingdom, published reports say. In the United States there are approximately 700,000 individuals returning home from state prisons each year, formerly incarcerated according to the Journal of Community Corrections. Nine-million are … [Read More...]
The Tender Moments of Valentine’s Day
Dear KidCAT Speaks
There are many times that I look back over my life and shake my head, not only because of the traumatic experiences, but also because of my warped way of thinking. I’ve been through a lot in my life, but I still understood right from wrong. Because of the abuse I suffered, I knew what the consequences would be if I did wrong. Therefore, I … [Read More...]
Film producer and social justice activist Scott Budnick visits San Quentin
Film producer and social justice activist Scott Budnick kicked it with youth offenders and spoke to Kid-CAT members about his efforts to put the human face on America’s broken criminal justice system. “This is my favorite group in the whole state,” said the famed producer of The Hangover and the recently released Just Mercy. “It’s good to be … [Read More...]
Let the People Speak: Letters to the editor
I got to CIM level one minimum yard Feb 22, 2019 and have yet to see any of the things that they told me about. At this place it still seems to be about punishment and not rehab like it says in the title of CDCR. There is so much division here amongst staff, inmates, free staff, it is very discouraging. We were promised microwaves and here at CIM … [Read More...]
California has made major changes to comply with court orders
California has made major changes to comply with court orders to reduce overcrowd- ing and improve medical care in the 35 state prisons, an update report says. Changes in rules and regulations have resulted in the state’s prison population measured at 134.8% of design capacity as of Nov. 13, the California Department of Corrections and … [Read More...]
Gavin Newsom will introduce a broader criminal justice reform
Gov. Gavin Newsom will introduce a broader criminal justice reform package as part of his 2020 prison budget plan. His plans include step down facilities that focus on rehabilitation and reentry options for people being released from custody. He ultimately wants to shut down one of the state's 35 prisons, according to an article in the … [Read More...]
Oversight report assessed CDCR’s prison reform
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) produced its 10th independent oversight report after it evaluated prison reforms proposed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). State law mandates that the OIG periodically assess the state’s prison reforms. The inspector general’s 55- page Blueprint Monitoring, Tenth … [Read More...]
Feds are seeking recall of more than 3,000 released prisoners
After the release of more than 3,000 federal prisoners, the Justice Department is trying to recall their sentences and lock them back-up, according to a Washington Post article. Trump, along with the Congress and the Senate, passed a bill back in 2018 signing-off on releasing those prisoners who had possessed minimum amounts of crack cocaine. … [Read More...]
SF Mayor to close City Hall jail
By Dillon Kim, Journalism Guild Writer San Francisco Mayor London Breed ordered City Hall to close down the Hall of Justice, including its jail, by July 2021 because the jail is structurally vulnerable to earthquakes. This deadline has prompted city officials to try to find alternatives to rehouse the 300 inmates that are currently … [Read More...]
Newsom’s stance on death penalty inspires abolitionist movement
Governor Newsom’s moratorium on the death penalty in March gave California’s abolition movement new energy. “There’s this excitement and energy in our movement that we haven’t had in a long time,” said Natasha Minsker, a political consultant and longtime proponent for abolishing capital punishment. “Grappling with the legacy of their two … [Read More...]
California gun safety laws reported strongest in nation
California leads the nation when it comes to strongest gun safety laws and innovative programs to reduce gun violence, according to a Juvenile Justice Information Ex-change article. Giffords Law Center compiles an annual Gun Law Scorecard that ranks California at the top. A significant factor is the decline in overall gun deaths and homicides … [Read More...]
State to pay $1.5 million to family of prisoner who committed suicide
California has agreed to pay $1.5 million to the family of Erika Rocha, whose prison suicide was deemed foresee- able and preventable, the Sacramento Bee reports. “This is an acknowledgement that the system completely broke down when it came to providing the care that she needed,” said Lori Ritkin, an attorney on the federal court lawsuit. … [Read More...]
Eleven years later – SQ Cares stands strong with cancer survivors
Hundreds of San Quentin residents contributed $5 each, while other prisoners produced art to raise more than $8,000 for a local woman’s center. The fundraiser was a part of the 11th Annual San Quentin CARES: Walk for a Cure (SQ CARES) that occurred on Oct. 11 and 12. “I am hugely honored and grateful that you’ve chosen Oakland Woman’s Resource … [Read More...]
Executive forms organization to help officials curb recidivism
A top Google executive has formed a non-profit organization to help prison officials understand which programs work and don’t work to curb recidivism. “In the criminal justice system today-an incredibly large and important and impactful system-we have none of those same abilities. It’s millions of lives, billions of dollars, and we don’t have a … [Read More...]
Colonel Allen Allensworth, founder of a town in central California
After slavery African Americans took their skills and begin to build thriving cities. Blacks in California were no different. In 1908, African Americans in California built a flourishing town called Allensworth, an accomplishment seldom taught or discussed. Colonel Allen Allensworth, founded the community in a rural area in Tulare County 30 … [Read More...]
Two dozen graduated from violence prevention program
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley joined Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson on a trip inside San Quentin to watch about two dozen incarcerated men graduate from a violence prevention program. “What I see at this graduation is more than what we ask for in our citizens out there,” O’Malley told the graduates of No More Tears. … [Read More...]
Inspirational entertainer urges others to claim their unique identity
Finding your unique voice and identity is important for everyone, boxer-tap dancer Joe Orrach illustrated for a San Quentin Prison audience. The show encouraged in- carcerated people to tell their own stories as part of their re- habilitation, making the show more than just entertainment for San Quentin residents. Nearly 100 people made up … [Read More...]
Offering cultural education through Kwanzaa
Over 100 San Quentin residents ushered in Kwanzaa 2019 with a night of enlightening and culturally relevant speeches and inspiring performances. The speakers and performers focused on uplifting African and African American culture and acknowledging the ways they have contributed to society at large. The December 26 celebration was organized by … [Read More...]
Highlighting an early Californian abolitionist
The Southern States are the usual focus of discussions about African American freedom struggles before the Civil War. But California had its own prewar struggle against racism and slavery. Unlike Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks or Harriet Tubman, Californian Mary Ellen Pleasant’s name is rarely discussed. But Pleasant has been hailed as … [Read More...]
SQ keeps tradition of giving
Veterans’ Toys for Tots continues to warm the hearts of many The cheer of Christmas giving filled the San Quentin State Prison visiting rooms as children celebrated the holidays with their incarcerated loved ones in December. “We got absolutely excited!” said 11-year-old Omar Elias, who came to the prison to visit his uncle Ramon Ruelas. … [Read More...]
When sports turn an eye toward prison
The Sacramento Kings showed love to Folsom State prisoners during a special night of community healing. In a circle within the prison chapel, they shared life experiences before celebrating Folsom’s newly renovated outdoor basketball court. Kings players, owner Vivek Ranadive, coach Luke Walton and others joined filmmaker-turned-social activist … [Read More...]
SQN EXTRA: CLIMATE DISASTER INSIDE AMERICA’S PRISONS
By Alfred King, Journalism Guild Writer Prisoners are often endangered when natural climatic change disasters such as floods, storms, hurricanes or extreme temperatures occur, The New Republic reports. Prisoners are “literally on the front lines” of climate change problems, the story said. This includes families fleeing climate change in … [Read More...]
SQN EXTRA: MASS INC HEALTHCARE
By Alfred King, Journalism Guild Writer America’s current healthcare system makes things worse for many of those who are incarcerated in jails and prisons, according to nymag.com. America’s for-profit healthcare system causes decisions in jails and prisons to be made wholly on the basis of cost, the Oct. 1 article reported. The story … [Read More...]
SQN EXTRA: WORST POLICY IMAGINABLE
Arizona state prisoners are being charged for their medical expenses when they’re taken to the hospital for using illegal substances, reported The Appeal. The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) enacted this policy back in March of this year. Prior to this policy, the department charged prisoners co-pays for healthcare visits and the full … [Read More...]
SQN EXTRA: EQUINE THERAPY
By Vincent O’Bannon, Journalism Guild Writer Some imprisoned veterans in Connecticut are getting psychological help from an unusual source– horses. The Equine Therapy program “is aimed at creating and maintaining healthy and mutually beneficial relationships through healing with horses,” said Renee Bouffard of … [Read More...]
WALL CITY Edicion Espanol: Arriesgando todo por el bienestar del los hijos
Watani Stiner, escapo de la prisión de San Quentin en 1974 y se refugió primero en de experiencia personal. En 1974, me escape de la prisión de San Quentin, y huí del país a Guyana en Suramérica. dinero para libros o profesores, sucumbió. Guyana en Suramérica y posteriormente en Suriname. Pasó algunos días felices antes de que el pequeño país … [Read More...]
Wall City Edición Español: James Fox ensena yoga
James Fox ha enseñado yoga por medio del Prison Yoga Project (PYP) a personas encarceladas en la prisión estatal de San Quentin, en California desde el 2012. Sin embargo, desde hace dos años, internos en prisiones mexicanas también se han beneficiado de su enseñanza. jóvenes de alrededor de 16 años de edad en una corporación de … [Read More...]
WALL CITY Edicion Espanol: Entre el cielo y la tierra
Por Lucía de la Fuente, Editora de español “Nadie puede decir en qué momento comienza el despertar del hombre” (Eduardo Subirats, Utopía y Subversión, 1975, p. 148) En lo que más me fijé la primera vez que te conocí, fue en tus manos. Grandes, con las uñas bien recortadas y con un tatuaje imperfecto. Tus manos siempre cargaban algo: una … [Read More...]
Wall City Edición Español: Marco Villa se prepara para la libertad
Despues de pasar mas de una decada en prision, Marco Villa se reunira nuevamente con su madre y sus hijas, pero en esta ocasión como un hombre libre. El 7 de diciembre de 2017 Villa escuchó las palabras que cualquier preso, sirviendo una sentencia de cadena perpetua, añora escuchar: “este panel te encuentra elegible para obtener tu libertad … [Read More...]
Wall CITY Edición Español: ARTE EN PRISIÓN
Mural en la unidad H de San Quentin "Calvary" de Octavio Ocampo Recreada por: C. O'Neal en el 2010 … [Read More...]
WALL CITY Edición Español: Una política que ha roto sueños
Luis Ojeda de 23 años, se encuentra en la Prisión de San Quentin cumpliendo una condena de seis años por asalto agravado. Después de cumplir su sentencia, Ojeda será deportado a la Ciudad de México. Su hermana Jennie, de 21 años, reside, estudia y trabaja en San José. Ella no ha tenido problemas con la ley, pero teme ser deportada. “Quería … [Read More...]
WALL CITY Edición Español : La carcel no es lugar para guardar luto
Otoño del 2019 Volume 1 Publicación 1 Editor-en Jefe: Marcus Henderson Escritores: Tare Beltranchuc, Juan Haines Traducciones: Juan Espinosa Director de Arte: Vincent Turner Jr Vocero de SQ: Lt. Sam Robinson Oficina del director de SQ. : Raphaele Casale Vocero de CDCR: Joe Orlando Asesora y editora: Lourdes … [Read More...]
World renowned magicians tour and perform at SQ
An international squad of escape artists, grand illusionists, mind readers and tricksters descended on San Quentin State Prison for a special Nov. 26 performance right before Thanksgiving. Set to make their Broadway San Francisco debut later that night, Champions of Magic chose to first visit SQ and dazzle prisoners with theatrical wizardry and … [Read More...]
In-Depth: Charles ‘Pookie’ Sylvester striving to be part of SQ’s sports program
When we are thinking of iconic athletes that have been housed at The Q, there has been only one who has personified what it actually means to be a teammate. Charles Sylvester – also known as Pookie – made his mark in sports at The Q in 2012 when the West Block Warlocks beat All Madden Flag Football team on MLK Jr. holiday game in January 2012. … [Read More...]
Strong turnout and finish for the 13th Annual 1000 Mile Club Marathon
On a clear and crisp Friday morning, 30 of The Q’s 1000 Mile Club members started the race at 8am for 13th Annual SQ Marathon. One of the runners was going to be crowned a champion because the five previous winners were no longer housed at The Q. The favorite for the title, Fidelio Marin, took an early lead and held it for most of the run, … [Read More...]
RE:STORE SURVIVORS
By Angie Romero A lot of people can pinpoint the day their life changed forever. Many of us graduate college, get married, or have a child and think “This is it, this is the day my life changed forever!” And I have had these days and these thoughts. December 1, 2016 was a day that changed me forever. On this date my husband, Richard, was … [Read More...]
Bread & Roses perform for Death Row
Entire concert was videotaped for Death Row viewing Prisoners and outside guest Tony Saunders played a concert for the 700-plus men housed on the world’s largest Death Row inside San Quentin State Prison. More than 30 prisoners from the general population did musical performances in the prison’s Catholic Chapel, but due to the security … [Read More...]
Raise The Age law to focus on teens sentenced as adults
By Emily Nonko, Contributing Writer Until this year, New York and North Carolina, were the only states that prosecuted all youth as adults once they turned 16. The Raise the Age law, which went into full effect in New York in October, has raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18. The law is set to change thousands of lives: before … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS
Washington, D.C. — Gallup reports that for the first time in 34 years, a majority of Americans would rather sentence a murderer to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole than the sentence of death. The 60% to 36% difference for life imprisonment marks a shift from the past two decades, when Americans were mostly divided in their views on … [Read More...]
Donté Clark returns to SQ’s APEP with spoken word session
Donté Clark returned to San Quentin last November for a spoken word session and to rap with students seeking to earn their GEDs and go to college. Clark is a poet, who mentors young writers in Richmond, Ca. The Academic Peer Education Program (APEP) hosted Clark’s visit. Peer educator James Metters talked about incarcerated educator, Bobby … [Read More...]
A journey of losing of a loved one and working through the trauma
Replace A granddaughter’s wish came true when Brian Cahill decided to write about his son, her father John Cahill. Cops, Cons, and Grace: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Suicide, (2018) is a recount of how Brian Cahill reconciled the suicide of his beloved son, John, and found dignity for his family. Brian takes readers on a … [Read More...]
Remembering Patrick Maloney’s 40 years at San Quentin
Patrick Maloney taught art to incarcerated men at San Quentin for more than 40 years, his first 10 years were spent voluntarily teaching condemned men on Death Row. Maloney was born, Feb. 5, 1938. He passed away on Aug. 18, 2019, surrounded by his loving family and his art at the home that he built in Nicasio in the late 1960s. His … [Read More...]
Remembering a friend, veteran and devout church goer
Tony Burch was a Navy veteran; however, it was his smile and singing that made him popular in San Quentin State Prison. He passed away on Nov. 6. He was 67 years old. Burch’s memorial began on Nov. 18 with a Color Guard of incarcerated veterans, with Garvin Robinson, Ernie Soltero, Carl Raybon and Brian Corder carrying the American and POW … [Read More...]
The value of Prison to Employment Connection on returning citizens through job opportunities and connections
Prison to Employment Connection (PEC) reached a milestone at San Quentin, completing its 10th session and graduating 44 men, who learned how to present themselves to future employers. One of the highlights of the program was Employer Day in November, where 196 interviews took place with inmates inside the prison’s Protestant chapel. They were … [Read More...]
Red Hoop drumming group brings sounds of life to SQ Pow Wow
The Nevada Red Hoop drumming group brought the sounds of life to San Quentin’s Native American Group Annual Fall Pow Wow. The thumping sounds of traditional drumming filled the prison’s visiting room, blending with the scent of sage, circle dancing and chanting from the outside spiritual elders. The pulsating drumbeats simulate the rhythm … [Read More...]
Tehachapi hosts 3rd Ethics Bowl against CSU Bakersfield
Submitted by Dian Grier, CCI Press Release For the third consecutive year, CCI (California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi) has hosted the annual Ethics Bowl against California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). This year was a tie breaker for CCI, with a 3-0 win. “Intellectual Sports” such as ethics bowls are gaining status and … [Read More...]
San Francisco to replace Juvenile Hall with rehabilitative center
By Dillon Kim, Journalism Guild Writer San Francisco voted to close its Juvenile Hall and replace it with a smaller “rehabilitative center” to provide a more home-like setting for youths who don’t need to be detained but can’t return home. The Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 on June 4 to shut the facility by the end of 2021. Mayor … [Read More...]
Keeping the conversation going about HIV on World AIDS Day at SQ
Almost 20 years ago, Andrew Yancy felt a small lump on his neck. He told a nurse he thought it was a spider bite. There were examinations and tests — the results shocked him — he had been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since then, Yancy says he’s serious about educating people about HIV. He had a chance to make good on … [Read More...]
Incarcerated cooks learn top notch skills as they reenter the workforce
A class of men incarcerated at San Quentin graduated from a cooking course aimed at teaching them topnotch skills for reintegration into the workforce once released. Thanks to the Quentin Cooks program, the eight men showcased their newfound skills on Nov. 13 by preparing a four-course meal for visitors from outside the walls of San … [Read More...]