AMERICAN PRISON PUBLICATIONS EXAMINED
By Kate McQueenWall City AdviserReprinted by permissionJSTOR Daily In December 1915, the men at Wyoming State Penitentiary — population 276 — established a “Red Hot Rag with a Pep” called J-A-B-S. The magazine offered a bit of news and plenty of commentary, bound in a colorful cover and illustrated with a tiny jester carrying a pointy sword. Its … [Read More...]
POWER OF THANKS: NO MORE TEARS APPRECIATION CEREMONY HONORS AGENTS OF CHANGE
By Bostyon Johnson Managing Editor, Michael Callahan Staff Writer San Quentin’s No More Tears program has had a significant impact on facilitators, volunteers, alumni and community partners. An appreciation ceremony on June 10 honored them. The residents of San Quentin created NMT in 2002 to address the rise of violent crimes and reduce … [Read More...]
POWER OF LIGHT: LIGHT KEEPERS PROGRAM WELCOMES A NEWLY TRAINED COHORT
By Michael Callahan Staff Writer, Bostyon Johnson Managing Editor San Quentin’s Light Keepers — a peer support program that teaches participants to support those in mental health crisis — held a graduation for their latest cohort on June 23. The event was intimate and emotional. Some of the 15 graduates brought … [Read More...]
POWER OF THE PEN:
SQNEWS HONORS JOURNALISM GUILD GRADUATES IN CEREMONY FULL OF HEADLINERS The San Quentin News Journalism Guild graduation took place in the Garden Chapel June 16. Fourteen English Guild and eleven Spanish Guild student journalists made up the 2022/23 graduating class. The ceremony featured caps and gowns, guest speakers and refreshments. … [Read More...]
TRANSITION FROM PRISON HEALTH CARE TO THE COMMUNITY
Health FAQ: How do I transition from health care inside to the community? Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) is a network of community health clinics that serve returning community members. TCN clinic programs are led by Community Health Workers (CHWs) with lived experience of incarceration and reentry and support people with their … [Read More...]
ENDING IN-PERSON PSYCHIATRY DENIED
A federal judge has denied the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s proposal to be allowed to provide psychiatric care to state prisoners exclusively by telephone. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller gave final approval of a 2020 provisional settlement policy that allows some remote telepsychiatry but … [Read More...]
‘LESS LIKELY TO DIE’
Study: Treating opioidaddiction during incarcerationreduces future overdoses New research suggests that individuals who receive medication for opioid addiction while incarcerated are less likely to die later from an overdose. The benefits of treating opioid use disorder during incarceration are detailed in a study cited in a Boston Medical … [Read More...]
FORMERLY INCARCERATED MAY FILL HEALTHCARE WORKER VOID
The nation is struggling with a shortage of health care workers even as many people incarcerated in the nation’s prisons and jails struggle to find job. A solutions to both has recently been proposed in the New England Journal of Medicine b y t raining a nd hiring formerly incarcerated people as community health care workers. Dr. Eric … [Read More...]
A JOURNEY TO SELF-IMPROVEMENT BEGINS WITH THE FIRST STEP
As the old saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. For participants and volunteers alike, the journey through Kid CAT also starts with a first step. In Kid CAT’s First Step program, completing the curriculum requires not only a willingness to take that first step, but also a determination to finish the … [Read More...]
TRANSFORMATION AND REDEMPTION
TWO MENS' JOURNEYS: FINDING FREEDOM THROUGH SELF-REFLECTION AND CHOICES routes to redemption and transformation. For many the journey from being active in gangs and politicking on maximum-security prison yards to programming at lower-level yards like San Quentin is not easy. Yet for some residents, it’s been the key to finding freedom … [Read More...]
VOTING RIGHTS ACT LIVES ON DESPITE RECENT ATTACK IN SUPREME COURT
The Voting Rights Act has survived another attack on its existence in a surprise ruling by the majority conservative Supreme Court in June, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Court ruled 5-4 in Allen v. Milligan t hat Republican legislators in Alabama must create a new election district that would allow for the likelihood of a Black … [Read More...]
CONGRESS EXAMINES ASSET SEIZURES BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
Congress is considering legislation that would end illegal confiscation of property from people who have not been convicted of a crime, according to a FOX News report. The proposed bipartisan bill would overhaul asset forfeiture laws, restoring Americans’ protection from private property seizures without warrants, said the … [Read More...]
CAN FELONS RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE?
The recent arrest of a New Mexico political candidate has highlighted a series of disparate state laws dictating whether people with felony convictions are eligible to run for public office. Solomon Peña, a Republican candidate for the New Mexico statehouse, was arrested earlier this year for allegedly recruiting hired guns to shoot at the … [Read More...]
NEW STATE CRIME: ‘AGGRAVATED DEATH BY DELIVERY’
Expansive criminal justice bills to protect public safety have been signed into law by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Sweeping changes will target the state’s parole system and dealers of dangerous drugs such as fentanyl, who are responsible for overdose deaths, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “We will not rest … [Read More...]
FRIENDS OF POPULAR BAKER CALL FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON FOR HER MURDER
Friends of a popular baker killed in an Oakland robbery are urging that the man responsible be spared prison. The baker, Jen Angel, was known as being an opponent of prisons and attended police-accountability protests. Since her death, Angel’s friends have come together to honor her memory by calling for the use of restorative justice in her … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS – August 2023
1. Oregon — (The Oregon Capital Chronicle) Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law a bill that provides stiff penalties for street racing, including for those who organize the racing or block public roads. The practice has become increasingly troublesome for motorists and law enforcement in the wake of the popular Fast & Furious film series. Portland … [Read More...]
VOTING RIGHTS FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED VARY WIDELY
Across the United States, many formerly incarcerated people face a variety of setbacks in their pursuit of voting rights. Some state governments are seeking to restrict voting rights for ex-felons, The New York Times reported. The Republican-dominated Florida Legislature has effectively nullified a citizen ballot initiative granting … [Read More...]
GREATER OVERSIGHT PROPOSED FOR FEDERAL PRISONS
bipartisan legislation to provide additional oversight of federal prisons to address widespread scandals and misconduct, in particular sexual abuse of incarcerated residents at the hands of prison officers. \ Under the proposed reforms, people incarcerated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons would have the ability to report abuses to an … [Read More...]
KENTUCKY MAKES MAJOR PROGRESS ON RECIDIVISM
At his weekly press conference, Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear recently revealed that recidivism rates in the Bluegrass state have fallen to a record-low of 27.15%, down from 44.56% in 2017. By comparison, California’s has been hovering around 50% for years. The governor hailed the accomplishments of various efforts that have … [Read More...]
ALAMEDA DA DEFENDS REFORM EFFORTS
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has barely been in her office one-hundred days yet she has received push back from those opposing her agenda to balance the sentencing on those who commit crimes. Price and her supporters have had to defend her position as the county’s lead prosecutor numerous times, working to explain how her … [Read More...]
RETRO(IN)ACTIVE
failure to apply criminal justicereforms retroactively causesdisparate punishments Recent laws aimed at easing lengthy “tough on crime” punishments typically do not apply retroactively, which disproportionately harms Black and Hispanic people, the Huffington Post reports. Several states have passed criminal justice reform legislation … [Read More...]
REPORT FINDS EXCLUSIVITY IN DIVERSION PROGRAMS
creators of programs and policies structurally exclude lower income minorities Almost anyone in front of a judge for infractions such as DWI or possession of small amounts of illegal drugs hopes to avoid jail or prison. Diversion programs like education for drunken driving or drug rehabilitation seem a far more preferable solution. Diversion … [Read More...]
CLEAN SLATE LAWS HELP WITH A FRESH START
An estimated 70-100 million Americans have arrest records, which seriously hamper their efforts to find housing and productive jobs, The Marshall Project reports in its Closing Argument newsletter. However, the report noted new “clean slate” laws are making a positive difference. “Every time I try to do something better, my criminal record is … [Read More...]
BILL AIMS TO STOP THE PRISON TO SHELTER PIPELINE
New York lawmakers are once again considering legislation aimed at helping formerly incarcerated people get a place to live, The New York Times reported. A similar bill was rejected last year by the Governor’s office during budget negotiations. The bill, known as the Housing Access Voucher Program, would provide assistance to people … [Read More...]
COOKING UP A SECOND CHANCE
FORMER SQ CORRECTIONAL OFFICER STARTS CULINARY PROGRAM FORTHE HOMELESS AND THOSE RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE After working as a correctional guard and ironworker, Paul Fields became an executive chef. Now, he’s using his skills to lead a culinary training program that helps participants turn their lives around. Fields once worked as … [Read More...]
EXTINGUISHED: Law to expunge records allows formerly incarcerated to become firefighters
Formerly incarcerated firefighters can now get fire protection jobs when released. A law passed three years ago allows them to apply to have their criminal record expunged, the Marin Independent Journal reported. A forestry and recruitment program started by two formerly incarcerated people smoothed the way. One of the … [Read More...]
RESIDENTS OF H-UNIT FIND HEALING IN PLANTS
A San Quentin garden program uses the power of planting and growing to help students apply what they learn to their rehabilitation. The Insight Garden Project is a group that brings the healing power of the earth to the residents of the prison’s H-Unit, according to Isa Pena, IGP program manager. Pena said her interest in prisons dates … [Read More...]
HELPING THEMSELVES
EARNED LIVING UNITS DEAL WITH LONG WAITLISTS BY STARTING THEIR OWN GROUPS San Quentin’s Earned Living Units are providing programs for themselves by creating incarcerated-run self-help groups. South Block’s Alpine and Donner units now offer the Returning Citizens Program, a weekly interactive, reentry-based approach to human … [Read More...]
INCARCERATED WRITERS SHARE THEIR TALENT IN ANNUAL PUBLIC READING
WILLIAM JAMES ASSOCIATION EVENT IN SQ CHAPEL PROMOTES CREATIVITY AND WRITING SKILLS Seventeen San Quentin Prison residents shared their vulnerabilities, experiences and personal life trials at the 14th annual Public Reading event. “Creative writing allows me the freedom to travel beyond my physical barriers,” writer Jim Bottomley said … [Read More...]
FOUNDER OF RADIO DIARIES PODCAST VISITS SQ
JOE RICHMAN EXPOUNDS ON 30 YEARS OF RADIO BROADCASTING EXPERIENCE … [Read More...]
FORMERLY INCARCERATED FILMMAKER WINS AWARD
ADAMU CHAN WINS DIRECTOR DEBUT FOR 'WHAT THESE WALLS WON'T HOLD A formerly incarcerated documentary filmmaker, who honed his skills in San Quentin’s media center, has won an award from the oldest film festival in the nation. Adamu Chan, director of the film “What These Walls Won’t hold,” received the Golden Gate Award for best mid-length … [Read More...]
MAN IN THE MOON: JON GOLDBERG’S CELESTIAL VISIONS
In the art of San Quentin res-ident Jon Goldberg, a vivid imagination conceives and materializes paintings of galaxies and celestial objects that merge reality and fantasy. Art has allowed Goldberg to discover ways to reach the remote distances of space. “As a young boy of only 10 years, my mother saw that I needed an outlet,” said … [Read More...]
ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURES
DAVID CALDERON TAKESCONTROL OF HIS MENTALHEALTH THROUGH HIS CRAFT San Quentin resident David Calderon, 38, showcases his artistry by creating sports hats out of writing paper and cardboard. He created his hats with a variety of team sports logos at the request of other incarcerated men here at San Quentin; teams like the Dodgers, 49ers, … [Read More...]
STATE’S REPARATIONS TASK FORCE ISSUES 1,100-PAGE REPORT WITH NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS
After more than two years of searching for facts and holding public hearings, the California Reparations Task Force Report is complete. No proposals will be made to make monetary compensation to any descendants of African slaves. Economists and public policy analysts have determined that reparations payments to individuals could potentially … [Read More...]
READERS RESPOND TO CALIFORNIA MODEL SURVEY
In our May 2023 issue, we surveyedreaders about Gov. GavinNewsom’s proposal to developa California Model of rehabilitation.Here are just a couple ofthe thoughtful responses we’vereceived so far. CALIFORNIA MODEL NEEDS MORE THAN PAINT JOBS AND MICROWAVES Dear SQ News: It would look better than paint jobs, couches and … [Read More...]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – July 2023
LACK OF LGBTQ COVERAGE IN SQNEWS? Dear Editor-in-Chief: I am a transwoman incarcerated at Richard J. Donavon. I always pick up a copy of the San Quentin News when I go to the law library and enjoy a lot of the articles. I notice that you and your staff never write or publish any articles of transgenders. I am upset because … [Read More...]
THE FORSYTE SAGA by John Galsworthy
ROOTING FOR THE ANTIHERO The recent arrival of the GTL tablet with its online library has prompted me to discard many paper copies of my books, but not my nine Forsyte novels by John Galsworthy. Galsworthy grouped his nine novels into three trilogies and the GTL library stocks a Duke Classics edition of The Forsyte Saga, the first … [Read More...]
SQ TENNIS CLUB IN THE SPOTLIGHT
INDIE PRODUCER COMPILES FOOTAGE FOR DOCUMENTARY The San Quentin Tennis Club has the attention of independent film Producer Jennifer Winters. She came to the prison to gather the final footage for her documentary of the club on a hot Saturday morning in May. “We’re impressed by the team,” said Winters. “They can go toe-to-toe with the … [Read More...]
STRIKE: SOUTHPAW OAK SMITH DELIVERS FIRST PITCH OF 2023
Acting Warden Oak Smith threw out the first pitch for the San Quentin A’s baseball opener on May 13, twirling his signature toothpick from the side of his mouth. After making the rounds and slapping high-fives with all the players, the warden stood on the mound in his ready-to-play stance, cocked his leg and delivered. The southpaw’s … [Read More...]
SAN QUENTIN BASEBALL’S TRIUMPHANT SEASON OPENER
OLD BUT FRIENDLY RIVALSFACE OFF FOR GAME ONE The San Quentin A’s baseball team played their season opener against the outside volunteer team, the San Francisco Mission on May 13. Once again, the A’s started the new season with a bang, beating the Mission, 11-2. Baseball resumed after a hiatus during the pandemic, and the Mission’s … [Read More...]
COUNCIL MEMBER MARK STAPP’S BITTERMAN PREVAILS OVER SQ KINGS
Santa Rosa City Councilmember Mark Stapp returned to San Quentin with his Team Bitterman and beat the SQ Kings 70-59, extending their wins since their last victory. Stapp brought in 11 community volunteers to battle the home team. Last November, Stapp’s team defeated the Kings 82-77. “I’m excited kicking this season off and I’m … [Read More...]
OPEN SEASON: GREEN TEAM RETURNS TO LOWER YARD WITH SKY-HIGH LINEUP
On May 13, the outside volunteer Green team returned to the Lower Yard for the basketball season opener against the San Quentin Warriors, beating them 84-76. Team captain Bill Epling led the Green team with some new and familiar faces. All of his teammates had notable height and the Warriors referred to them as “trees,” acknowledging that their … [Read More...]
SQ EARTHQUAKES SHAKE TURF IN SEISMIC VICTORY
FUTBOL SEASON KICKS OFF WITH 7-0 WIN OVER LONG-STANDING GUESTS THE OUTSIDERS Futbol season returned to SQ April 30. The San Quentin Earthquakes were dominated the visiting Outsiders on a cool Saturday afternoon, kicking off their season with a friendly win against the longtime volunteers — final score, 7-0. “We got our [expletive] handed … [Read More...]
EL PRESIDENTE PROPONE CAMBIOSA LA GUERRA CONTRA LAS DROGAS
El recién elegido presidente de Colombia ha demostrado desde antes de las elecciones, que tiene planes de cambiar las actuales regulaciones acerca de la póliza contra las drogas e implantar cambios referentes a la extradición de traficantes de drogas, escribe Alexander Lekhtman para FILTER News. El Presidente de Colombia Gustavo Petro … [Read More...]
PRESIDENTE HONDUREÑO IMPLEMENTA ‘MANO DURA’ EN EL PAÍS
NUEVA OFENSIVACONTRAPANDILLAS SELLEVA ACABO Honduras pone mano dura en ofensiva contra pandillas. En las ciudades de Tegucigalpa y San Pedro Sula, se han implementado medidas radicales suspendiendo derechos humanos, en una lucha contra las pandillas que han aterrorizado estas ciudades mayores de Honduras. Esto según un reportaje … [Read More...]
PREP – CELEBRANDO 20 AÑOS DE SERVICIO CON EL PROGRAMA PARTNERSHIP FOR REENTRY
Por Richard Frenandez, Contributing Writer Este año la asociación para programa de re-entre (PREP por sus siglas en inglés) celebró 20 años de servicio. Desde su comienzo, la visión de PREP ha sido de ayudar a la gente encarcelada, para que sean ciudadanos productivos, aumentando la reintegración exitosa a la sociedad y la reducción de … [Read More...]
INFORMANTE DEL FBI MUERE BAJO CONDICIONES INSEGURAS
Basados en el último reporte publicado por La Prensa Asociada. James “Whitey” Bulger el cual usaba una silla de ruedas y tuviera serios problemas cardiacos muere en una celda en la prisión de Virginia Occidental a sus 89 años, según lo dicho por, Lindsay Whitehurst & Alanna Durkin Richer. Bulger al ser un notorio gánster y que en algún … [Read More...]
EL PROGRAMA MUY POPULAR DECGA REGRESA A SAN QUENTIN
Después de una larga ausencia debido al COVID-19, el grupo rehabilitativo Criminales y Pandillas Anónimas de San Quentin, (CGA por sus siglas en ingles), ya está otra vez en operación. El grupo de CGA comenzó reuniéndose en San Quentin desde el 2011. Su propósito es de ayudar a gente encarcelada que estan recuperándose de un estilo de vida … [Read More...]
ASAMBLEA PARA INFORMACIÓN SOBRE EL MODELO NORUEGO
Por Edwin E. Chavezy Willy Alarcón El nuevo modelo noruego de rehabilitación en la prisión San Quentin. La administración de San Quentin abrió las puertas a toda la comunidad encarcelada, dándole a los reclusos la oportunidad de escuchar cómo se implementarán las nuevas propuestas del modelo de encarcelamiento europeo. “Si tenemos … [Read More...]
SEPARATED AT BORDER: KIDS, FAMILIES STILL NOT REUNITED
HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN REMAIN SEPARATED FROM PARENTS BY TRUMP-ERA POLICY The Department of Homeland Security acknowledges that nearly a thousand migrant children remain separated from their families in the wake of the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance program to slow down illegal immigration, reported the Wall Street Journal. Even though … [Read More...]
NO GATE MONEY FOR DEPORTEES
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation of California does not pay gate money to deportees or anyone subject to extradition to another state or to federal custody. Statewide, persons of Hispanic origin comprise the largest ethnic group of the incarcerated population. Some 40-44% of them count as undocumented. Upon release, they … [Read More...]
MEGA PRISON – EL SALVADOR TAKES MASS INCARCERATION TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
“Incarceration works,” says The Washington Examiner in an editorial. “Yes, that’s right,” the editorial continues, “putting lots of very bad criminals behind bars is a necessary part of any effective strategy against rising crime in the U.S.” As evidence of this concept, the paper cites the example of El Salvador. The small Latin American … [Read More...]
ADVOCATES: STEM FOR INCARCERATED IS WIN-WIN-WIN
By Cainen ChambersContributing Writer The U.S. experiences a serious shortage of workers in jobs that involve skills in STEM —Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — and two policy advocates have a three-point plan for incarcerated persons to bridge that gap, says an op-ed by Eden Badertscher and Basia Skudrzyk in The … [Read More...]
FRUSTRATING, ERROR-RIDDEN, COSTLY: E-MESSAGING ON GTL TABLET APP
By Charlotte WestOpen Campus Reporter, Reprinted by permission For over two weeks, every time I tried to log onto GettingOut, I got the same error message: “We’re sorry, but something went wrong. We’ve been notified about this issue and we’ll take a look at it shortly.” As an education reporter covering prisons, I use the messaging … [Read More...]
INTRODUCING THE INTERNET AND THE WORLD WIDE WEB
A RUNDOWN ON THE HISTORY OF THE GLOBALNETWORK THAT KEEPS THE PLANET CONNECTED Believe it or not, the invention of the telegraph gave rise to what we now call the Internet. Using a telegraph key, a message could be sent with a series of taps and pauses, similar to Morse code, over wires spanning great distances to a receiving telegraph … [Read More...]
ART & KRIMES: FILM EXAMINES NEXUS OF ART AND REHABILITATION
“Artists are definitely treated different in prison — ‘cause you provide something real that humanizes people and connects people to their family, which makes them feel valuable.” The quote above is from the documentary Art & Krimes by Jesse Krimes, screened in San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel Feb. 17. The film, directed by … [Read More...]
ISUDT’S INCENTIVE DAY CARNIVAL CELEBRATES TRANSFORMATION
By Anthony Manuel Caravalho,Aristeo Sampablo, and Michael Callahan San Quentin’s drug treatment program, called Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT), offers periodic incentive days to celebrate participants’ completion of program elements such as life skills, cognitive behavioral intervention, drug and alcohol recovery and two … [Read More...]
REFLECTIVE, JOYOUS JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION HELD IN SQ CHAPEL
A celebration of freedom took place in San Quentin’s Chapel B, with positive messages in poetry, rap, gospel, and live music. On June 19, at approximately 6 pm 150 SQ residents congregated inside the Protestant Chapel, to celebrate Juneteenth, the month that marks the final notification that slavery has ended. Marcus Henderson … [Read More...]
SQ LIBRARY’S BOOK FAIR SERIES CONTINUES TO PROMOTE LITERACY, LEARNING, FAMILY TIES
Friends of the San Quentin Library continued its successful book-fair series on June 16 at The Q. The popular event allowed incarcerated residents a rare opportunity to bestow free books upon their children, just in time for Father’s Day. The book-fair program aims to facilitate the growth of children whose parents are imprisoned, as well … [Read More...]
UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL COVERAGE
HELPING LOW-INCOME PATIENTS NAVIGATE COMPLEX INSURANCE SYSTEM Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) is a network of community health clinics that serve returning community members. TCN clinic programs are led by Community Health Workers (CHWs) with lived experience of incarceration and reentry and support people with their healthcare and reentry. TCN … [Read More...]
NEVER TOO OLD
HEALTH, FITNESSKEEP ATHLETEYOUNG AT 62 Everyone knows that exercise preserves health and regenerates youth. Darwin “Tall” Billingsley, 62, proves that concept on the Lower Yard of San Quentin with his workout on the pull-up bars. Incarcerated for 30 years, the 6”6’ exceptionally fit incarcerated person has defied time by keeping with his … [Read More...]
RAIN FAILS TO DAMPEN HARDY SPIRITS
COMMITMENT OF RECREATIONAL ATHLETES UNWAVERING UNDER LEADEN SKIES Scattered showers did not deter 11 determined San Quentin residents from enjoying an opportunity for recreational freedom on SQ’s Lower Yard March 13. The rain dripped, but Randolph Gibbs and Alan Brooks continued with their exercise routines. As people rushed across the … [Read More...]
SAN QUEN-TOONS, July 2023
UNION: CONTRACT CARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR STAFF PSYCHIATRISTS
By Cainen ChambersContributing Writer Has the mental health of incarcerated persons declined because the state has turned to private contractors to cover unfilled staff positions in mental health? A hearing in Sacramento explored concerns of whether private contractors have the capacity to provide sufficient continuity of care at state … [Read More...]
KEEPING HOPE ALIVE FOR YOUTH OFFENDERS
KID CAT OFFERS A CHANCE TO TRANSFORM TRAUMAS INTO LEGACY OF SERVICE outside community bring a powerful currency to San Quentin’s Kid CAT program: hope. With their help, incarcerated youth offenders work to develop a new way of thinking, abandoning pride and overcoming fear, sacrificing the ego and boldly trusting in the group’s … [Read More...]
WILL COUNTY-CENTERED SYSTEM PRODUCE DESIRED REFORMS?
CALIFORNIA TO FULLY SHUTTER YOUTH PRISON SYSTEM After a two-year-long realignment process, California has fully closed its youth prison system, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. With the closure of its last two lockups on June 30, California’s Division of Juvenile Justice will have closed all 11 of its youth penitentiaries, … [Read More...]
CALIFORNIA TO FULLY SHUTTER YOUTH PRISON SYSTEM
YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEMREALIGNMENT WOBBLING Even with the closure of California’s youth prisons and the state’s shift to a rehabilitation-first focus, justice advocates are still fighting to transform California’s juvenile legal system into the progressive model they envisioned. New laws such as Senate Bill 823, which was endorsed by Gov. … [Read More...]
STUDY EXAMINES IMPACT OF BAIL REFORM ON REARREST RATE
A college study concludes that low-level offenders released under New York’s bail reform law are less likely to return to jail. The 2020 reform eliminated a judge’s ability to set bail for low-level crimes. The study found this actually reduced the likelihood the offender would be re-arrested, the nonprofit Gothamist reported. The … [Read More...]
PRISON CONSTRUCTION COSTS SPIRAL UPWARD
RESPONSE TO PRISON PROBLEMS IS TO BUILD MORE PRISONS re has committed to building two “super-size” correctional facilities; despite the nearly $1 billion price tag. $400 million from the federal pandemic relief fund money to start the project, according to the Associated Press. The first project in Elmore County jumped from the estimated … [Read More...]
WISDOM OF LONG PRISON SENTENCES CONSIDERED
A yearlong independent study challenges U.S. lawmakers and state agencies to consider the effectiveness of long-term prison sentences. The Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank made up of a diverse panel of law enforcement officials, advocacy groups, victims, former prosecutors and former prisoners, convened the task force … [Read More...]
STATE SET TO RESUME EXECUTIONS
The state of Alabama is resuming executions after a three-month delay in the wake of problems with lethal injections that forced the cancellation of three executions, according to reporting by The Associated Press. Last November, Gov. Kay Ivey ordered executions paused to allow for a “top to bottom” internal review of death penalty … [Read More...]
MOST CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNITS PRODUCE NO EXONERATIONS
More than half of the conviction review units listed on the National Registry of Exonerations website have not produced an exoneration, according to USA Today. Marissa Bluestine is an attorney and assistant director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS – July 2023
1. California — (The San Diego Union-Tribune) San Diego County will invest $7.2 million in a program that stresses services for homelessness, mental illness and addiction rather than jail. The program, called Safety Through Services, is the result of a proposal from County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. “Our current system [stressing incarceration] … [Read More...]
MISCONDUCT LEADS TO EXONERATION AFTER 25 YEARS
Indianapolis prosecutors and a California law school clinic worked together to free a man imprisoned for nearly 25 years for murder, according to reporting by The Indianapolis Star. Officials released Leon Benson, 47, from the Correctional Industrial Facility in Pendleton, CA. An investigation revealed that police had failed to disclose key … [Read More...]
SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS INTERSECT LINES OF RACE AND SOCIAL CLASS
Research reveals that school suspensions disproportionately impact black female students at a higher rate than their white counter parts. Professor Andrea Joseph-McCatty of the University of Tennessee’s study focused on how the greater share of suspensions and expulsions were racial and gender biased according to The … [Read More...]
TOM LAPINSKI’S TOUR OF SAN QUENTIN
THE EDUCATOR, PRODUCER, RECORDING ENGINEER HAS BEEN BRINGING TOP PERFORMERS TO THE Q FOR DECADES Not everyone has the privilege to work with famous artists of jazz and rock, from Miles Davis to the Rolling Stones, but Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and San Quentin volunteer Tom Lapinski accumulated these experiences over 23 years as … [Read More...]
FADDD – NICHE PROGRAM SERVES DISTINCT REHABILITATIVE NEED
Retired Chief Deputy Warden Velda Dobson-Davis introduced the incarcerated community at San Quentin to the self-help program, Felons Against Distracted & Drunk Driving (FADDD). The program aims to save lives by educating participants about drinking, drug-use, texting, or live streaming while operating cars, boats, motorcycles, and … [Read More...]
NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION GROUP RESTORED TO PRE-COVID MODE
San Quentin’s Nonviolent Communication class returned to normal operation after three years of operation via correspondence due to COVID. The class promotes personal growth through effective communication. In its interactive model, the class emphasizes group learning to improve empathy, compassion and accountability. “We are so … [Read More...]
GRIP BIDS FAREWELL TO FOUNDER
DEPTH OF PROGRAM'SIMPACT MIRRORED INGROUP'S RESPECTFOR ITS CREATOR Staff facilitators and incarcerated participants said goodbye to Jacques Verduin, the founder of the self-help group Guiding Rage Into Power — GRIP — by honoring his legacy at a farewell ceremony at the Addiction Recovery building on April 28. Attendees sat in a circle … [Read More...]
GOVERNOR, LAWMAKERS REACH BUDGET DEAL ON SQ REHABILITATION CENTER
The Los Angeles Times has reported on California’s new spending plan — and allocation in the budget of the $380 million Gov. Gavin Newsom asked for to transform San Quentin into a model of rehabilitation. “The deal Newsom struck with lawmakers will kick start his sweeping plan to revitalize San Quentin State Prison into a … [Read More...]
A PLACE AT THE TABLE
The People in Bluemeet with members ofgovernor's advisory panelfor roundtable discussion On June 9, The People In Blue, a dozen San Quentin residents dressed in the blue clothing of incarcerated Californians, formed a circle in San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel. The group of 12—of which I am a member—represents a contingent of incarcerated people … [Read More...]
HOT ‘N’ FRESH – ROLLING FOOD STANDS COME TO LOWER YARD
PROCEEDS FROMFUNDRAISER WILLBENEFIT CHILDRENOF INCARCERATEDPARENTS THROUGHPROJECT AVARY San Quentin recently hosted a first-of-its-kind “General Population Food Sale Event” with food trucks on the Lower Yard. The event raised almost $27,000, some of which goes to charity, while providing residents with a sense of normalcy commensurate with … [Read More...]
PROF. WILLIAM DRUMMOND: LOOKING BACK AT AN AWARD-WINNING CAREER IN JOURNALISM
In July, San Quentin News adviser William J. Drummond celebrated 40 years teaching journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. For the last 11 years, he has also taught, mentored and advised the writers and editors of the San Quentin News. His relationship with the newspaper began in 2012, when Drummond taught a journalism … [Read More...]
OUTSIDE PERFORMERS HELP SAN QUENTIN CELEBRATE PEACE
SAN QUENTIN—In the aftermath of a 2006 prison race riot, a group of incarcerated people at San Quentin came together to honor peace. Little did they know their efforts would spur an enduring movement that would foster unity and relative harmony across the notoriously violent prison. Since 2007, San Quentin residents have held yearly Day of … [Read More...]
OLD SCHOOL
LUCIANO BORJAS BRINGS LOWRIDER CULTURE BACK TO LIFE Art promotes peace and tranquility in those who allow their skills and imagination to flourish inside prison walls. Luciano Borjas has found peace in drawing cars, sceneries and portraits. The artist’s passion helps foster his personal growth while enhancing relationships with friends and … [Read More...]
SAN QUEN-TOONS – BITTERSWEET 2023
SQN RECOGNIZED BY THE CNPA
The California News Publishers Association(CNPA) announced its awards for 2022 andrecognized San Quentin News staff again.The following print journalism awardsare for weekly and monthly newspaperswith circulation greater than25,000 copies:Marcus Henderson; secondplace for his editorial on howdiscussions of justice reformand public safety are … [Read More...]
UNHEARD STAKEHOLDERS
INCARCERATED VOICES UNTAPPED IN DEVELOPMENT OF CALIFORNIA MODEL Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom named the advisory council that will help transform San Quentin into a rehabilitation center. While it includes an impressive group of criminal justice and public safety advocates, one group of stakeholders was noticeably absent. That absent … [Read More...]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, June 2023
SAN RAFAEL READER PRAISES WALL CITY MAGAZINE Dear SQNews: The technical expertise, editorial content, writing skills, and timely articles have gotten better and better with each issue. The last issue of Wall City magazine, showcasing the art and artists flourishing within San Quentin, was superb and most inspiring. I would like to … [Read More...]
ONE-ON-ONE WITH FUTBOL MASTER RONALD LUNA
Soccer is one of the staple sports at San Quentin prison. When it is played on the Lower Yard, a dedicated group of athletes come out to display their highly-competitive brand of the sport. San Quentin’s soccer team, the Earthquakes, is the heart and soul of SQ’s soccer community, driving fans to their feet with each goal scored. The … [Read More...]
DENNIS ROGERS’COACHING DEBUT A TRIPLE HITTER
The triple-hitter intramural basketball tournament in April did not disappoint San Quentin spectators. The event captivated the crowd, but left three teams sulking in their losses. Team RJ fell to Team 94 Feet, 69-33. Team EJ topped L’s Team, 36-30. And in the game dubbed the main event, Team We Trippin edged Team Finish It, … [Read More...]
SIDE-BY-SIDE DOMINANCE
SQ WARRIORS, KINGS OPEN SEASON WITH SHOW OF DETERMINATION The Golden State warriors and Sacramento Kings started the NBA post-season with a dramatic series won by the Warriors in the seventh game. As that series played out, the San Quentin Warriors were also beating the SQ Kings in a pre-season scrimmage, 100- 62. The scrimmage game … [Read More...]
SAN QUENTIN ADMINISTRATION SETS NEW EXAMPLE
The pickleball event on May 5 set a historic precedent for San Quentin. Not only did Oak Smith, the acting warden at the time, bring a new sport to The Q, he actually joined in to play the game with residents. This was likely the first time ever that a warden has joined in to play a sport with the incarcerated at California’s oldest prison, … [Read More...]
SER PADRE ES UNA GRAN RESPONSABILIDAD
En este Día de Los Padres, reflexionamos en lo que es ser padres y hombres que engendran hijos/as. En su día, las madres reciben flores, tarjetas y regalos. Pero es raro oír que un padre reciba tanta atención. Hoy el problema más grande que hay, es la falta de padres. La infidelidad esta desenfrenada. Y aunque abortar no es opción para el … [Read More...]
GRIP CELEBRA VICTORIA SOBRE LA IRA
Por Edwin E. Chavez y Willy Alarcón En San Quentin el programa de autoayuda Guiando la Ira En Poder (GRIP por sus siglas en inglés) celebra otra graduación con la victoria de 65 personas que encontraron la sanidad y liberación de la ira. El programa consiste en 52 sesiones semanales. En cada sesión todos los participantes reexaminan … [Read More...]
LA ESCLAVITUD CONTINÚA EN LA BOLETA ELECTORAL
Se recuerda la esclavitud en la boleta electoral en cinco estados de EE.UU., La Prensa Asociada. Hace más 150 años la esclavitud se abolió. Sin embargo, la esclavitud moderna está en la boleta alertando - a votantes de Alabama, Luisiana, Oregón, Tennessee y Vermont, según el artículo. En las prisiones estatales ha quedado una … [Read More...]
GRADUACION DE LOS PROGRAMAS TALLER DETRUST, PROYECTO L.A., Y EL MANEJO DE LA IRA
Por Edwin E. Chavez y Willy Alarcón En la capilla de San Quentin, el 6 de abril, alrededor de 100 participantes se graduaron del programa TRUST. Por sus siglas en inglés TRUST (Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training) significa: Enseñando Responsabilidad y Utilizando Entrenamiento de Socialización. TRUST es una organización … [Read More...]
LAS SOBREVIVIENTES COMPARTEN SU EXPERIENCIA CON RESIDENTES DE SQ EN EL DÍA DE SANACIÓN
Por Arsenio Leyva y Aristeo SampabloSpanish Journalism Guild Durante la semana nacional de las víctimas y sobrevivientes del crimen, la prisión estatal de San Quentin presentó, por primera vez un evento conmemorando la causa. Antes de iniciar el evento, los coordinadores encarcelados, las víctimas y sobrevivientes de crímenes en la … [Read More...]
21ST CENTURY ORACLE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
By Sherman K. Newman, Contributing Writer Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to turn the internet into a veritable 21st century oracle. Is the future of work threatened? What is the potential of this technology to enhance human life? AI is raising a lot of questions, and answers have been vague or non-existent. Let’s examine what AI is … [Read More...]
PELL GRANTS COMING BACK
After a thirty-year absence, July 2023 marks the full return of federal Pell Grants for incarcerated students and a new chapter of hope for a better future. One such incarcerated student is San Quentin resident Michael Keith Moore, 61, who graduated from Mount Tamalpais College with an associate degree in Liberal Arts. He is hoping to get … [Read More...]
WATCHING THROUGH THE BARS AS KIDS OF INCARCERATED PARENTS ACHIEVE
By Ryan MoserCollege Inside NewsletterReprinted by permission How to parent a college student from prison In this first-person essay, Ryan Moser, who is incarcerated in Florida, describes what it’s been like watching his son’s college journey unfold from afar. I never took my education seriously. I dropped out of high school … [Read More...]
MAKING HEALTH CARE PART OF A SUCCESSFUL REENTRY
MAINTAINING CONTINUITY OF CARE FROM PRISON TO SOCIETY Why should healthcare be a part of your reentry plan? How often do you hear people on the yard talking about where to get a medical check-up when they get out? Most people, understandably, are thinking about getting a job, finding a place to live, and restoring relationships. Very … [Read More...]
CORCORAN PRISONERS RAISE SUICIDE AWARENESS THROUGH CREATIVE ARTS
Incarcerated people at CSP Corcoran worked together to create chalk art throughout the prison, aimed at increasing awareness of suicide in prison. In 2021, 31 people committed suicide in California’s prisons, with others struggling with suicidal thoughts and attempts, the Prison Journalism Project reported in a March … [Read More...]
WORKERS EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT OF MOCK EXECUTION
Performing executions, whether authentic or simulated, causes long-term side effects for workers both in and outside of prisons, according to NPR. The organization’s investigative team conducted 26 interviews of a group that included executioners, lawyers, an engineer, a doctor and a nurse. The interviewees disclosed long-term side … [Read More...]
GOV. CALLS FOR BALLOT MEASURE IN ʼ24
HOUSING AND TREATMENT FOR VETS, MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION Gov. Gavin Newsom is seeking support for a 2024 ballot measure that would fund housing and treatment for Californians struggling with addictions and mental illness, as part of a larger plan to fight homelessness. Part of the funds would be set aside under the proposal to house … [Read More...]
H-UNIT EOPS TEAM UP FOR ‘MURPH CHALLENGE’
Residents of San Quentin’s Enhanced Outpatient Program teamed up on Memorial Day to complete a “hero workout” as part of a national event to honor a fallen military service member. CrossFit clubs and enthusiasts across the country complete the event, known as the Murph Challenge, every year on Memorial Day. Bringing the Murph Challenge … [Read More...]
MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAM CELEBRATES FIRST ROUND GRADUATES
Yolo County’s new mental health diversion court addresses treatment of mental health issues and alcohol or other drug addictions. The program celebrated its first two graduates on March 15, according to the Sacramento Bee. The project started in February 2022 with a plan to divert people suffering from addiction away from incarceration … [Read More...]
REPORT: CHRONIC FEAR HAS NEGATIVE EFFECT ON PHYSICAL, MENTAL HEALTH
Chronic fear can negatively affect an individual’s physical, emotional, environmental, and spiritual health, contributing to a variety of anxieties and disorders, according to a report from The Center for Biosimilars. Fear is a natural response to physical or psychological danger. Most of the fear people experience arises when the brain … [Read More...]
VOLUNTEERS BRING TRAUMA-INFORMED YOGA TO SQ RESIDENTS
Yoga instructors Annabelle Teleki and Veronica Geretz arrive at San Quentin each week to guide the residents through a practice known as “trauma-informed yoga.” Teleki said her status as a teacher and guide for the Prison Yoga Project comes with a great responsibility that she does not take lightly. She shows up to San Quentin week after … [Read More...]
GRIP GRADS GET ‘STAMP’ OF APPROVAL
On April 21, the Guiding Rage Into Power Training Institute held its second graduation since rebounding from the pandemic. Sixty-five graduates took seats on the stage in San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel and waited for their friends and families to arrive. The Grip program, founded by Jacque Verduin, is a 52- week in-person … [Read More...]
TRUST CELEBRATIONS RESUME AFTER COVID
San Quentin’s garden chapel on April 6 to celebrate graduation from the TRUST family of programs. It was the program’s first graduation in three years due to interruptions caused by COVID. TRUST stands for Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training. The celebrated program is in its 19th year at San Quentin, making it one of … [Read More...]
MAKING IT REAL: PROSECUTORS TO VISIT JAILS AND PRISONS
A challenge from a criminal justice reform organization resulted in 66 elected prosecutors agreeing to visit the very correctional facilities their offices place people in, according to an article in The Davis Vanguard. The Families Against Mandatory Minimums advocacy group created the challenge in order to promote criminal justice and prison … [Read More...]
CASH BAIL ALTERNATIVE
SCIENCE-BASED ALGORITHM FOCUSESON ISSUES OF FAIRNESS, PUBLIC SAFETY A new procedure for releasing detainees focuses on public safety and fairness by using a scientifically based algorithm rather than relying on a cash-based bail system. The algorithm, known as the Public Safety Assessment tool, was developed by examining 750,000 criminal … [Read More...]
THREE-STRIKE STRUGGLES
PRISONERS SENTENCED UNDER THREE-DECADE OLD LAW FIGHT TO EARN RELEASE As California’s Three Strikes law approaches its 30- year anniversary, prisoners sentenced under the 1994 law are gradually being released, but others complain they are still being denied justice. James Benson, 67, has served more than 25 years in prison under the … [Read More...]
TRANS PRISONERS FORCED TO SUE FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE
Incarcerated transgender people struggle to access gender-affirming care in prisons around the U.S. and often must resort to lawsuits to get the care they need, according to a report by NPR. Ashley Diamond, a trans prison resident in Georgia, filed a lawsuit in 2015 against the state for denying her hormone treatments she had been taking … [Read More...]
U.S. WEIGHING HUNDREDS OF ANTI-LGBTQ+ LAWS
Social justice and equality have come to the forefront of American consciousness in recent years, and many would agree the movement is long overdue. However, across the country, significant opposition stands between true equality and the Queer population. Nationwide, the American Civil Liberties Union is currently tracking more than 470 … [Read More...]
DEPORTED TRANSWOMAN KILLED IN EL SALVADOR
A transgender woman who sought asylum in the U.S. to escape discrimination and threats of violence was killed in her native country of El Salvador after she was deported, according to the Salvadoran trans advocacy group Asociación Aspidh Arcoiris Trans. As reported by NBC News, Camila Diaz Cordova, 31, had joined one of the migrant caravans … [Read More...]
FOR THE LOVE OF LABELS
Labeling people can be problematic. Yet people often develop unique (and sometimes confusing) labels and classifications for themselves. In the LGBTQ+ community, there are numerous unique identities and orientations sometimes lumped together under one all-encompassing banner: Gay. Gender identity and expression are entirely different from … [Read More...]
SCOTUS UPHOLDS ASSAULT WEAPON BAN – FOR NOW
The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily upheld an Illinois law aimed at banning certain rapid-fire assault weapons, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times. On May 17, the justices rejected an emergency appeal brought by gun rights groups (National Assn. for Gun Rights v. Naperville, Ill), in an unsigned order with no dissent. The groups … [Read More...]
DISCRETIONARY PAROLE STYMIED – AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION SUES
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska filed a lawsuit in February against the state’s corrections department and Corrections Commissioner Jen Winkelman, alleging that officials denied access to programs needed by four plaintiffs to prepare them for timely release under a discretionary parole program. The discretionary parole process … [Read More...]
HOW MUCH EDUCATION DO POLICE OFFICERS NEED?
In the wake of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, Oregon State legislators have introduced a bill that mandates police officers to complete higher education requirements. The bill would require Oregon law enforcement departments to stipulate hiring requirements. Police divisions with less than 50 officers would require two years of … [Read More...]
COMPASSIONATE RELEASE PROVISIONS LARGELY IGNORED
The release of elderly prisoners is significantly underused, a criminal justice professor says. Every state except Iowa has a law allowing compassionate release for elderly and terminally ill prisoners, writes Michael Pittaro, a Ph.D. associate professor for American Military University and an adjunct professor of criminal justice at East … [Read More...]
MANHATTAN DA STANDS FORMORE THAN TRUMP INDICTMENT
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been a lightning rod for right-wing attacks and media scrutiny after his controversial indictment of former president Donald Trump on 34 felony charges. “Without Mr. Trump, Mr. Bragg would be remembered merely as Manhattan’s worst district attorney,” said one op-ed by The Wall Street … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS – June 2023
1. California — (AP) A nine-member reparations task force approved a set of recommendations in late April, advising the state how to compensate and apologize to its Black residents for the harm caused by a history of discrimination. The task force’s draft report included a recommendation to pay “cash or its equivalent” to eligible Californians. The … [Read More...]
STATES WEIGH AUTOMATIC EXPUNGEMENT LAWS
Many states have begun to reform laws in an effort to improve employment opportunities for those with criminal records, according to a white paper from the CATO Institute dated Feb. 24, 2023. The Institute cited a report from the Collateral Consequences Resource Center (CCRC) that says Utah recently expunged over 60,000 records automatically. … [Read More...]
STATES MOVE TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS FOR RETURNING CITIZENS
Nationwide, the formerly incarcerated often find themselves barred from voting due to myriad legal restrictions that vary from state to state. Some are working to change that, according to an article by The Associated Press. “[Voting gives] a little bit of your strength back and a little bit of your voice back,” said TJ King, a formerly … [Read More...]
EXONERATED PASTOR FILES LAWSUIT OVER FALSIFIED EVIDENCE
After the State of North Carolina vacated charges against him, a pastor who spent more than eight years in prison filed a lawsuit in his hometown accusing local police of fabricating evidence, reported The News and Observer. In 1993, Darron Carmon was accused and convicted of armed robbery, of taking $281 from Fast Way convenience store. At … [Read More...]
EASTER SEASON CELEBRATED AT SAN QUENTIN
‘GREATER GOOD’ OFFERS INSPIRATION, MULTINATIONAL MUSIC AT SQ CHAPEL
The Greater Good, a Jewish music ensemble, held their second annual “Inspirational Music Night” concert in front of about 70 fellow residents in the Protestant Chapel on March 29. The group began by playing at Jewish religious services on Friday nights. Later, with the support of Rabbi Paul Shleffar, they expanded their repertoire to perform … [Read More...]
MEET HENOK RUFAEL: FIDDLER ON THE YARD
At sporting events at The Q, one pregame ritual stands out: the man who plays the Star Spangled Banner — on his violin. That man is San Quentin’s Henok Rufael. He frequents the Lower Yard, violin case on his back; its hand-painted letters read, “Violins Not Violence.” Some musicians bring their musical skills to prison. For others, … [Read More...]
CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP VISITS SAN QUENTIN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BISHOPSRETURN TO EVALUATE SPIRITUALPROGRAMMING FOR PRISONERS Leaders of Northern California’s Catholic Church visited San Quentin as part of a review of incarcerated spiritual operations that occurs every 10 years. San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and bishops from the Oakland, San Jose and Sacramento … [Read More...]
COURT OKAYS ASKING RENTERS ABOUT CRIMINAL HISTORY
A federal court ruled in March that cities cannot completely prevent property owners from inquiring about a potential renter’s criminal history, but they can prohibit property owners from rejecting all applicants with criminal records. The split decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down portions of a Seattle ordinance that … [Read More...]
TABLETS FINALLY ARRIVE AT SQ
GlobalTel Link technology finally reached San Quentin after nearly a two-year wait. Residents in SQ’s Donner section were the first to receive their tablets. The much-anticipated phone, game, movie and education features appeared to be the focus of attention for many of the first time tablet users. “I praise God that we are … [Read More...]
STIGMA CONTRIBUTES TO HOUSING INSECURITY FOR RETURNING CITIZENS
Nationwide, people with criminal records are facing unnecessary discrimination by public housing authorities, limiting their access to housing assistance, according to a release by the Prison Policy Initiative. Public housing is one resource that should offer some protection against housing insecurity, rather than adding to the … [Read More...]
CDCR PAROLE ADMINISTRATOR URGES ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION
KAREN ARCENAS REED OFFERS FRESH IDEAS; ARTICLE URGES ELDERLY AND NONVIOLENT RELEASES “The year is 2030. Five California prisons have closed over the past decade and the inmate population has dropped 30% to a record low.” So goes one of the sections in “Prison to parole: A push for alternatives in California,” by Karen Arcenas … [Read More...]
WHO IS RAUL HIGGINS?
Greetings and welcome to San Quentin. My name is Raúl Higgins. I am excited to be the new Kid CAT Speaks Writer! I love writing stories and it has always been a passion of mine. I have used my 24 years of down-time wisely and currently serve as a Kid CAT facilitator. Although I was not a youth offender, what attracted me to Kid CAT was my … [Read More...]
WHEN KIDS ARE DOING THEIR PARENTS’ TIME
Children serve punishment along with their criminally convicted parents serving jail or prison sentences. In the middle of what seemed an ordinary school day, Angel and her sisters suddenly found themselves in foster care. “I was 12 when I went to prison,” Angel said. She refers to her time in foster care as a “sentence.” I still … [Read More...]
KID CAT KICKS COVID, RETURNS AFTER THREE-YEAR HIATUS
By Raul Higgins, Contributing Writer After a 3-year hiatus, San Quentin’s Kid CAT program makes a resilient return, helping incarcerated men rebuild and redefine their lives. Kid CAT is a Youth Support Lifer’s program. “Kid” represents the community of youth offenders. The CAT acronym stands for Creating Awareness Together. The … [Read More...]
SQNEWS CELEBRATES 15 YEARS SINCE REBOOT
June marks 15 years since warden Robert Ayers Jr. revived the San Quentin News after more than 20 years. Today, 35,000 newspapers are printed and distributed each month to all prisons within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and beyond. “The reason [SQNews] was stopped is because it couldn’t be censored anymore. … [Read More...]
PRISON TO EMPLOYMENT’S FIRST POST-COVID GRADUATION, EMPLOYER EVENTS HELD AT SQ
Employers, reentry, and other job placement professionals convened at Prison 2 Employment Connection’s first post-COVID Employer Day at San Quentin State Prison in March. There, inmates met with potential employers prior to reentry. Graduates took the stage the following week to receive their certificates of completion. This PEC session … [Read More...]
SOUTHBOUND: TARE BELTRANCHUC GOES HOME
After three parole grants, Tare Beltranchuc, better known to friends as Cancún, finally signed his release papers in April after 12 commissioners affirmed his parole suitability at an “En Banc” hearing. “When I signed my parole papers I also signed a pledge in my heart to continue honoring the life of my victim,” said … [Read More...]
Andrew Wadsworth finds healing with each stroke of the paintbrush
Andrew Wadsworth began his incarceration as a 16-year-old. He admits that his path to adulthood has had its challenges. Now 38, he’s in the early stages of realizing that a paintbrush is an excellent way to express himself. “It’s hard for me to express myself without coming off arrogant,” Wadsworth said. “With abstract painting there are lots … [Read More...]
Stitch-wiz Ezekiel Gonzalez inspired by love for his daughters
“My two daughters Jacklynn and Lilly were the ones that inspired me to create these teddy bears,” said Ezekiel Gonzalez, 51, a resident of San Quentin. Gonzalez’s talent seems anything but ordinary inside prison walls. He sews handmade teddy bears and stuffs them with cotton, a craft and its products not often seen in a world of metal and … [Read More...]
SAN QUEN-TOONS
by Jessie Milo (2023) … [Read More...]
EDITORIAL – THE CALIFORNIA MODEL
Collaboration is key Anybody who has ever seen a Norwegian prison will probably think it is unimaginable that such a thing could take place at San Quentin. Officers dressed in khaki pants and dress shirts, clean buildings and beautiful landscapes with few incarcerated people, is not something that is easy to picture at California’s oldest and … [Read More...]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, MAY 2023
SAN RAFAEL READER PRAISES SQNEWS Dear SQNews: Last April I sent a $100 donation and started receiving The San Quentin News and The Wall magazine. The Technical expertise, editorial content, writing skills, and timely articles have gotten better and better with each issue. The last issue of The Wall showcasing the art and artists … [Read More...]
COLOSSUS: FREEDOM
AN ANTHOLOGY OFVOICES ACROSS THECARCERAL WASTELAND (Selected and introduced bySara Biel & Wanda Sabir) I never thought that another person could understand what I have been through, but after reading the poems and essays selected and introduced by Sara Biel & Wanda Sabir, I saw that I was wrong. The tome contains letters and … [Read More...]
TIER TALK – William Harris fired up on Kings’ playoff berth
For the first time in NBA history, two Northern California basketball teams are meeting in the postseason: the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors. Fans of each team are excited. But since the Kings have not made it to the playoffs for almost two decades, one of their fans is expressing his enthusiasm about his hometown team’s arrival to … [Read More...]
SQ big-five sports programs begin workouts
Workouts have commenced in the prison for the “big five” sports programs and all teams are getting their practices back in so they can be ready for their upcoming seasons. So far, the baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, and 1000-Mile Running Club is practicing and running drills. Coaches are enthusiastic about running plays with the … [Read More...]
1,000 MILE CLUB RAMPS UP SEASON WITH 3-MILE RUN
San Quentin’s 1,000 Mile Club continued its season with a 3-mile run to help prepare its members for the annual team marathon, which is scheduled to take place in November 2023. Head Coach Franklin Ruona, coach Kevin Rumon, and volunteer Jim Maloney were impressed with the 40 runners who showed up to run the race on a brisk February … [Read More...]