
Andrew Wadsworth finds healing with each stroke of the paintbrush
By Edwin Chavez
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
By Edwin Chavez
“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
By Steve Brooks
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
By Rahan Asaan
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...]

WALL BALL THERAPY
By Rahan Asaan
Finding human connection through sports in prison One of the most consistently played and revered sports at San Quentin is handball. Those drawn to the activity have learned coping skills, focus, and socialization while getting in their daily exercise. Handball is a contact sport involving two individuals playing against each other or … [Read More...]

San Quentin athletes battle ‘COVID monster’
Long-term coronavirussymptoms continue affectingthe incarcerated at The Q. The COVID beast came through San Quentin and tore through sports enthusiast like a tornado. Although the quarantine lockdowns has been fluctuating, some resident athletes have been doing everything in their power to defeat that looming COVID monster by any … [Read More...]

TEAM 94 FEET WINS BIG AT BASKETBALL OPENER
Intramural basketball league opens seasonwith Team 94 Feet still undefeated The San Quentin Intramural basketball season opened with a fierce battle between Team Finishing and Team 94 Feet, ending in a double-digit, tough loss for Team Finishing, 63-34. “They need a point guard to control the game,” said SQ Warriors power forward Greg … [Read More...]

Controversia por ejecuciones fallidas en Alabama
Ejecuciones por inyección podrían ser suspendidas La gobernadora Kay Ivey, está poniendo una pausa al sistema de la pena capital después de tres inyecciones letales fallidas. Se ordenó una revisión completa “de arriba a abajo,” dijo ella. La fallida ejecución de Kenneth Eugene Smith, causó que esta medida se iniciara. Smith es el … [Read More...]

NUEVO JEFE DEL DEPARTAMENTO DEL SHERIFF EN EL CONDADO DE LOS ANGELES
Robert Luna ha sido elegido como el nuevo jefe del departamento del Sheriff del Condado de Los Angeles, reemplazando al controversial Alex Villanueva. “Los resultados fueron un resonante reproche por los cuatro años caóticos de Villanueva en ese puesto”, reportó Los Angeles Times. Fue “una tenencia durante la cual él se transformó de … [Read More...]

¿Estarán funcionando las prisiones en Latinoamérica?
By Edwin Chavez
Prisiones de centro y suramericaoperan muy diferentes de EE.UU. Exponiendo la estructura de las prisiones en Latinoamérica. A profesionales como el profesor Michael Reed, se les ha dado la tarea de estudiar y visitar docenas de prisiones en Latinoamérica, con el solo propósito de investigar si el sistema carcelario trabaja en países del … [Read More...]

CINCO DE MAYO Celebración de hermandad
Por Aristeo Sampablo y Idalio VillagránSpanish Journalism Guild Escritores. En el cinco de Mayo de 1862 ocurrió la batalla de Puebla en las cercanías de dicha ciudad en el cerro de Loreto. El ejército de la República Mexicana, bajo el mando del general Ignacio Zaragoza abatió al experimentado y mejor preparado ejército, francés del emperador … [Read More...]

REFLEXIONES DE AGRADECIMIENTO PARA NUESTRAS MADRES
“Mi mama no solamente es una súper-madre, pero un súper-abuela también. Criando a 5 nietos, ella en verdad es asombrosa.” —Kolby A. Southwood “¡Una madre es lo más sagrado y puro que puede tener uno en esta vida! ¡Un amor verdadero, un amor fiel, un amor único!!.” —Luciano Borjas “Pido en oración siempre por mi … [Read More...]

¿Que madre no ha deramado sus lagrimas por su hijos?
El día de las madres es una celebración para honrar a la madre de la familia o a individuos como a la maternidad, lazos maternales, y las influencias de madre en la sociedad. Se celebra en diferentes días en muchas partes del mundo, más comúnmente en los meses de marzo o mayo. Se complementan celebraciones similares, ampliamente presionado por … [Read More...]

SQ Jewish community observes traditional Passover feast
By Edwin Chavez
By Edwin E. Chavez and Juan Haines This year’s Passover celebration at San Quentin affirmed Devin Ben’s belief that the dream of inclusivity for all people is realizable in any environment. He called the openness of San Quentin’s incarcerated residents to the Jewish tradition “inspirational.” He had not seen such openness in other … [Read More...]

Special Easter event held in SQ visiting room
By Dante Jones
Easter Bunny’s visit to SQ brings joy to residents and their families Easter weekend meant a day of togetherness with family and friends in San Quentin’s visiting room this April. The San Quentin Easter Spectacular, held on April 8, was a first of its kind event put on by San Quentin’s Acting Warden Oak Smith and Public Information Officer … [Read More...]

SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
By Dante Jones
Prison Fellowship Academyholds graduation ceremony A celebration of 19 men who completed the one-year program for the Prison Fellowship Academy took place earlier this year. Prison Fellowship Academy is a spiritually based self-help program that is spearheaded by Eric Nobles, the Academy’s Bay Area field director. “This … [Read More...]

No More Tears: Graduates learn the tools of nonviolence
On March 11, 2023, No More Tears held a graduation ceremony for 39 San Quentin residents in the Addiction Recovery Center building on the Lower Yard. The ceremony celebrated those who completed the 12- week No More Tears workshop, a self-help program that teaches participants how to communicate without using violence. The workshop … [Read More...]

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
The food we put into our bodies has a direct impact on our physical health How are food and health related? What you eat impacts your health and wellbeing in more ways than you might think. Eating certain foods can boost your immune system, increase your energy level, help control your weight, and improve your mental health. Many health … [Read More...]

Study: The darker side of daydreaming
There are numerous positive side effects of daydreaming, but recent studies show it’s possible to do it too much. Daydreaming is useful as a coping mechanism and a guard against loneliness, according to an article by Giulia Poerio in The Conversation. The practice, which typically only takes a few fleeting seconds, can boost creativity, … [Read More...]

Medicaid funds to treat addiction in prison facilities
Advocates say proposal would reducecrime, opiod-related overdose deaths The federal government plans to allow states to use Medicaid funds for addiction treatment in correctional facilities, a reversal of a long-standing policy. In 1965 when Medicaid was launched, the joint federal and state health-insurance program for low-income people … [Read More...]

History: Incarcerated women, then and now
By Charlotte WestCollege Inside NewsletterReprinted by permission Two hundred years ago, women were usually housed in the same prisons as men. But that changed in 1873, when two Quaker reformers, Sarah Smith and Rhoda Coffin, opened the first public prison for women in the United States — what would later become known as the Indiana Women’s … [Read More...]

Sac State’s Project Rebound purchases houses to help formerly incarcerated students
Sacramento State University purchased two homes to house eight formerly incarcerated students who are attending the school. The homes, managed by Project Rebound, will allow formerly incarcerated students to gain stability while pursuing their goal of higher learning, according to the Sacramento Bee. The Project Rebound Consortium contributed … [Read More...]

Mt. Tam College offers ethics class
Course to help incarcerated understand own criminality An ethics class is helping some San Quentin residents understand what led them to crime — and prison — offering hope for rehabilitation. Bill Smoot, an author and teacher at the prison’s Mt. Tamalpais College, is leading the class for the fourth time. The curriculum would … [Read More...]

MOTHER’S DAY – A worldwide tradition
People around the world celebrate Mother’s Day, honoring mothers’ contributions to their families and communities. In the United States as well as in other countries, Mother’s Day observations reflect diverse traditions and cultural influences, according to Wikipedia. In the 19th century, Ann Jarvis organized Mother’s Friendship Day … [Read More...]

DA Jenkins to drop manslaughter charges against former SFPD officer
By Rahan Asaan
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins intends to drop manslaughter charges against a fired San Francisco police officer, according to the Associated Press. According to a letter obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Jenkins implied that her review of the case factors revealed internal conflicts and that the charges brought by … [Read More...]

ABA examines plea bargain process
By Rahan Asaan
The American Bar Association’s Plea Bargain Task Force released its 2023 report in February, revealing that “98% of criminal proceedings end in a plea bargain instead of a jury trial,” wrote JP Leskovich of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in JURIST, Wickimedia (Tony Webster). The Plea Bargain Task Force came into being in 2019, a … [Read More...]

National trend sees police groups attempt to ‘tilt scales’
By Rahan Asaan
Police unions are funding ballot initiatives and placing allies on oversight boards to undermine civilian monitoring of alleged misconduct, according to the Marshall Project. Law enforcement groups are often resistant to civilian oversight and contend that police are more suited to judge misconduct, said the Jan. 21 report titled How Police … [Read More...]

California lawmaker undaunted in efforts to end involuntary servitude in prison
By Steve Brooks
A California lawmaker has introduced a bill to put an end to involuntary servitude in state prisons. Assembly member Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun) introduced Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8 (ACA 8). Wilson hopes this bill will fare better than a failed attempt last year to pass similar legislation in the state. “Slavery must not … [Read More...]

No executions in California in 17 years
It has been more than 17 years since California last executed one of its Death Row residents in January 2006. Administrative processes, executive actions and various legal battles have been contributing factors to prevent executions during the period, according to Fox 40 news. “We are starting the process of closing death row to … [Read More...]

Bill would fund education for at-risk youth
A bill in the California legislature would increase funding for education in juvenile halls and alternative high schools to prepare at-risk youth for college and future employment, reported The Sacramento Bee. Assembly Bill 906 would change the funding structure for these programs, which is currently determined by average daily attendance. … [Read More...]

First conviction overturned under new rap lyric law
A state appellate court has reversed the conviction of Travon Rashad Venable Sr., previously convicted of being the getaway driver in a 2014 drive-by shooting, reported the Orange County Register. The prosecution built a case against Venable by using a rap music video that featured him. The trial judge should not have allowed prosecutors to … [Read More...]

Taskforce on CA reparations to make final recommendation
In three months, California’s reparations task force will submit its final recommendations for a massive reparations program to the state legislature, the largest attempt in U.S. history to compensate Black descendants enslaved people, according to a report from MarketWatch. A 2020 state law established the nine-member task force to study and … [Read More...]

Legislation would restrict ‘crime-free housing’ rules
Proposed legislation would ensure that California property owners no longer be forced to use “crime-free housing” rules to evict or exclude tenants with criminal histories, according to the Los Angeles Times. Crime-free housing rules make it harder for renters, in particular African Americans and Latinos, to find affordable housing and keep it, … [Read More...]

COVID UPDATE – Attorney General withdraws appeal of Marin Co. Superior Court ruling
By Danielle HarrisManaging Attorney, The Freedom ProjectSan Francisco Public Defender In January 2022, the Attorney General filed a Notice of Appeal in the consolidated cases that had been the subject of the 2021 evidentiary hearing in Marin Superior Court; that concluded with Judge Howard’s order finding that CDCR exhibited deliberate … [Read More...]

AG Bonta creates post-conviction integrity review
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced in February the formation of a new statewide Post-Conviction Justice Unit that will investigate potential wrongful convictions and identify incarcerated people who may qualify for resentencing. The post-conviction unit, staffed by two deputy district attorneys, will work with local district … [Read More...]

Catholic Conference of Illinois stresses importance of restorative justice model
Archdiocese pushes for shift in approach – fromretributive justice to healing and reconciliation The Catholic Conference of Illinois issued a document intended to educate all lawmakers, members of the Catholic Church and leading clergy as to what the Gospel calls for when it comes to justice. Titled “A Catholic Vision for Restorative … [Read More...]

Lawsuit filed on behalf of Muslim inmates
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed a lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections in March, claiming that officials assaulted a group of Muslim inmates during their prayers, reported the Associated Press. The incident took place at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne, Terre, … [Read More...]

No COVID hazard pay for guards
A federal appeals court ruled that corrections officers are not owed hazard pay for alleged exposure to COVID without adequate protective gear at their workplace, according to an article in Bloomberg Law by Jennifer Bennett. In 2020, nearly 200 correctional workers at a low-security federal facility in Connecticut sued in an effort to … [Read More...]

Involuntary servitude heads to NV voters in ʼ24
Referendum could abolish prison slavery in the state if passed Nevada will join a growing tide of states seeking to rid their constitutions of involuntary servitude as criminal punishment by placing the issue on the ballot in 2024, according to the Associated Press. The measure passed the state’s assembly and senate in February for the … [Read More...]

Cook County seeks to address racial inequity
Chicago organization aimsto dismantle the bias ofcriminal justice institutions Illinois’ most populous county has hired a consulting agency to introduce concepts of racial equity to the county’s criminal justice system. Cook County’s Justice Advisory Council announced in January that it would work with the Chicago Regional … [Read More...]

$70M program trains prisoners in tree care, sets them on career track during reentry
By Gary Beavers
A utility company partners with corrections, teaching the incarcerated to trim trees around power lines in response to rising demand. Scott Steffes is serving time at Michigan’s Parnall Correctional Facility, but that will not keep him from moving up when he is released. He is part of a $70 million program at Parnall’s Vocational Village … [Read More...]

NEWS BRIEFS, May 2023
By Charles Crow
1. South Dakota — (AP) The state has doubled down on mass incarceration as virtually all of a recently authorized $390 million investment in its prison system will go to construction of more prisons. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signed the legislation in March. Legislators expressed strong support for the spending as the bill moved through the … [Read More...]

CDCR releases COVID-era contraband interdiction report
By Andrew Hardy
Recent installation of high-resolution cameras at San Quentin is a small part of the state’s efforts to scrub contraband from its prisons, according to a report produced by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The report cites technology such as high-resolution audio-video surveillance, body and baggage X-ray … [Read More...]

Proposed dismantling of Iowa’s community based corrections program criticized
By James Daly
Stakeholders are harshly criticizing Iowa’s plan to dismantle its locally-run Community Based Corrections system, according to a Feb. 27 report in Axios. For more than 40 years, the system has provided an alternative to incarceration for less serious offenders, and given local officials oversight of thousands returning from prisons to … [Read More...]

Tech education column debuts in SQNews
Monthly articles will help educate the incarcerated on information technology By Sherman K. NewmanContributing Writer Welcome to Tech Block 42 It’s time for the incarcerated in CDCR and beyond to become technologically aware — more specifically, computer literate. TB42 is here to share computer technology information in an … [Read More...]

Collaborative audio engineering program gains momentum
By Kevin Sawyer
Becoming an audio engineer at San Quentin State Prison is a reality. Imagine learning to edit, mix, and master recorded tracks of music, commercials, promotions, spoken word and podcasts. In partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Prison Industry Authority (CalPIA), the nonprofit The Last … [Read More...]

The perseverance of prisoners
Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people are proving skeptics wrong by transforming themselves through self-help and self-discovery programs. In-person rehabilitative programs in prison, from Anger Management to the Victim Offender Education Program (VOEG), have given incarcerated individuals in-depth understanding of the impact crime … [Read More...]

Relative freedom: Donner Earned Living Unit
By David Ditto
A cell block last used as overflow housing for Death Row has been transformed into an honor unit for disciplinary-free residents of San Quentin. The purpose of the “Earned Living Unit” is to incentivize prison residents to participate in rehabilitative programming and stay out of trouble. The first residents moved into the new ELU, the … [Read More...]

STUDY: BOARD GAMES CONTRIBUTE TO WELLNESS
New research from University of Calgary shows social and rehabilitative benefits New research and programs highlight the value of board games, both inside and outside of prisons, to promote sociability and brain development. An article in Inspirationfeed Magazine cited studies that reveal the positive impacts of playing games such as … [Read More...]

New startup uses advanced analytics to reduce recidivism
An innovative tech startup is helping to improve the criminal legal system’s handling of prisons, parole and probation to reduce recidivism and improve community safety, STANFORD magazine reports. Its software can also alert parole officers when people are eligible for release from supervision or qualify for good-behavior … [Read More...]

MAY IS AAPI CULTURAL HERITAGE MONTH
San Quentin News recognizes the manycontributions of Asian Americans andPacific Islanders in the movement toend violence and to bring rehabilitativeprogramming to the San Quentincommunity and other prisons statewide. … [Read More...]

Celebrating World Press Freedom Day
Prison newspaper history illustrates the power ofthe press to be a vehicle for freedom and change By Kate McQueenWall City Adviser In early 1800, when an impoverished New York attorney named William Ketelas found himself locked up in a debtor’s prison, he took an unconventional approach to securing his release. He founded a … [Read More...]

Former youth offender earns his freedom
By Dante Jones
San Quentin resident Philippe “Kellz” Kelly, 39, walked through the prison’s front gates with his newly granted freedom on February 8. Kelly, a youth offender from Los Angeles, served 23 years behind the wall. In December 2018 he received a commutation from then Gov. Jerry Brown, and after three tries at the Board of Parole Hearings, he … [Read More...]

WHO IS SCOT CALDWELL?
By Charles Crow
Our patron saint of printing continues to support SQNews in retirement The San Quentin News would not exist without the support of donors, advisers, advocates and others who champion and contribute to the newspaper’s cause in various ways. A critical supporter is Scot Caldwell, the owner of Marin Sun Printing. Caldwell facilitates the … [Read More...]

It’s Good To Be KING
Ella Baker’s co-program director shares some hard-won wisdom James King is a formerly incarcerated graduate of Patten College and the Prison University Project.He was the first-ever Inside Fellow for the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, California.King left San Quentin and returned to the community just before the coronavirus … [Read More...]

Long – Suffering
unconditional love, absolute forgiveness I have been incarcerated for eight years. Throughout that time, my wife’s love has been my beacon of hope. On Valentine’s Day in 2020, Lily visited me at San Quentin. After 10 years of marriage, I knew something was wrong. She could barely look me in my eyes as she mustered the strength to be there … [Read More...]

Lifeline
The value of the written word I remember when I arrived at Deuel Vocational Institute (DVI) in Tarcy, California. Staring up at those five tiers let me know I’d finally made it to the “Big House.” I had to climb those stairs to an empty cell on the fifth tier all by myself. I sat on the bed next to my bedroll, a wool blanket, a sheet, a towel, … [Read More...]

UnCommon Sense
Submitted by Jessie MiloCSP-Corcoran … [Read More...]

Honor, service & restorative justice
Marcus Henderson moves to executive editor I am honored to move into my new role as the Executive Editor of SQNews. It has been a privilege serving as SQNews Editor-in-Chief for the past four years. This transition allows me to focus on the newspaper’s administrative needs and our growing projects that aim to enhance our future. It’s been a … [Read More...]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – April 2023
KUDOS FROM BERKELEY SUBSCRIBER Dear SQNews: I appreciate and enjoy receiving the SQNews the past year and look forward to receiving it again. Sincerely, ― Carole C. Cool, Berkeley, Calif. NORTH KERN READER SALUTES SQNEWS Dear SQNews: Salutations. My name is Rene Franco and I am currently at North … [Read More...]

Changing of the guard
By Steve Brooks
A message from your new Editor-in-Chief As we embark on a momentous new era of transformation at San Quentin State Prison, I am proud to report a changing of the guard at the San Quentin News. I have decided to accept the role offered to me as Editor-in-Chief of this historic newspaper. It was not without deep and deliberate … [Read More...]

Q&A WITH IMAM MUHAMMAD
By Dante Jones
Pearls of wisdom for Ramadan The holy month of Ramadan has arrived. A 30-day Islamic fasting ritual that is observed by more than a billion people worldwide from the end of March to the end of April, Ramadan is one the five pillars of the faith. SQNews spoke with San Quentin Muslim Chaplin Imam Muhammad Fasih about the importance … [Read More...]

BAD BOYS, BAD MEN
Confronting Antisocial Personality Disorder (Sociopathy) By Donald W. Black, MD Bad Boys, Bad Men by Dr. Donald Black explains how childhood traumatic experiences can cause antisocial behavior that leads to destructive choices as an adult, which can inflict lasting damage. One of the book's many characters is Ernie. Dr. Black begins … [Read More...]

Q&A with Montreal ‘MD’ Vines
On his way out the door, SQ Warriors veteranshares his thoughts on dedication and self-growth Before Montreal “MD” Vines made parole in the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to have a chat with him about his dedication to basketball and change. He has been on the San Quentin Warriors for a decade, with many seasons developing his … [Read More...]

SQ Kings victory upstages sports teams’ picture day
It was picture day for the basketball and football programs Friday, Jan 20, on the San Quentin Lower Yard, but the comeback victory of the SQ Kings over the SQ Warriors, 11-8, stole the spotlight. The Kings gave the large crowd of SQ residents a dramatic comeback show that was outstanding and full of excitement. The Lower Yard was the … [Read More...]

CHECKMATE
Ian Hamilton crowned chess king,dethrones Demetrius Mitchel Ian Hamilton dethroned last year’s chess king, Demetrius Mitchell, and became the new chess champion of West Block by winning the best games out of a three-game match. “It was nerve-racking to sit across from a player that is far more superior in skill and experience [than I am],” … [Read More...]

Golden State Warriors, Prison Sports Ministries donate shoes to SQ basketball program
The Golden State Warriors donated a lot of athletic tennis shoes to the San Quentin Warriors after their annual game last season. Along with a collection of shoes from longtime volunteer Bill Epling, the basketball program at SQ received over 100 pairs. To be exact, a combined 104 pairs of shoes were donated to the SQ basketball program by … [Read More...]

SQ Niners hold 2023 season scrimmage
By Rahan Asaan
The San Quentin 49ers held their first scrimmage game on the Lower Yard on a warm Presidents Day, Feb. 20. Head Coach Bryant Underwood and Defensive Coordinator David Barela divided the 22-man roster into two teams to determine who would make the team and who may be cut. “We’re looking for sportsmanship and knowledge of the … [Read More...]

SQ KINGS AND WARRIORS HOLD 2023 SEASON TRYOUTS
By Rahan Asaan
The SQ Kings and the SQ Warriors have selected their new players for the 2023 basketball season after a strenuous and rigorous tryout session. Coaches think this year’s hand-picked players are capable of getting their teams to the championship, which makes them more hopeful than last season. SQ Kings Head Coach Ish Freelon said … [Read More...]

FRAUDE AL DEPARTAMENTO DE DESEMPLEO DE CA
Desde Sacramento y en forma oficial, Rob Bonta, Fiscal General de California, anuncia el miércoles 19 de octubre el año pasado, la aprensión de la persona supuestamente responsable por el desfalco de más de $145,000 al Departamento de Desarrollo del Empleo (EDD por sus siglas en ingles). Según los cargos, el cuantioso fraude se perpetró durante … [Read More...]

VISITA OFICIAL DEL GOBERNADOR GAVIN NEWSOM A SAN QUENTIN
By Juan Haines
El gobernador de California Gavin Newsom anunció la transición propuesta de San Quentin Prisión Estatal a San Quentin Centro de Rehabilitación. El anuncio vino en una conferencia de prensa dentro de la prisión estatal de San Quentin, el 17 de marzo, he incluyo no solo a reporteros pero a gente previamente encarcelada, legisladores estatales y … [Read More...]

Oficiales de prisiones federales culpables de abusos sexuales
By Edwin Chavez
En 2022 este escándalo sacudió a la prisión federal de mujeres en Dublín California, generando el arresto de cinco empleados incluyendo el arresto del antiguo guardián Ray J. García, quien espera el procedimiento de su juicio, según reporto la Prensa Asociada el 29 de octubre del 2022. La fiscalía federal anunció que Enrique Chavez, 50, se … [Read More...]

Homenaje póstumo al Rey Pelé
Pregunte a cualquier aficionado de fútbol, ¿Quién es el jugador más famoso de fútbol de la história? La respuesta seguramente será Pelé. Pelé, el máximo jugador de fútbol del mundo, nació en Brasil Minas Gerais con el nombre Edson Arantes do Nacimento. Él recibió el nombre de Edson en honor al inventor Thomas Edison. El adoptó el apodo de … [Read More...]

LAS NUEVAS PROPUESTAS DE LEY ESTAN EN EFECTO
EL gobernador de California Gavin Newsom firmo leyes que entraron en efecto enero 1, del 2023, y rechazó otras cuatro, informó Iniciar Justicia (Initiate Justice), en su carta informativo The Inside Journal. Iniciar Justicia, es una organización sin fines de lucro compuesta por personas que han sido impactadas en varios aspectos de su vida por … [Read More...]

San Quentin’s legacy of faith spans 165 years
San Quentin’s legacy of church activities goes back to 1858, when Gov. Weller directed the warden to provide Sunday religious services. In December of that year, volunteer Rev. Gilbert began offering Protestant services in the mess hall. In 1860, Father Gallagher held the first official Catholic mass. Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany gave a … [Read More...]

BREAKING CHAINS
Kairos 55: One of SQ’s longest-runningprograms holds four-day spiritual retreat The Christian community known as Kairos returned to San Quentin State Prison and held a spiritual retreat for selected residents on President’s Day weekend. It was the first retreat since a three-year pandemic hiatus. Kairos’ theme was to “Break the Chains” … [Read More...]

Dozens gather to honor Kenneth “Musa” Bailey
The incarcerated recently held a memorial service for long-time San Quentin resident Kenneth “Musa” Bailey in the Garden Chapel. Although escorts were required because of limited visibility, more than 70 people were in attendance. Graced Out Ministries, which holds services every Saturday night, hosted the March 11 event. Paula Bates and … [Read More...]

Canine rehabilitation programs prove successful
By James Daly
Rehabilitation comes in many different forms. The introduction of dog training programs in selected prisons across the U.S. has proven remarkably successful in rehabilitating humans and canines alike. In the years after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger added “rehabilitation” to the California Department of Corrections name, dog programs were … [Read More...]

Prestigious French literary prize contenders judged by incarcerated
500 prisoners select winner ofGoncourt Academy Prize for literature A panel of incarcerated people has been chosen to pick the winning book for a prestigious new prize in France. The prize is gathering international media attention for the composition of its award jury — men and women incarcerated in the country’s prisons. The … [Read More...]

WILD HORSES
Prison farm employs ‘gentling’ method to reshape horses, humans Every day, prisoners inside a Wyoming prison farm rise to the challenge to transform wild horses that once roamed badlands across the West into well-trained riding horses that are adopted into new homes. As highlighted in a 60 Minutes report, the 640-acre facility is … [Read More...]

Federal policy change will allow incarcerated patients to enroll in Medicaid prior to release
For the first time ever, prisoners will be able to enroll in Medicaid and receive the federal health benefits prior to their release from prison or jail. The announcement of the change was made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Jan. 26, according to media reports. Previously, federal law prohibited Medicaid money from being … [Read More...]

REASONS TO SMILE: ORAL HEALTH AND DENTAL CARE
Transitions Clinic Network (TCN) is a network of community health clinics that serve returning community members. TCN clinics are led by Community Health Workers (CHWs) with lived experience of incarceration who support people with their healthcare and reentry. TCN hosts a monthly Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) column. This column is a space … [Read More...]

Ethics Bowl: Mt. Tam College hosts dialog with UC Santa Cruz
By David Ditto
The University of California Santa Cruz debate team came to San Quentin to compete with the home team’s incarcerated students on Feb. 26. The two teams debated in front of a live audience of almost 100 inmates and college faculty and staff in the Q’s Garden Chapel. “Welcome to the Ethics Bowl Match hosted by Mount Tamalpais … [Read More...]

‘Collateral consequences’ derail already-fragile prison education
By Charlotte WestCollege Inside EditorReprinted by permission ■ The fragility ofprison education A student who — after someone he knows gets a job at the prison where he is incarcerated — is transferred midway through his college course. A student who is told he can’t enroll in classes the next term because his cellmate brought back … [Read More...]

ARRESTED VETERANS GRADUATE FROM INNOVATIVE ‘TREATMENT COURT’ IN MARIN COUNTY
By Richard HalsteadMarin Independent JournalReprinted by permission Army Veteran Jeffrey Barbe was homeless when he was arrested on a drug offense. Now he says he’s a student on track to study prelaw at the University of California at Berkeley. “If it wasn’t for this program, I’d probably still be on the streets stuck on meth,” said Barbe, … [Read More...]

CSU, UC campuses offer programs for formerly incarcerated students
Programs ‘invaluable in reducing rates of recidivism' California colleges and universities have created numerous programs to help formerly incarcerated people earn degrees and shape new lives. One result was significantly lower recidivism rates, the Visalia Times-Delta reports. The programs operate at 14 state university campuses and nine … [Read More...]

CDCR budget grows in spite of looming prison closures
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2023-2024 budget includes an increase for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation although eight prison facilities will experience full or partial closures, the Sacramento Bee reports. Newsom’s overall state budget of $297 billion for 2023- 24 includes total expenditures of $14.5 billion for the … [Read More...]

2023-24 BUDGET PROPOSAL SPURSPUSH FOR MORE PRISON CLOSURES
By Steve Brooks
Californians United for a Responsible Budget takes to social mediato urge Gov. Newsom to shutter 10 additional facilities by 2025 Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) has launched a media campaign to convince Gov. Gavin Newsom to close ten prisons by the year 2025, according to the Davis Vanguard. The organization’s … [Read More...]

State watchdog releases contraband audit results
Office of theInspectorGeneral issuesreport on COVIDeracontrabandinterdictionmeasures instate prisons A state audit of contraband coming into California’s prisons found that drugs continued to infiltrate facilities even after visitor restrictions were implemented due to COVID concerns. The audit was conducted by the California Office … [Read More...]

9th Circuit upholds reform measures
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld a ruling enforcing reforms aimed to protect incarcerated people with disabilities in California’s prisons from abuse by correctional officers, reported the Los Angeles Times. The three-judge panel cited persistent problems with a “staff culture of targeting inmates with disabilities” in their … [Read More...]

ADVOCATES SEE PROMISING RESULTS FROM PRISON REFORM
Advocates of criminal justice reform are pointing to promising examples of solutions that are reducing incarceration and improving community safety, and in the process changing narratives around crime and punishment. Too often, tough-on-crime policies fail to address root causes and because of this, fall short of delivering their promised … [Read More...]

‘BASIC’ ACT TAKES AIM AT CANTEEN PRICE GOUGING
By Steve Brooks
SB 474: California Sen. Josh Becker hopes to eliminate excessive markups on commissary items “Coming soon, Top Ramen noodles will be $1.00, if you don’t support the new BASICs act.” That’s what a sign reads on a San Quentin housing unit bulletin board. Senate Bill 474 (the Basic Affordable Supplies for Incarcerated Californians Act) is … [Read More...]
TENNESSEE – Termination of Memphis officers unusually swift in Tyre Nichols case
The rapid firing of five Memphis police officers following the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols is unusual according to some experts in law enforcement practices, The Associated Press reported. “It’s rare for a police department to act so quickly,” said David Thomas, a professor of forensic studies at Florida Gulf Coast University and former … [Read More...]

NATIONAL – Panel weighs compassionate release, firearms penalties
By Jad Salem
The U.S. Sentencing Commission is considering changes in federal sentencing guidelines, focusing on compassionate release and increased penalties for firearm violations. The commission unanimously approved its policy priorities for the amendment year ending May 1, 2023 at a hearing on Oct. 28, 2022. The two significant changes were … [Read More...]

South Carolina pushes ‘shield laws’ to protect lethal drug suppliers
South Carolina is pushing to enact a law to shield the identities of pharmaceutical companies that supply the state with drugs used for lethal injections, according to an article by The Associated Press. The state is looking to end its 12-year period of being unable to carry out executions due to a failure to secure the needed lethal drugs … [Read More...]

Something to think about…

OHIO: $1.3M settlement reached in wrongful conviction case
After 21 years of incarceration for a crime he didn’t commit, Ralph Smith, 49, was awarded $1.3 million for his wrongful imprisonment, according to a story in the Complex. Smith was falsely convicted of an armed robbery in Ohio in 2000 for which he was sentenced to 67 years in prison. Prosecutors alleged that Smith, who is Black, and … [Read More...]

NORTH CAROLINA: Organization helps women overcome reentry obstacles
Upon release, parolees often find themselves confronted by various Catch-22 scenarios. Jobs, licenses and identification, and receiving benefits all depend on having an address. Having an address sometimes depends on having some of the other items on that list. In New Bern, North Carolina, an organization called Tried By Fire, Inc. hopes … [Read More...]

NEWS BRIEFS – APRIL 2023
1. Arizona — (Arizona Republic) An independent commission will have oversight of the state’s chronically troubled prison system said Gov. Katie Hobbs in January. The commission will first report its findings to the public in November. The governor’s executive order stated that the commission’s creation reflects “an urgent need to provide … [Read More...]

Judge overturns ex-gov’s sweeping commutations
By Rahan Asaan
A Nevada judge halted the outgoing governor’s last-minute attempt to have all 57 Death Row prisoners’ sentences commuted because victim families were not properly notified as required by law, the Associated Press reports. Then-Gov. Steve Sisolak recommended the state parole board, which includes the governor, grant commutations on Dec. 20. … [Read More...]

Benefits of drug use decriminalization delayed
g personal drug use in 2020 and focusing on drug addiction treatment instead, but the results to date have been underwhelming, The Associated Press reports. Along with decriminalization, Oregon’s Ballot Measure 110 aimed to raise revenue from recreational marijuana sales and drug possession fines to fund addiction treatment and related … [Read More...]

Growing number of exonerations nationwide spawns new industry
As the number of exonerations slowly rises across the country, so do the wrongful conviction claims against states. The falsely convicted and imprisoned face the daunting prospect of trying to rebuild their lives while simultaneously fighting legal battles to receive their rightful compensation for being wrongfully incarcerated. Such … [Read More...]

JEFF CRAEMER: CURATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE
By Edwin Chavez
Founder of the San Quentin Museum began building photo, artifact collection in 1984 Jeff Craemer is curator of San Quentin prison’s museum, and steeped in history. Craemer was born and raised in Marin County and observed San Quentin as he grew up “from a distance.” “Back then there were no bathrooms inside the cells,” Craemer … [Read More...]

Growing research shows impact of poor nutrition on prison violence
Studies: Healthy diets tend toreduce antisocial behavior,mental health symptoms Jokes about prison food are hardly new, but emerging research shows that the poor nutrition common in prison diets can lead to increased incidences of violence and mental health problems. Conversely, better food and nutrition can improve conditions in prisons … [Read More...]

Second annual Mourning Our Losses event honors 13 lives lost
Unfortunately, an imagewas not available to honorJuan Luis Ariza, whopassed away onDecember 23, 2021,at the age of 43. The second annual Mourning Our Losses event drew nearly 100 residents of the SQ community. The memorial, which honored 13 lives lost since 2021, took place in the Protestant Chapel on February 24. Mourning Our Losses … [Read More...]

Mental health treatment goes modern with virtual reality headsets
A new virtual reality therapy program is being provided to some residents at San Quentin State Prison to get a meditation experience unlike any other. The TRIPP Company app for Oculus device users was approved by Warden Ron Broomfield and Dr. Schmidt of the Enhanced Outpatient Program in H-Unit. San Quentin is the first location using the … [Read More...]

EOP crafting program offers creative coping outlet to incarcerated patients
A project that teaches incarcerated people to crochet blankets for donation to local animal shelters is inspiring participants and keeping needy animals warm through the winter. “Crochet is a great meditative practice. It also creates a physical product that will give some comfort to a shelter animal,” said participant Steven … [Read More...]

Former San Quentans return to honor Enneagram graduates
A self-help program that gives San Quentin residents the opportunity to learn the dominant traits of their personality held its annual graduation in the prison’s Protestant Chapel in mid-January. The 12-week course, Enneagram Prison Project, gives participants the chance to live free even while living behind the wall. Patrick … [Read More...]

MUSICAMBIA SONGWRITING WORKSHOPS CULMINATE IN POWERFUL CONCERT
By Dante Jones
Earlier this year, seven gifted musicians and singers arrived at San Quentin to give its residents an opportunity to express and display their collective talents through music. The musicians were brought in by Musicambia, an organization created by Nathan Schram and Brad Balliet to bring the power of music to prisoners. Musicambia holds … [Read More...]

QUIET FAITH
By Edwin Chavez
Retired Battalion Chief Mike Bonnelon two decades of service to San Quentin Little is known in the outside world when it comes to the things that volunteers do inside these prison walls — or the impact their service has on the lives of the incarcerated. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, San Quentin State Prison has been known as the … [Read More...]

San Quentin bids farewell to Fr. Manny
San Quentin’s Catholic Church is losing its leader for the second time in three years. Father Manuel Chavira Jr., who became the new chaplain in 2020, is being transferred by the Jesuit order, of which he is a member. On Sunday, Feb. 10, Chaplain Chavira announced his departure, scheduled for April. During his tenure, Chavira has … [Read More...]

COMIC RELIEF – UnCommon Sense Comic by Jessie Milo, CSP – Corcoran

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – March 2023
March 2023 AVENAL READER REMEMBERS CAPT. ROBINSON — 26 YEARS LATER Dear SQNews: I am writing this to commend you on a great tribute to an awesome man, whose retirement is going to be an unfilled void not only for SQ, but humanity as a whole. You could have filled an entire year of SQNews and still not given due praise to Sam … [Read More...]

BOOK REVIEW: WHAT’S PRISON FOR? By Bill Keller
The book “What’s Prison For?” by Bill Keller sheds light on crime and punishment, and the real purpose of incarceration. Tough on crime should cater to the availability of rehabilitation, Keller says. The justice system’s distribution of long prison sentences allows the offender to return to society without any type of life … [Read More...]

TEIR TALK – Round ball talk with Jamaal Harrison
I got the opportunity to talk to the point guard of the San Quentin Kings, Jamaal “Do it all” Harrison about team picture day, Jan. 20, and about his predictions on the Super Bowl and what having picture day meant to him. He been on the basketball team and at SQ for over five years and has seen the sports programs before COVID and … [Read More...]

Turkey Bowl intramural football game brought out best of the best
San Quentin’s Intramural Football red and black jersey teams tied 42-42 in a fierce battle at the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Bowl. Neither team was willing to relent to the other. “This game reminds me of the good times I used to have with my family out there when I was free,” said linebacker Dewayne Scott. He remembered how every … [Read More...]

REMEMBERING SOCCER LEGEND PELÉ
Ask any futbol fan in the world, who is the greatest futbol player in history? The answer will surely be Pelé! Futbol fans around the world mourned when they learned that Pelé died at age 82 on Dec. 29, 2022. The Brazilian celebrity was born Edson Arantes Do Nacimento, but picked up his nickname as a child when he had trouble … [Read More...]

ABSOLUTE DETERMINATION
By Steve Brooks
Tommy Wickerd recently accomplished his goal of running 10,000 miles with the San Quentin 1000 Mile Running Club. He is the club’s president and has been a member since 2015. “When I run, that is when I feel free,” said Wickerd. “I am no longer in prison.” To achieve his goal, Wickerd ran 40,000 laps in a “circle” distorted by the … [Read More...]

All-In football team dominates on Veteran’s Day
By Rahan Asaan
San Quentin’s Veteran’s Day football game featured dominating offense and precision defense by the All-In team, leading to its 24-22 victory over The Grizzlies in the final seconds. The game took off fast with a 40-yard pass from All-In quarterback “Pookie” Sylvester to wide receiver Navion “Smoove” Starks. Sylvester threw a touchdown pass to … [Read More...]

PRIMERA JEFA MAGISTRADA EN MÉXICO
By Edwin Chavez
Por primera vez en la historia de México, una mujer asume el cargo de Jefa Magistrada de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación, reportó La Prensa Asociada, el 2 de enero de 2023. La magistrada Norma Lucia Piña llegó a este cargo después de recibir la mayoría de votos de los ministros 6-5, señaló la Prensa Asociada. El jefe … [Read More...]

Mujeres Latinas tienen conflicto al reportar violencia doméstica
“Recientemente una vecina sufrió violencia doméstica. Como todos los episodios de este mal, fue un escándalo y fue doloroso para ella y sus hijos, un chico de diez años y un bebé de cinco meses”, escribe la periodista Latinoamericana Carmen Rodríguez para la Opinión. Sin embargo, a pesar del sufrimiento que la mujer y sus hijos, sufrieron a … [Read More...]

Organización femenil EQUIS busca justicia para mujeres encarceladas
La agrupación EQUIS que se enfoca en la justicia para las mujeres y que es una organización feminista a favor de los derechos humanos de mujeres prisioneras en México publica información de la situación actual de las mujeres en prisiones mexicanas, escribe Primavera Díaz, Noticias ONU. La codirectora de EQUIS Isabel Erreguerena en su entrevista … [Read More...]

El efecto perjudicial de encarcelar a madres
By Edwin Chavez
El impacto negativo de encarcelar a madres con hijos, incluso por un tiempo corto, puede ser catastrófico, reportó Human Rights Watch y la Unión de Libertades Civiles de Estados Unidos (ACLU) en noviembre 20 del 2022. En Oklahoma, el resultado de más de un centenar de entrevistas a madres encarceladas, ex-convictas, cuidadores substitutos, … [Read More...]

Los Angeles elige a su primera alcaldesa
La primera mujer negra alcaldesa de Los Angeles, Karen Bass, está prometiendo combatir la corrupción, la falta de vivienda y el crimen en la ciudad. “Es tiempo para cambios, y es tiempo de mayor urgencia”, les dijo Bass a sus seguidores después de derrotar al billonario Rick Caruso, reportó La Prensa Asociada. “Nosotros vamos a resolver la … [Read More...]

Mujeres encarceladas injustamente
By Edwin Chavez
En los últimos treinta años doscientos-cuarenta y una mujeres fueron exonerados, por delitos no cometidos. En los EE. UU., se ha comprobado la inocencia de muchas mujeres que fueron condenadas injustamente y sentenciadas por ofensas que no cometieron, Según reportó el proyecto de inocentes. En un mundo de encarcelamiento masivo se … [Read More...]

Mass incarceration myths continue to propagate
Eight common misconceptions debunked bytwo separate Prison Policy Initiative reports Incarceration is heavily featured in movies and television shows, which conjures up a narrow set of representations in peoples’ minds. However, a recent report by a respected criminal justice reform organization exposes eight common myths about mass … [Read More...]

VIET IMMIGRANT MAKES HISTORY
First Asian American elected to leadSacramento County DA’s office A Vietnamese immigrant was confirmed as the 5th Asian American ever elected in the U.S. to lead a District Attorney’s Office, according to NewsShark. Thien Ho took office as Sacramento County’s 36th DA. Superior Court Judge Carlton David conducted the swearing-in … [Read More...]

California pays reparations for forced sterilizations
144 California prisoners sterilized between 2005 and 2013 California is struggling to pay reparations to hundreds of women who were sterilized, many against their will, Fox News and The Associated Press reported. The $4.5 million reparations program is scheduled to expire in one year, the Jan. 4 story noted. The program provides … [Read More...]

Prisons increasingly turning to scanning incoming mail
Many prisons are substituting scanned copies for the delivery of original mail to residents as a way of limiting the amount of drugs entering prisons, according to Prison Policy Initiative. The prison reform organization reported that 14 states either pay a third–party vendor or use in–house scanners to reproduce electronic copies of incoming … [Read More...]

‘Fangs of inflation’ bite prisoners
If the fangs of inflation took a trifling nibble out of meager incarcerated living standards over the past few months, then in November they took a chunky bite. Prices of a few items, countable on one hand, decreased modestly, while prices that rose, needing ten hands to count, bordered on the exorbitant. Across ten categories, 50 items at the … [Read More...]

Federal legislation to lower cost of phone calls
Lower phone call costs are on the horizon for America’s incarcerated people, thanks to new federal legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden in January. The legislation enshrines the Federal Communications Commission with the authority to set limits on fees for audio and video calls from federal, state, and local correctional … [Read More...]

PRISON, REHABILITATION, AND WASTED POTENTIAL
Bill Keller, Marshall Project founding editor talks about his new book, What’s Prison For? By Charlotte West Charlotte West: Why did you want to write a book answering the question, “What’s prison for?” Bill Keller: That’s the underlying tension across two centuries of criminal justice history in America: on the one hand a … [Read More...]

Folsom Lake College reentry program to receive federal funds
Nearly $1M in funding intended to tackle recidivism, violence in the community A college program for the incarcerated in California has received a federal grant of almost $1 million to teach incarcerated students in-person, the Sacramento Bee reports. “This federal funding will help reduce recidivism, violence, and overall conflict in our … [Read More...]

Suicide on the rise among prisoners
There has been a sharp increase in suicides in prisons and jails due to isolation in the pandemic, staff shortages and drug use, The Wall Street Journal reports. The Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that between 2001 and 2019 suicides rose 85% in state prisons, 61% in federal prisons and 13% in local … [Read More...]

UCSF apologizes for unethical experiments
A major California hospital has apologized for subjecting prisoners to unethical treatments by two doctors in the 1960s and 1970s, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. In 1966, the University of California at San Francisco Human Welfare and Experimentation Committee required documented consent from experimental test subjects. But UCSF … [Read More...]

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month
By CDCR

Women’s rehabilitation given consideration with early farm concept
By CDCR
By Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR Editor 1920s farm was early gender‑responsive rehabilitation The 40-room 1880s-era building at the California Industrial Farm for Women burned down in 1923, effectively shutting down the new institution. (Sonoma County Library.) Until other institutions were established, women served their sentences at San … [Read More...]

CEMETERY TALES
By CDCR
A twist of fate for two women By California Department ofCorrections and Rehabilitation ■ Mary Hill avoids being first woman buried in San Quentin After serving a few months at San Quentin, Mary Hill was extremely ill, clinging to life in the prison hospital. Meant to serve a sentence for check forgery, failing health found her in … [Read More...]

Banned books on the rise in Michigan prisons
By Andrew Hardy
The number of books being banned by Michigan’s prison system has seen a significant increase of late, according to a January Vice story, which describes the process by which a title is deemed inappropriate for prisoner consumption as “totally subjective.” Attorney Adam Steinbaugh filed a public records request on behalf of FIRE, a free speech … [Read More...]

Canada appoints ombudsman to represent crime victims
Canada has appointed a new Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime with the hope of helping crime victims recover from trauma, according to an opinion piece published in The Conversation. Some 2.6 million people over the age of 15 experienced violence in the form of sexual assault, and/or physical assault and robbery during the period … [Read More...]

WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
30X30 Initiative hopes to increaseinvolvement of women by 2030 Women make up an increasingly large proportion of police departments. One of the reasons for the change lies in the 30X30 initiative, a national effort begun in 2018 to raise awareness of bringing on more female officers and of demographic diversity at police departments, writes Greg … [Read More...]

NEWS BRIEFS – March 2023
1. Nevada — (AP) In the ten months since a March 2022 audit, Nevada’s Department of Corrections has not fully implemented any of the 16 recommendations to improve pervasive weaknesses in its use of force procedures. However the agency has partially implemented 14 of the recommendations. The department attributed failure to timely implement the … [Read More...]

Forum: Shortcomings in police training programs present ‘immediate crisis’
By Rahan Asaan
Police Executive Research Forumsays recruits lack instruction incommunication, crisis intervention A well-known think tank has concluded that training for law enforcement recruits “presents an immediate crisis for policing,” The Washington Post reported. The system responsible for placing law enforcement personnel in U.S. cities is … [Read More...]

Black Americans more likely to suffer false convictions
Group makes up more than halfof all exonerations Black people in the U.S. are seven times more likely to be falsely convicted of serious crimes like murder, rape, and drug offenses than White people, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. Less than 14% of the U.S. population is Black, but they account for 53% of exonerations, … [Read More...]

Arrests of elderly Americans on the rise
By Rahan Asaan
Police are arresting more elderly Americans, including many with dementia, the Marshall Project reports. The numbers of arrests for Americans over the age of 65 increased by nearly 30% from 2000 to 2020, while all other arrests were declining, the Nov. 22, 2022 report stated. Elderly arrestees comprise less than 2% of all arrests, but … [Read More...]

NATIVE AMERICANS CELEBRATE ANNUAL WINTER POW WOW
Incarcerated First Nations drummers, dancerhonor Native cultural history, values The scent of burnt sage pierced the air of San Quentin’s Chapel B at the prison’s Native American Spiritual Group’s Winter Pow Wow. The Dec. 30th event’s theme was “To all our Relationships,” celebrating indigenous life and humanity. The pulsating drumbeats … [Read More...]

AAPI COMMUNITY CELEBRATES MAKAHIKI
The Pacific Islanders ancient traditions were commemorated at San Quentin’s Chapel B area to recognize the prison’s Native Hawaiian Religious Group Makahiki Celebration. The Dec. 30 event was held after more than a 24-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic that caused the celebration to be canceled since 2019. Absent from the … [Read More...]

Alameda County becomes first in U.S. to ban
background checks for prospective renters
As 2022 came to a close, Alameda County became the first county in the nation to pass an ordinance protecting housing rights for formerly incarcerated people by banning landlords from using criminal background checks against potential tenants, according to media reports. “I want folks to understand that every human being deserves a roof over … [Read More...]

THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Group of formerly incarcerated now giving back to theircommunities following model of restorative justice A group of formerly incarcerated guys has been doing a lot of good, participating with others to give back to the communities where they once committed crimes. Richard Johnson and Jewels Harrison have teamed up with dozens of other formerly … [Read More...]

Group helps former prisoners understand
housing barriers
Criminal records still a factor forreentering citizens seeking a place to live Among the numerous barriers the newly-freed face when reentering society is finding housing. To help formerly incarcerated people navigate this daunting issue, the nonprofit advocacy group Roots & Rebound Reentry Advocates has created a 32-page handbook titled … [Read More...]

Tech industry embraces formerly incarcerated job seekers
Some of the best job prospects for the formerly incarcerated are in the tech industry. A major problem is getting quality tech training to the people returning to society, according to the magazine Wired. “Tech companies in particular have begun to recognize a social responsibility to train people who have been impacted by the legal … [Read More...]

Urban garden program grows fresh produce, employing reentering citizens
By Joshua Grant
Planting Justice provides fresh produce in low-income neighborhoods, job training, and jobs to formerly incarcerated, according to The Guardian. The organization hires many citizens returning from incarceration, and provides stable jobs with benefits and starting pay around $19 an hour. “It’s a huge coping skill, to be working … [Read More...]

SQNews talks to AIDA cofounder Vanessa Silva-Collins
By Edwin Chavez
Survivor turnedprogram directorgives us the insidescoop on the first-everdomesticviolence survivorevent at CIW AIDA hosted its first Annual Domestic Violence Survivor Event at the CIW women’s facility. SQNews spoke with Ms. Vanessa Silva-Collins, AIDA Co-Founder/Director about the program generally and the event specifically: SQNews: What … [Read More...]

New residential reentry program opens in Tijuana
By Juan Carlos GonzalezContributing Writer Downtown Tijuana, Mexico, has a reentry program now. The Christ Center Rehabilitation Program (Centro de Rehabilitación Renovaos Vuestra Mente) is located 15 minutes from the U.S. border. The Tijuana border is one of the most visited borders on the whole planet. Because the city of Tijuana is … [Read More...]

The power of healing through music
Professional singer and songwriter Essence Goldman held a workshop called Finding Your Voice on Dec. 20 at San Quentin’s Interfaith Chapel, to share the power of healing through music. Finding Your Voice is typically a virtual retreat, which is intended to cultivate life-changing power by channeling your inner rock star. The goal is to … [Read More...]

The Immaculate Helping Hands of Julia Williams
Nonprofit provides affordable transportation for families visiting incarcerated loved ones A California organization established during the pandemic to provide safe transportation services to families of incarcerated people is now offering rides to visit loved ones in prison, including San Quentin. Immaculate Helping Hands, a … [Read More...]

MS. STANCIU: ABE-II INSIGHTS
By Edwin Chavez
Armed with her belief in second chances, ABE-II instructor Alina Stanciu faces the many challenges of teaching incarcerated students. She recently took the time to answer a few questions about her first year teaching at San Quentin, and what brought her this far in her career. SQNews: Why did you decide to become a teacher? Alina … [Read More...]

UnChainMe
By Jessie Milo — CSP Corcoran … [Read More...]

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR – FEBRUARY 2023
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA READER REVEALS HIDDEN HISTORY Dear SQNews: Most people know the 13th Amendment outlawed slavery. But that was the second 13th Amendment. The first was promoted by President James Buchanan, introduced into Congress, passed by a 2/3 majority of both the House and the Senate. It was then submitted to all the States … [Read More...]

SHIRLEY CHISHOLM Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics By Anastasia C. Curwood
By Juan Haines
On Jan. 3, the United States Congress opened its halls to 535 Americans eager for public service. Women held only 149 seats in the 118th Congress, so gender equality fell short. A key turning point in history for women in U.S. politics came on a hot and humid night in Miami, Florida. On July 12, 1972, at the Democratic National Convention, … [Read More...]

TEIR TALK: ALL-IN’S HEAD COACH ON 20 YEARS’ COACHING
I got the opportunity to sit down with Head coach Carlos Smith of Team All-In and talk about his undefeated San Quentin’s Intramural Football team and asked him a few questions. He was also at the San Quentin symposium when some of the San Francisco 49ers came in and shared their perspectives on social justice. To Coach Smith, coaching … [Read More...]

YEAR-END SPORTS ROUNDUP
San Quentin’s sports programssurvived a fluctuating and sometimesstagnant COVID-19 protocolera that disrupted athleticevents for almost three years. SQ Earthquake Soccer team finished the year at 2-1. San Quentin A’s baseball squad completed its season at 6-1. Hardtimers softball team ended its short season 3-1. San … [Read More...]

Football season jamboree
Coach Jeremiah “J.B.” Brown called the San Quentin Football Jamboree doubly exciting, with two competitive matches. Team All-In beat Team Hurricanes, 38-20, while the Assassins beat the Grizzlies, 41-25. “Speed, speed, speed is all I can say about the games,” said Brown. He compared newcomer “YG” Hatcher from Team All-In to NFL star Odell … [Read More...]

All-Madden ends its era on high note
The Chosen, an outside team, came into the Q on Dec. 3, a rainy weekend morning, to play a gritty, grimy, soggy game of flag football. It was the last game the San Quentin All-Madden team will play before changing their name to the SQ 49ers. The Madden team left its imprint on the muddy terrain by trampling The Chosen 25- 12. The Chosen was … [Read More...]

Tatuajes reponen en peligro a reos deportados
By Edwin Chavez
Para los deportados contatuajes, el ser enviadosal El Salvador o su paísesde origen podría ser unasentencia de muerte Ex-convicto inmigrante Salvadoreño evita la deportación por sus múltiples tatuajes en el cuerpo. Gregory Aguilar-Ramos fue liberado de la posibilidad de ser torturado o asesinado por escuadrones de muerte o pandilleros en su … [Read More...]

Reflexionando en el nacimiento de Jesús Cristo
Se encuentra en la Biblia una historia navideña tradicional algo rara, de magos que vienen del oriente a adorar al niño Jesús. Separado de las figuras que adornan el pesebre navideño, no se sabe mucho de este evento histórico. A menos de que vivas en México, Cuba, Puerto Rico, o España y otros países Latino Americanos el “Día de … [Read More...]

BANQUETE NAVIDEÑO EN SAN QUENTIN
Prisioneros conviven enarmonía navideña conoficiales de la Iglesia. Centenares de feligreses se reunieron en la iglesia católica y protestante para celebrar la Navidad con un Banquete tradicional. Debido a la enorme cantidad de asistentes el evento se llevó a cabo los días 10 y 17 de diciembre de 2022. El Padre Manuel Chavira, … [Read More...]
Programas beneficiosos aceleran la rehabilitación
Programas de Ayuda para Reclusos, pueden reducir la reincidencia y ayudar a los que fueron encarcelados para ajustarse a una vida fuera de la prisión, a un costo-bajo, según el periódico The Crime Report. El reporte denota que los programas tal como el Proyecto Universitario de Prisiones en San Quentin (hoy Mount Tamalpais College) como … [Read More...]

POBREZA EXTREMA AGOBIA A MUCHOS PRISIONEROS
By Edwin Chavez
Los reos indigentes en las prisiones estatales y federales, en los 50 estados de la nación, enfrentan una pobreza debido a la escasez de ayuda, de acuerdo al Prison Policy initiative. Reclusos en estas instituciones tienen dificultad para obtener productos de higiene personal, estampillas, u otros artículos de necesidad básica, reportó … [Read More...]
