Lompoc Covid suit settled
Federal prisoners who filed a class action lawsuit requesting releases due to COVID-19, have reached a settlement agreement with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), according to the Santa Maria Times. Shawn Fears, Andre Brown, Yonnedil Torres, Vincent Reed and Felix Garcia, filed suit on behalf of themselves and 2,700 other prisoners at Lompoc … [Read More...]
LA supes strike down motion to close juvenile detention camp
An LA County Supervisor’s effort to close a deteriorating youth detention was thwarted after other supervisors voted the proposal down, according to an article by the Los Angeles Daily News. Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Camp Kenyon Scudder, a Santa Clarita juvenile hall, should permanently close because the 74-year-old facility is not … [Read More...]
Labor shortages create opportunity for returning citizens
A labor shortage sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic is helping formerly incarcerated people find jobs, according to The Associated Press. At least 11.3 million jobs opened up in the U.S. “amid a dire national labor shortage” sparked by the pandemic, according to the July 10 AP story. When Antonio McGowan walked out Mississippi’s Parchman State … [Read More...]
Experts cite Covid risks, recommend additional releases
A new report about the effects of COVID-19 on California’s prison system encourages lawmakers and prison officials to reduce the prison population in order to save lives. “We found that many California prison officials and staff did heroic work under incredibly difficult circumstances, But in many cases, it still wasn’t enough.” said Dr. Brie … [Read More...]
Susanville – Injunction temporarily halts closure of California Correctional Center
Employees at the California Correctional Center (CCC) in Susanville will need to find new jobs by June 2023, according to an article in the Sacramento Bee. Gov. Gavin Newsom first announced the closure of CCC in April 2021. By August, the citizens of Susanville filed for a preliminary injunction citing a violation of California’s … [Read More...]
Prisoners released under federal CARES Act returned to prison
The U.S. 2020 Federal Cares Act, (FCA) authorized the release of incarcerated individuals to home confinement to help lower the spread of COVID-19 within the prison system, Reuters reports. Of the 10,000 people released, 406 violated the terms of their release and were returned to prison. There were a variety of reasons for people violating … [Read More...]
State releases updated ‘Roadmap’ for reopening
Outbreak Phase An outbreak is defined as three or more epidemiologically linked cases of COVID-19 among incarcerated persons (IP) within the past 14 days. During Outbreak Phase, operations, programs, and services will be modified to minimize the risk for ongoing transmission of COVID-19. On July 7, 2022, the CDCR and the California … [Read More...]
No immunity for CDCR in SQ outbreak suit
Federal judge denies officials’ bid for protection under PREP Act following deadly wave of Covid infections in 2020; prisoners’ lawsuits allowed to move forward A federal judge has refused to dismiss a handful of lawsuits by San Quentin (SQ) residents, saying that prison staff and executives orchestrated a prisoner transfer that caused a deadly … [Read More...]
PENNSYLVANIA – Number of juveniles charged as adults on the decline
Fewer juvenile offenders are being sent to adult courts as a shift works its way into the American justice system, The Associated Press reports. The percentage of juvenile offenders across the county referred to adult court dropped from 8% in 2010 to 2% in 2019 and 1% in 2020, according to data compiled by the FBI. “This has meant second … [Read More...]
FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS – Rampant BOP abuse and cover-ups ignored
An intensive investigation and personnel changes are underway at the Dublin federal women’s prison where widespread sexual abuse has been reported by The Associated Press. Inmates and staff at the Dublin prison reported rampant sexual abuse and cover-ups. They said that authorities ignored their cries for help. The facility has lost a … [Read More...]
FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS – Widespread negligence in BOP exposed
An Associated Press investigation has disclosed widespread sexual abuse, criminal misconduct, staffing shortages, prisoner escapes, neglect and leadership failures in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, The resulting stories grabbed the attention of federal legislators. A May 5 AP story reported, “Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., introduced legislation … [Read More...]
MISSOURI – ‘Haunted’ prisons offer insights into mass incarceration
Former prison sites have often used spooky and grotesque prison props to entertain visitors. But instead of scaring visitors, some sites have switched to educating them about mass incarceration, according to an article published by The Marshall Project in partnership with Mother Jones. At San Quentin State Prison, one of the most infamous … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS – September 2022
1. ALABAMA — (Associated Press) Alabama’s plan to sell $725 million in bonds to finance the construction of two new supersize prisons is being opposed by advocacy groups. The organizations formed the Communities Not Prisons coalition to fight the state’s plan for dealing with Alabama’s prison problems, saying it ignores the bigger problems … [Read More...]
Congress reexamines crack vs cocaine laws
Congress is again considering eliminating the disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine penalties that has disproportionately impacted Black defendants. The bill passed the House last September with bipartisan support and would apply retroactively if it makes it through the Senate. It is tagged the EQUAL Act, short for Eliminating a … [Read More...]
TENNESSEE: State’s first murder exoneration announced by Gov. Bill Lee
After 12 years in prison, Adam Braseel made history as Tennessee’s first convicted murderer to receive a full exoneration. Announced by Governor Bill Lee among 16 other executive clemency cases, Braseel’s case, the only exoneration, took a long time to resolve, said Tyler Whetstone in the Knoxville News Sentinel. The article said that … [Read More...]
Parole hearings create dilemma for innocent supplicants
Some people confess to a crime they did not commit to avoid the threat of a more severe sentence, the New York Times reports. A result can be that a wrongly convicted person is reluctant to tell the truth for fear of being denied parole. “Parole hearings create a terrible Catch-22 for those who have been convicted. If they admit guilt, they … [Read More...]
AG Bonta recalibrates position amid political pressure
California voters are anxious about crime, putting pressure on left-leaning district attorneys and causing Attorney General Rob Bonta to recalibrate his position, reported Politico March 13. Politico said that Bonta was “considered a rising progressive star” last year when he was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and that the outcome of his … [Read More...]
Los Angeles drug diversion efforts fizzle
Three-quarters of eligible offenders decline program; Gov. Newsom suggests mandated treatment for addicts, mentally ill The drug diversion program in the city of Los Angeles is not making any progress due to lack of interest, according to the Los Angeles Times. The program, offered as an alternative to incarceration, is having little success … [Read More...]
Author of 1893 parole law remembered
California’s first parole law crafted by state’s first female attorney Thanks to the 1893 parole law, those serving sentences in California’s two prisons were given an incentive to be on their best behavior: release. The new law marked a turning point for the state correctional system, created by the state’s first female attorney. A pioneer … [Read More...]
No strings attached
Returning Citizen Stimulus program provides cash assistance to formerly incarcerated Giving financial support to people getting out of prison is having a positive effect on their lives. Last April, formerly incarcerated people in 28 cities in six states across the country began receiving an average of $2,750 over three months. Californians … [Read More...]
ANNOUNCEMENT
Former SF prosecutor’s diversion program policies criticized
Under Chesa Boudin, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office resolved an increasing number of criminal cases through diversion programs, according to an analysis of data by the San Francisco Chronicle. The analysis revealed that the most common types of cases accounting for the increase in diversions were petty theft, misdemeanor assault and … [Read More...]
‘Gate Money’ legislation revised
Senate Bill 1304’s proposed Release Allowance cut by half — to $1,300 if bill becomes law Efforts to increase the amount of “gate money” allotted to prisoners upon their release have been resurrected after being placed in a legislative Suspension File. Senate Bill 1304, authored by Sydney Kamlager, sought to increase the amount of gate … [Read More...]
EX-PRISONERS FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
Urban Alchemy cleans up the streets while putting formerly incarcerated back to work Urban Alchemy is a non-profit organization hiring the formerly incarcerated to make streets cleaner and safer, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The company uses a strategy of hiring people who are struggling to find jobs, and in turn reducing the … [Read More...]
DID YOU KNOW — YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE!
"We just completed another voter registration drive at our local jail, and in two days we were able to register 157 incarcerated people to vote!” —Brendon WoodsAlameda County Public Defender … [Read More...]
Advocates push releases for FCI Dublin abuse victims
Advocates for women who were sexually abused in a federal prison in Northern California are requesting compassionate release for the victims, The Associated Press reports. The women are inmates in the federal Bureau of Prisons’ women’s facility in Dublin, nicknamed the “Rape Club” by many who are familiar with it. The request to … [Read More...]
Formerly incarcerated women join battle to restore voting rights to ex-felons
Efforts are underway to restore voting rights to Georgia citizens convicted of a felony, the Southern Poverty Law Center reports. Over five million people in the U.S. are prohibited from voting because of a felony conviction, 275,000 live in Georgia, and almost 60% of them are Black, reported the May 14 article. The language of the … [Read More...]
Q&A with CALPIA’s new General Manager
Bill Davidson’s purposeful approach prepares prisoners to reenter the workforce Bill Davidson, CALPIA’s new General Manager, sat down with SQNews to talk about his new role, COVID, and his vision for the program. SQN: Hi, thanks for sitting down with SQNews. So what does a CALPIA General Manager do? BD: The CALPIA General Manager … [Read More...]
Fashionista Runa Ray’s Peace Flag Project tackles social justice, climate change
To tackle the lofty goals of climate change and social justice at the same time is a tall order, but fashion environmentalist Runa Ray launched the Peace Flag project to do just that. The Peace Flag project aims to unite humanity using art and fashion. The project consists of converting old garments into canvases upon which individuals can … [Read More...]
Ella Baker appoints new executive director
When Marlene Sanchez was five years old, her father was swept up by the criminal justice system. Police raided her home and arrested him for drugs. He spent the next 25 years in prison. Sanchez also lost her mother to deportation. Soon, the young Sanchez took to the streets and was labeled as a gang member destined for a life of drugs and crime. … [Read More...]
The suffocating remorse of a mother in prison
When a mother fails, a child cries. Whether silently inside or openly and outwardly, the child suffers. Right now, my child is suffering as a result of my absence in his life, and I feel like an epic failure. As my child sits in his jail cell, I sit in my prison cell. He is scared for his future, and I’m ashamed for my past. He is thinking of … [Read More...]
INDEPENDENCE DAY?
“Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light?” Oh wait, hold on! The U.S. Supreme Court just struck down Roe v. Wade. The 50-year-old precedent on abortion rights has come tumbling down under a stacked court of right-wing judges. “And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air...” This Fourth of July the nation has seen multiple … [Read More...]
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: August 2022
SQNEWS INSPIRES PRISONER PUBLICATION IN VIRGINIA Dear San Quentin News: Your paper inspires us at Green Rock Correctional Center. It is awesome! I am enclosing our monthly newsletter to show what you inspired. Thank you and God bless! —Charles Massey, Green Rock Correct’l Ctr. Chatham, Virginia Hey, Charles! Thanks … [Read More...]
BOOK REVIEW: “The Sixth Man” By Andre Iguodala with Carvell Wallace
Basketball can be a game of feet. It can rely on whether your shot is on or off that day. For a person who no longer appreciates the game, The Sixth Man, co-written by Carvell Wallace with NBA champion Andre Iguodala, is a must read. The gripping best-seller calls it “a game of pounding joints and crushing bones, ligaments ripped and healed, … [Read More...]
San Quentin athletes suffer during sports lockdowns
You can count the incarcerated athletes of San Quentin among those who will be the happiest whenever “normal” programming resumes. The ongoing COVID saga is putting the hurt on them in more ways than one – from their practices and games, to their training and conditioning, to their mental health and rehabilitation. “These lockdowns … [Read More...]
FRESH OFF THE PRESS: Wall City magazine’s special Sports & Rehabilitation edition
It has been a long time coming, but the SQNEWS Wall City Sports Magazine is finally here! It’s an exciting time for sports lovers at San Quentin and around the prison system so they can see themselves represented in a rehabilitative light. The Wall City magazine special Sports Edition is full of invigorating articles that cover some … [Read More...]
The Golden State Warriors: More than just champions
The Golden State Warriors pulled off their 4th championship win within eight years. But to those at the San Quentin, the GSW are more to them than just NBA Champs. Incarcerated resident Kelley E. said, “To pull off four national championships in eight seasons is unheard of. And to see Curry pull off a three-pointer from half court excites … [Read More...]
Q&A with new IBL commissioner Jamal Green
At the time of this interview San Quentin prison was on quarantine because of COVID. I had the opportunity to catch up with the new commissioner of the Intramural Basketball League (IBL), Jamal Green, and get his thoughts on what he plans to do with the league now that he is in a position to decide what its future looks like. Before quarantine, … [Read More...]
DUB NATION RISES AGAIN!
Golden State Warriors add another championship to their glorious dynasty While the Golden State Warriors were stomping over the court when they won the 2022 NBA Championship against the Boston Celtics, 103 – 90, fans at San Quentin were stomping and yelling over the tiers in West Block cheering for their team. The San Quentin residents … [Read More...]
Policia blanco asesino a refugiado del Congo en Michigan
El policía Christopher Schurr es arrestado por asesinato en segundo grado. El fiscal de Grand Rapids, Michigan, presento cargos criminales contra este oficial por asesinato contra un hombre negro, según reporto The Daily Journal. Patrict Lyoya, un hombre negro fue balaceado en la nuca estando en el suelo y despues de un intenso y … [Read More...]
Reo sentenciado a cadena perpetua fue liberado erróneamente
Shaquile Lash de 28, fue liberado mientras estaba detenido en la cárcel central del condado de Sacramento, según reporto The Daily Journal el 10 de junio. Lash, estaba sentenciado y sirviendo una condena de cadena perpetua por robo de carro mientras él estaba armado y otros cargos de robo a mano armada, equivocadamente él fue liberado de una … [Read More...]
La popularidad del Presidente Joe Biden continúa en declive
La popularidad del Presidente Joe Biden en la comunidad latina ha bajado de un 72% a un 56%, debido a la lentitud para resolver asuntos migratorios y económicos, según las cifras de julio a septiembre del 2021, informo el Centro de Investigación Pew (Pew Research Center). Biden ha perdido el apoyo de varios grupos incluyendo la comunidad … [Read More...]
El grupo legal Jailhouse Lawyer 360 pierde su licencia por estafa a prisioneros
Ex-Recluso Estafador Cientos de reclusos en las prisiones estatales de California fueron estafados por un ex convicto quien después de terminar con su libertad condicional, representaba ilegalmente a los prisioneros en sus apelaciones, reportó Life Support Alliance (LSA por sus siglas en ingles) en su boletín de febrero 2022. Anthony David … [Read More...]
6,000 arrestados durante estado de emergencia en El Salvadorse
La muerte de 87 personas en tres días, obliga al Presidente de El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, a declarar estado de emergencia como una medida drástica para detener la ola de violencia de las Maras, informó the guardian.org El 27 de marzo Bukele ordenó redadas masivas como parte de los 30 días de estado de emergencia. Las Maras, pandilla salvadoreña … [Read More...]
A look back at the good ol’ days…
Photos from the San Quentin News archive and the San Quentin Museum offer a glimpse into the prison’s distant past. … [Read More...]
Reentry simulations reveal overwhelming obstacles for parolees
Cycle of poverty, incarceration strengthened by lack of resources, stigma of arrest The difficulties former prisoners experience are being simulated in a college program to show problems people experience on reentry. Participant Brandon Ruppe said he hopes the simulations will lead to more equitable practices in hiring and for the formerly … [Read More...]
Former SQ resident fought stigma of incarceration, now helps other formerly incarcerated
John Krause, founder of Big House Beans and former San Quentin resident, sat down with SQNews to talk about reentry and how he has expanded his coffee shop business into Oakland. Q: So how long have you been free now? JK: 11 years Q: What made you get into the coffee business? Is it because in prison people drink a lot of … [Read More...]
Report finds urban Blacks, rural Whites equally affected by justice system
70 million Americans hindered by criminal record, report says A recent collaborative study found surprising similarities in the rate of incarceration among predominantly-Black urban communities and predominantly-White rural areas, and linked it to the economic impact of incarceration on society as a whole. Researchers Howard Henderson, … [Read More...]
Justice Dept. issues expanded directives for early release, home confinement
Changes could affect thousands of federal prisoners’ eligibility New guidelines make federal prisoners eligible for release provides for the transfer of prisoners to supervised release programs, residential re-entry centers, or home confinement, reported the New York Times. The change codifies the guidelines that carry out the First Step Act, … [Read More...]
Seattle program earns praise, combats gun violence
Amid rising gun violence in cities across the nation, an innovative violence prevention and diversion program in Seattle called Community Passageways is winning praise and attracting the attention of city leaders. As gun violence spikes, communities mourn and law enforcement officials search for answers, while pundits argue over who is to … [Read More...]
Incarcerated firefighters able to continue career in community
Incarcerated firefighters are receiving help to continue their careers after their release thanks to the efforts of a non-profit started by formerly incarcerated firefighters. The California-based organization, known as the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, was started by Brandon Smith and Royal Ramey. They became friends while serving time … [Read More...]
States continue to employ ‘predatory’ pay-to-stay schemes against prisoners
The United States spends more than $180 billion annually on incarceration, locking up more people per capita than any other nation in the world. And, according to a recent Washington Post article, even in the modern age of social justice and prison reform, “predatory schemes” that force the incarcerated to pay for their own imprisonment remain … [Read More...]
Formerly incarcerated woman now fights for prisoner trauma treatment
Incarcerated women are less dangerous than male prisoners and prisons should operate with that in mind, The New York Times reported. Little attention has been paid to the circumstances of female detainees at New York’s Rikers Island jail, according to the May 14 story by Ginia Bellafonte. Eighty % of the Rikers women are mothers and 77% are … [Read More...]
BOOK REVIEW: Journalist goes undercover as private prison guard
Sixty Days In is a popular TV show where people go undercover as inmates in jail for two months — if they even last that long. In 2014, journalist Shane Bauer flipped that script and went undercover as a guard at a private prison in Louisiana. He lasted four months. The result was his award-winning book American Prison: A Reporter’s … [Read More...]
Prisons nationwide using tech to step up fight against contraband
Ohio is the latest state putting anti-drone technology and X-ray body scanners into play in an effort to keep drugs and other contraband out of state prisons, according to The Associated Press. Fighting the flow of illicit goods into prisons is an uphill battle, said Annette Chambers-Smith, director of Ohio’s prison system. “Every … [Read More...]
Non-English language materials banned by Michigan prison system
The Michigan Department of Corrections has banned the use of dictionaries in Spanish and Swahili in the state’s prisons, claiming that the books present a security threat, National Public Radio (NPR) said. “If certain prisoners all decided to learn a very obscure language, they would be able to then speak freely in front of staff and others … [Read More...]
Tennessee prisons reject Malcolm X
As reported in The Vice, Prisons and jails frequently ban books that reflect political viewpoints carceral officials view as objectionable. “Prison scholars say this often results in entire categories of thought being banned, including materials relevant to the marginalized groups that disproportionately populate U.S. prisons,” said the … [Read More...]
NY bans Thompson’s “Blood in the Water”
A prominent author who exposed malfeasance by New York prison authorities in the notorious 1971 Attica uprising has taken New York’s correctional officials to court after they banned her book. Last September, SQ News reviewed Heather Ann Thompson’s Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971. The review said Thompson did … [Read More...]
Dublin FCI comes under ongoing scrutiny
The Federal Correctional Institution - Dublin, a women’s prison in Northern California, earned the nickname the “Rape Club” due to rampant reports of sexual abuse and cover-ups by prison officials, according to an Associated Press investigation. Throughout the prison’s existence, it has been plagued by sexual abuse allegations. Recently, two … [Read More...]
Guards charged with murder
Four Florida prison guards now face murder charges for beating a handcuffed prisoner to death, according to the Associated Press and Reuters. The prisoner was housed in the Miami-Dade County jail’s mental health unit, when he allegedly threw urine on one of the guards when they attempted to transfer him to another prison. Officers then … [Read More...]
Manhattan prosecutor seeks alternatives to incarceration
Manhattan’s new district attorney has instructed his 500 prosecutors to seek jail or prison time only for the most serious of offenses unless the law requires otherwise, The New York Times reports. In an internal memorandum, Alvin Bragg instructed staff to seek jail or prison time for murder, robbery, sexual assaults, and economic crimes that … [Read More...]
Attorneys: ‘Fearmongering’ in mainstream media threatens justice reform efforts
Brooklyn public defender and civil rights attorney Scott Hechinger criticized reporting by The New York Times and National Public Radio on 2020 FBI Crime Statistics. Hechinger argues that the reporting prioritized sensationalism and not the true nature of the statistics. Hechinger’s article “A Massive Fail on Crime Reporting by The New York … [Read More...]
Baltimore to employ civilian investigators
The Baltimore Police Department is launching an experiment to find out if criminal investigations really need to be done by sworn police officers. The department has unveiled a new plan to address staffing shortages by hiring civilians to work as investigators, according to CNN. The BPD is experiencing a crisis in recruiting and retaining … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS – AUGUST 2022
1 North Carolina — (AP) Construction has yet to begin on installing air conditioning in the state’s prison system although the General Assembly approved $30 million for the project last fall. Prison spokesperson John Bull cited intense competition for construction crews and supply chain issues as part of the cause for the delays. In the … [Read More...]
NYC mayor appoints two women to head criminal justice programs
Expanded crime prevention efforts in South Bronx aimed at reducing recidivism, rearrest rates New York Mayor Eric Adams has appointed two women to lead in the expansion of crime prevention programs in the city. “We need to attack this from every level; this is so important as many of these people are coming back to the same conditions that … [Read More...]
Statewide labor shortage linked to decreased immigration
U.S. Census reveals number of immigrant workers has dropped by 100,000 since 2017 A considerable reduction of working-age immigration to Oregon and elsewhere in the U.S.in the last few years has contributed to a labor shortage, research shows. Oregon immigrants are about one-third fewer than in the previous two decades, reported The … [Read More...]
Google invests $8M in reentry resources for former prisoners
Company aims to equip returning citizens with digital literacy, employment skills Tech giant Google is expanding its position in the reentry arena by investing more than $8 million in programs and organizations providing assistance to people impacted by the justice system, including former prisoners, according to a recent TechCrunch … [Read More...]
Jewish community celebrates first Passover – Seder feast since 2019
COVID-19 outbreaks and modified program status have delayed the celebration of Passover Seders at San Quentin State Prison since 2019. On April 15, however, the Jewish community was able to observe Passover. “It feels almost unreal, so full of life from the past years,” said San Quentin resident Darryl Beulah. “It feels good to reconnect. So … [Read More...]
DEATHS DOWN
Overdoses plummet under successful drug treatment program A new treatment program has dramatically curbed drug deaths and hospitalizations in California prisons, The Associated Press reports. Drug overdose deaths dropped 58% and hospitalizations decreased 48% since the program began in 2020, the prison administration reports. The … [Read More...]
Cal-OSHA unable to enforce citations, fines
San Quentin Prison has not paid a big fine for numerous COVID violations and serious violations have not been abated, the Sacramento Bee reported March 17, 2022. The violations are detailed in a 33-page July 2020 report by Cal-OSHA that includes a $396,000 fine, as yet unpaid, the newspaper reported. Sixteen California prisons have … [Read More...]
Prisons across country re-instituting medical copays for prisoners
Temporary Covid-era suspensions being rolled back Shortly before the emergence of COVID-19, the California prison system ended its long-held practice of charging prisoners a $5 copay for medical appointments. But according to a February 2022 report by the Prison Policy Initiative, four out of five states and the federal government have … [Read More...]
Canadian prisoners experiencing lockdown burnout
Some incarcerated persons at the Springhill Institution, the largest federal prison in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, still live under a COVID-19 lockdown, and some have developed the impression that contracting the virus will lead to earlier release from lockdown, says Mainstreet, a radio show broadcast from Toronto, Ontario, in … [Read More...]
Canada suspends contact visits
Some federal prisons in Canada continue to suspend contact visits interrupted at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Some inmates have not had contact visits with their loved ones in more than two years, reported CBC News on March 30, 2022. “It’s inhumane; everyone has the right to see their family,” said Daniel Amecia, who is incarcerated … [Read More...]
SQ’s ForwardThis team grows with eye toward the future
A group of innovative young videographers is blazing a trail for other up-and-coming movie-makers, and preserving the future of video journalism for those who aspire to create content from behind prison walls. ForwardThis is a cohesive team comprised of video veterans Jesse Rose, Edmond Richardson, Ryan Pagan, Thanh Tran, Anthony Gomez, … [Read More...]
Salinas Valley warden implements Norway’s Amend Project
Innovative approach hopes to build bridges between prisoners and guards Salinas Valley State Prison has a reputation for violence and the warden wants to turn that around and make a positive example. “Our reputation is our biggest challenge,” said Warden Trent Allen. As a result of that challenge, Allen is implementing an … [Read More...]
Q&A: San Quentin CRM Madeline Tenney talks about programs moving forward
San Quentin News sits down for a Q&A with Community Resource Manager (CRM) Madeline Tenney in a discussion about her new position, rehabilitation, programming, and her opinion on recidivism rates. Tapped as San Quentin’s CRM in July of 2021, Ms. Tenney says it’s a position she takes very seriously. SQN: Ms. Tenney, would you mind … [Read More...]
Covid whiplash: Rolling lockdowns taking heavy toll
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, San Quentin residents have struggled to cope with multiple waves of infections, but also the hardships associated with the modified programs and repeated lockdowns. Part of that challenge, which generates often-heard complaints in North Block, is the frequent changes in the program. “Every … [Read More...]
Honor and Pride: Remembering my uncle Ferdia
Oh yeah, I know I’m going to be bombarded on the yard and with letters to the editor about why there are so many stories about LGBTQ and transgender people in the June paper, celebrating Pride Month. I understand that the number of LGBTQ prisoners who are out is a small community compared to the whole general prison population. And no, San … [Read More...]
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome By Joy DeGruy, PhD
Dr. Joy DeGruy’s book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrom: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing focuses on how the traumatic experiences of slavery have affected African Americans’ lives, which entails trauma that is a direct result of slaves being hunted, tortured, and forced into labor. According to the book, the syndrome exists when a … [Read More...]
Milwaukee Bucks share trophy with prisoners
The Milwaukee Bucks, two-time NBA Championship winners, shared their Larry O’Brien Championship trophy with the incarcerated residents of the Milwaukee County House of Corrections, USA TODAY reports. Just like the Golden State Warriors, who entered San Quentin to share their Championship trophy with residents in 2017, the Bucks also made the … [Read More...]
SQ athletes, fitness buffs find innovative ways to stay in shape
Athletes at San Quentin are finding alternate ways to get physically fit and maintain their health while doing their time in prison. And guys miss the camaraderie that heavy lifting brings. Some residents use just about anything they can find that holds some weight to add resistance to their workout routines. They do it to increase their … [Read More...]
ALL-MADDEN TRYOUTS TAKE THE FIELD
San Quentin’s All-Madden Football team got cracking for tryouts on April 15 and Head Coach Brian Underwood and Defensive Captain Jermaine Gurley were not making tryouts easy on the Madden hopefuls with their workout regimen. “I’m not going to take easy on them this season,” said Underwood. “Last season I was not only the coach, I was also … [Read More...]
Markelle the Gazelle goes to Boston
Former San Quentin 1000 Mile Club runner Markelle “The Gazelle” Taylor took center stage in the first wave of runners at the Boston Marathon in April. Stepping off the plane with his running gear at Boston’s Logan International Airport, the lean, muscular marathoner with skinny ankles celebrated completing his three years on parole. He is now … [Read More...]
Southern Marin Broncos youth football team tours SQ
On April 4, eight members of the Southern Marin Broncos football team visited The Q with their parents and went on a tour of the prison that turned out to be very informative for the youth—potentially even life changing. “It [the tour] helped me realize how I could steer and navigate my life. It helped me see change and how I look at things now. … [Read More...]
¿Podría una rehabilitación real cambiar la decisión de ICE?
Para prisioneros extranjeros el enigma del futuro que les espera al salir de la cárcel no es nada agradable pues la mayoría son deportados. Vithea Yung, es un sobreviviente junto con su familia, de los ‘campos de muerte’ de Cambodia durante el Régimen genocida de Khmer Rouge, en la década de los 1970’s, escribió Tyche Hendricks para … [Read More...]
La falta de inmigrantes en Oregon, contribuye a escacez de mano de obra
La inmigración en Oregón ha bajado considerablemente causando escasez de trabajadores reporto Mike Rogoway del periódico The Oregonian. El número de inmigrantes en edad para trabajar se desplomo a casi una tercera parte de lo que ha sido en los últimos cinco años, lo cual representa un giro completo en el aumento gradual de las últimas décadas … [Read More...]
Audiencias de libertad condicional por video-conferencia
Las audiencias de libertad condicional en persona son parte del pasado y se quedaron las audiencias vídeo. Las miles de personas encarceladas en California que buscan obtener su libertad condicional, no podrán tener sus audiencias en persona como lo hacían antes, debido a la reciente implementación de un sistema de audio-video, reportó Life … [Read More...]
Trabajadores internacionales autorizados son víctimas de fraude laboral
Investigación de agencias federales, especializadas en el crimen organizado internacional, culmina con el arresto en Georgia de 24 sospechosos de tráfico humano, lavado de dinero, fraude de visas, estafa postal, y otros crímenes. En dicha pesquisa Cerca de 100 inmigrantes mexicanos y centroamericanos fueron rescatados, aunque al menos dos … [Read More...]
Implementación de alternativas de detención
La Administracion de Biden está planeando usar “alternativas de detención” para las personas que estan entrando a los Estados Unidos ilegalmente, reporto Reuters. Los métodos de alternativas de detención incluyen, arresto domiciliario, el uso de brazaletes digitales de tobillo, y monitoreo por medio de teléfonos celulares. Por estos medios … [Read More...]
Aprovechando el tiempo en prisión para propia superación personal
Alex Estrada de 48 años originario de San Diego, California está cumpliendo una sentencia de 16 años en San Quentin State Prison (SQSP), donde se prepara para llegar a ser un camionero comercial, como punto de partida hacia un futuro prometedor. Para lograr esta meta él estudia aquí en prisión lo necesario para obtener la licencia de California … [Read More...]
Restricting medical parole
California is implementing a new policy of only granting medical parole to those so ill they need to be hooked to ventilators in order to breathe, according to The Associated Press. Only those on ventilators are being placed in the community, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesperson Dana … [Read More...]
Formerly incarcerated vet to serve on Veterans’ Justice Commission
A Washington DC based think-tank invited formerly incarcerated marine veteran Ron Self to serve on a commission, aimed at drawing attention to hardships that veterans face after serving the country. The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) sent the invitation on Mar 18, when it established the Veterans Justice Commission (VJC). Studies show that … [Read More...]
Federal Advisory Commission Inactive
The commission that advises the federal judiciary on criminal justice changes has been inactive for at least three years, the Wall Street Journal reports. The seven-member body has only one confirmed member, meaning it has been unable to function for at least three years, the Journal noted in a March 16 story. “Science and evidence has come … [Read More...]
Autism increases likelihood of arrest in youth
A newly released study finds autistic youth interactions with the criminal justice system and police encounters are becoming more common and can be more fatal across the United States, according to Society & Culture. Researchers from the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, at Drexel University, found autistic individuals encounter police at a high … [Read More...]
California opens first prison facility specifically for incarcerated military vets
California has opened the nation’s first prison yard designed to meet the special needs of incarcerated veterans. The yard and special housing, opened last year at Soledad Prison, now houses approximately 200 vets. The 34 prisons run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation houses about 7,000 veterans. The aim of the … [Read More...]
J&J study injected prisoners with asbestos
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has apologized for funding a study that injected incarcerated people with cancer-causing asbestos, according to Fierce Pharma. In 1971 a J&J study injected 10 incarcerated men with asbestos, a key ingredient in their baby powder, said the March 8 article. The testing involved mostly Black … [Read More...]
North Korean prisons rife with abuse
Korea Future—a non-profit whose mission is to investigate human rights violations in North Korea—has received hundreds of complaints of human rights violations, including physical and sexual violence, happening inside North Korean prisons. According to the BBC, “the non-profit has identified 597 perpetrators linked to 5,181 human rights … [Read More...]
California Supreme Court rules on early release for violent offenders
The California Supreme Court has ruled that correctional officials don’t have to consider early release for violent felons, even if their primary offense is nonviolent. The high court ruled that corrections officials acted properly in drafting regulations that exclude from early parole consideration any prisoner who is currently serving a term … [Read More...]
Jail, prison transfers facilitate spread of coronavirus
California local jails and prisons continue to have problems controlling the spread of COVID-19 and some observers blame prison and jail transfers. Others blame the low percentage of prison staff having immunizations. Officials are concerned that the numerous transfer of incarcerated people from jails to prisons to court and back cause much of … [Read More...]
Montana to end solitary confinement of mentally ill prisoners
Montana has agreed to halt solitary confinement and making unrealistic expectations of seriously mentally ill prisoners, The Associated Press reports. “This settlement represents huge gains for the humane treatment of inmates with severe mental illness,” said Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, executive director of Disability Rights Montana. The change … [Read More...]
Danny Trejo’s redemption
Danny Trejo is a man who went from a life of crime to a life of stardom and fame. “Be a good example,” says Trejo, who spent years in California jails and prisons, including as boxing champion of San Quentin. In his autobiographical book, “Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption and Hollywood,” he says of his childhood, “There was no tenderness. … [Read More...]
Nevada reverses vaccine mandate
Vaccinations are no longer necessary for prison staff, health workers or college students in Nevada after the Legislative Commission overruled prior emergency measures mandated by the state Board of Health. The 6-6 vote prohibited the board from extending the 120-day emergency mandate for masks and vaccines, according to The Associate Press. In … [Read More...]
Witnesses admit framing Ohio man
A wrongfully convicted Ohio man is free after serving more than 25 years after two eyewitnesses admitted to framing him. Marvell Dixon wept when his attorney told him he was cleared, his attorney said. “When I called him a couple days ago and said, ‘You’re going home.’ There was just silence,” Dixon’s attorney, Kort Gatterdam, told The … [Read More...]
Judge orders collection of race data
A judge has ordered prosecutors to provide the defense with information about the race of defendants and victims in murder cases. Superior Court Judge Tim P. Kam said the defense must prove Lorenzo Mateo Cortez, was charged with a more serious offense than persons of other ethnicity. Cortez, 26, “was born to a Black mother and a Latino father,” … [Read More...]
California Voters Concerned About Crime
California voters want a crackdown on rising crime and better accountability, a university survey reports. Seventy-eight percent of those surveyed say crime has increased in the state, according to the UC Berkeley/Los Angeles Times poll. Fifty-nine percent said they would change Proposition 47, which reduced some felonies to misdemeanors. Too … [Read More...]
Attica uprising documentary receives Oscar nomination
Legendary filmmaker and documentarian Stanley Nelson, and UC Berkeley Alum Traci A. Curry, received an Oscar nomination for “Attica”: their emphatic depiction of the 1971 Attica prison revolt, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. During the famous 1971 uprising, prisoners took 42 staff members hostage and issued a list of 30 demands over a … [Read More...]
Justice reformers ‘energized’ by confirmation of Brown Jackson
Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first former public defender and the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Her confirmation marks the first time White males will be a minority on the bench. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was the last person who was a defense attorney before joining the highest court in the land. According to … [Read More...]
LA County Supes vote to centralize criminal justice programs
Los Angeles County is moving toward major reforms in its social and criminal justice programs and structure. The Board of Supervisors voted to create a centralized home for various programs created in the last few years to support its Care First, Jails Last initiative. It will be called the Justice, Care and Opportunities Department, the Bay … [Read More...]
SQ residents not counted in Marin County census
Eliminating San Quentin Prison’s inmate population from Marin County’s Census totals created new district lines politically beneficial to the Latino community, KPIX reports. The lines were drawn in response to a new law that requires incarcerated people at San Quentin to be counted as residents of where they last lived. That dropped the San … [Read More...]
Warden Broomfield discusses Security Threat Group transfers at Town Hall
San Quentin Warden Ron Broomfield called a town-hall meeting April 15 in the Catholic Chapel to discuss CDCR’s plan to transfer Security Threat Groups (STGs) to programming facilities. Associate Warden Rosales and Captains Dorsey and Arnold attended the meeting along with about 40 incarcerated residents. Broomfield previously attended a … [Read More...]
Bill would require inmate benefit funds to be spent on rehabilitation
Legislation has been introduced to curb questionable spending of jails’ inmate benefit funds. AB 1782 would require that inmate benefit funds be spent “solely” rather than “primarily” for rehabilitation programs, job training and other things that directly benefit the incarcerated. The funds are to be used for prisoner phone calls and canteen … [Read More...]
Biden seeks alternatives to detention for undocumented immigrants
The Biden administration is planning to use “alternatives to detention” for persons entering the United States illegally, Reuters reports. The alternatives include house arrest and the use of ankle bracelets, and monitoring via mobile phones. BI Incorporated, a subsidiary of the private prison contractor GEO Group, was chosen to administer the … [Read More...]
Federal judge allows sweeping collection of location data
A federal judge has ruled law enforcement investigators can obtain location data on all cell phones within a reasonable range of a crime. The ruling upheld geofence warrants requested by law enforcement to start and expand searches of location information gathered by Google that documents customers’ data for a specific, concentrated … [Read More...]
The history of ‘homosexuality’
In an era of anti-trans laws, “Don’t Say Gay Bills,” and a growing number of physical, verbal and cyber-attacks, open displays of contempt for queer people all over the world have become a clear trend. To avoid trying to explain how all of this lands on gay people who are incarcerated, I’d rather spend Pride 2022 and Juneteenth building … [Read More...]
Voices from the incarcerated Queer community
Melding Pride and Juneteenth America’s first ‘drag queen’ was a former slave His name was William Dorsey Swann, but to his friends, he was known as “The Queen.” Let’s liberate some facts in recognition of both Pride Month and Juneteenth: In the current “Don’t say gay” climate, a journalism professor at the … [Read More...]
Fighting prejudice in prison
Gay and transgender prisoners in California present a challenging conundrum to the state’s increasingly progressive criminal justice system, where rehabilitation programming and substance abuse treatment for offenders are the prison system’s core elements. Over the last several years, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation … [Read More...]
Groups inspire healing in San Quentin’s LGBTQ+ community
Eight years have passed since the nation’s first LGBTQ and gender studies program began at San Quentin. At the time there were concerns about bringing the course inside a men’s prison, but leaders believed it a critical need as San Quentin prepared to be a “hub” for transgender prisoners and a Non-Designated Programming Facility … [Read More...]
Libraries receive $2M to benefit incarcerated readers
A $2 million grant has been announced to aid incarcerated people’s access to more books, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The grant funds a project between the San Francisco Public Library and the American Library Association (ALA). As part of this grant, the ALA will start a national survey to identify what library models are in … [Read More...]
UC Berkeley accepts first formerly incarcerated student
Kevin McCarthy is the first parolee applicant ever accepted to UC Berkeley. His academic achievement inspired Gov. Gavin Newsom’s endorsement of Senate Bill 416. The bill requires all California prisons to offer college programs this year. In addition, starting in 2023, Pell Grants will become available for incarcerated people … [Read More...]
Mt. Tam holds class on crypto-currency
The students at Mt. Tamalpais College in San Quentin are preparing for their future in society by learning about the fundamentals of blockchain crypto-currency and crypto-wallet technologies. “I am interested in this subject because of the endless possibilities this technology holds,” said student Kinning Jefferson. “I think about how it’s going … [Read More...]
Fifth prison worker arrested
A fifth employee has been charged with sexually abusing inmates in a federal women’s prison where a former warden is also facing such charges, The Associated Press reports. Food service worker Enrique Chavez faces two counts of abusive sexual contact, which carries a maximum punishment of up to two years in prison. Prosecutors say more arrests … [Read More...]
Report: Socially disadvantaged people face higher probability of incarceration
A new report from Prison Policy Initiative “Beyond the Count” verifies that sociologically impacted individuals have greater probabilities of incarceration than their counterparts. It provides statistics and information that confirm what many people in the criminal justice system already know. Cycles of incarceration for persons in low-income … [Read More...]
San Francisco’s Innocence Commission wins first exoneration for wrongful conviction
A San Francisco man’s murder conviction was overturned after 32 years of claiming his innocence, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Joaquin Ciria was arrested for murder on March 25, 1990. For more than three decades, he insisted he did not commit the crime. Ciria held his ground during successive parole hearings, denying his … [Read More...]
Abuse of prisoners inhibits rehabilitation
Mistreatment of prisoners interferes with rehabilitation efforts and can exacerbate crime, a new Australia-US study finds. The research by Flinders University and Rutgers University highlights how more incentives are needed for reform. “How the public understands ‘criminality’ or wrongdoing has implications for attitude and endorsement of … [Read More...]
Incarceration speeds up aging process
Prisons cause some incarcerated people to get older faster, according to research on Black prisoners. Time spent in jail or prison can speed up the aging process by an average of 11 months past someone’s actual age, according to DNA research by University of Iowa Professor Mark Berg and his colleagues. Experiencing violence in prison … [Read More...]
Visible restraints violate right to fair trial-MICHIGAN
The Supreme Court overturns a federal appeals court decision ordering a Michigan state court to retry or release a convicted murderer because his rights were violated by being shackled during his trial. The 6-3 decision said the appellate justices should have applied two different tests to decide if a release or retrial was indicated. according … [Read More...]
Pharmaceutical companies want to manufacture death drugs in secret-IDAHO
A new bill prohibiting drug supplier transparency on lethal injection drugs has reached the full Idaho Senate. A 5-4 vote pushed the bill to the full Senate by the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee, The Associated Press reported March 14. “If this is an issue we’re going to address, we need to address it now” said Sen. Todd Lakey, … [Read More...]
High Court lowers bar for ‘malicious prosecution’ lawsuits
People who sue law enforcement for malicious prosecution after they are falsely accused of a crime have a better chance in court as the Supreme Court removes a stumbling block with a 6-3 vote, The Associated Press reported. The decision rejected a higher bar that said the person had to show their case ended because they were found innocent. … [Read More...]
Brooklyn man serves 24 years on coerced testimony, settles for $10.5M – NEW YORK
Based on the testimony of a single eyewitness, and with zero forensic evidence against him, Shawn Williams was convicted of a fatal 1993 shooting in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. He was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison. He was 19 years old at the time of his arrest. According to an article from TheGrio, Williams … [Read More...]
Chicago man settles wrongful conviction lawsuit for $7.5M
In 2016, Cooper’s pardon application was declined by Indiana’s former governor, Mike Pence, despite his having the support of the state’s parole board, prosecutor, and witnesses. The city of Elkhart, Indiana, has agreed to a $7.5 million settlement with a Chicago man wrongfully convicted of robbery on evidence fabricated by police, according to … [Read More...]
Pair found innocent decades later – Tennessee
Couple exonerated by new evidence; one died in custody, declared innocent posthumously A couple convicted in the brutal rape of a young child in the late 1980s are innocent and should have their names cleared, the prosecution and defense say. Joyce Watkins and Charles Dunn always maintained their innocence. Dunn died in custody in … [Read More...]
NEWS BRIEFS – June/July 2022
1. Texas — (AP) State prison officials will not adopt specific rules to govern how spiritual advisers may pray for and touch condemned prisoners during executions, the Associated Press reported. Rather, the state will consider condemned prisoners’ requests for prayer and physical contact with spiritual advisers on a case-by-case basis. In … [Read More...]
Prosecutors sue to block 1,000 commutations – OREGON
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is being sued for allegedly unlawfully freeing almost 1,000 prisoners. Two district attorneys and victim families claim Brown violated the clemency procedures requiring her to notify the victims. Plaintiffs include Lane County District Attorney Patricia Perlow and Linn County District Attorney Doug Marteeny. … [Read More...]
‘Civil Death’ doctrine ruled unconstitutional, RHODE ISLAND
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has thrown out an old law that says anyone serving a life sentence has no civil rights. The 1909 law said such people have a “Civil Death,” which meant they were considered dead “with respect to property rights, the bond of matrimony and other civil rights.” The state court ruled 4-1 that the archaic … [Read More...]
Bail reform not to blame for increased crime-NEW YORK
New York rolled back cash bail for criminal defendants two years ago, and a new report says that has not increased recidivism, The Associated Press reports. “Bail reform has been widely successful allowing our clients to stay in their communities with their families with no measureable impact on public safety,” said Marie Ndiaye, of the Legal … [Read More...]
Bonta pushes better prenatal care in California’s jails
California’s top lawyer is taking steps to ensure women prisoners get appropriate reproductive health care. “The right to be treated with dignity does not end when an individual is incarcerated,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. Bonta responded to allegations that county jails have been depriving prisoners of reproductive health … [Read More...]
The Genesis Program helps prisoners leave the past behind
By Helaine Melnitzer, Contributor Most of us never bother to reflect upon the value of having an identification card or birth certificate. We board planes, open bank accounts, and apply for a job or general assistance. But the majority of California prison inmates who have completed their sentence and are ready to re-enter society are released … [Read More...]
T.R.U.S.T. accountability program reopens, renews commitment
The San Quentin accountability group T.R.U.S.T. is regaining its footing with renewed commitment to program participation as COVID-19 cutbacks ease. Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training (T.R.U.S.T.) – helps men develop skills necessary to becoming productive, law-abiding, and self-aware, the organization’s web site … [Read More...]
James King returns on behalf of Ella Baker Center
James King and Emily Harris from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights came to visit the San Quentin News for an interview in March 2022. They came to speak on political issues and to catch up on what’s been going on with King since paroling recently. “I work to pass laws that will make the legal system a little more equitable and balanced,” … [Read More...]
California closing youth prisons
California is gearing up to make dramatic changes in its juvenile incarceration system. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation in 2020 to close the state’s four youth prisons by June of 2023. As a result, counties must design a new system such as camps and minimally restrictive centers, according to Marina E. Franco of Noticias Telemundo for Axios … [Read More...]
Website matches parolees with resources, services
ConConnect, the first website created by a formerly incarcerated person, connects people to services after prison, according to a CNN article written by Alessandra Freitas. The article centered around Andre Peart, who paroled in 2018 with just forty dollars. He spent almost six years at New York’s Bare Hill Correctional … [Read More...]
Juneteenth recognized as historic holiday
Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, one which the state of Texas has been observing for decades, according to the Wall Street Journal. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a national holiday. Texas was the first state to observe Juneteenth in 1980, with family gatherings and parades. “All Americans … [Read More...]
Demitris Trevorus McGee: Rest in Power
There are some moments in life that make you reflect on your own mortality —celebrating the life and death of Demitris “Dee” McGee is one of them. We lost Dee after only four months of freedom. I can only be grateful that at least he tasted freedom. He was able to touch his wife and family, even though briefly. I remember when we all piled … [Read More...]
ACT program promotes empathy, broadens perspectives
After serving 36 years, seven months, Tommy “Shakur” Ross counted down the last four days of serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole in San Quentin State Prison. He sat in a classroom on April 23 to talk about the 1985 murder that led him to prison. Listening to Ross tell his story were eight members of a restorative justice … [Read More...]
Q&A with Diane Kahn, co-founder of HoSQ
Before Diane Kahn co-founded Humans of San Quentin (HoSQ) with San Quentin News staffer Juan Haines, she taught a GED class at San Quentin. Her experience of teaching incarcerated people in San Quentin transformed her perspective—she says she saw all the complexities found in every person—she saw human beings. Kahn often tells a story about why … [Read More...]
Tommy ‘Shakur’ Ross released after 36 years
After serving 36 years and seven months in the California Prison system, Tommy “Shakur” Ross walks out of San Quentin as a free man. In a well-fitted grey suit and three boxes of his prison legacy in hand, Ross walked proudly to a white van waiting for him in the Receiving and Release (R & R) driveway. Prisoners who could see him … [Read More...]
Mother’s Day messages-May 8, 2022
Wardens who made a difference
Alumni Spotlight: Eddie Herena, Former Staff Photographer
During his time on staff at SQNews, Eddie took thousands of pictures, with an amazing eye for detail and dramatic shots. Eddie developed such skill with the camera, current layout designers who never met him are able to distinguish his photos by sight. … [Read More...]
Wall City Magazine
Named in honor of the first San Quentin News publication, Wall City News, which was produced in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The magazine gives a resonating voice to the human stories to be found in California’s prisons … [Read More...]