CTF Soledad resident enjoys old-fashioned hobby
The arrival of the GTL tablet’s e-messaging at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation changed the way incarcerated persons communicated. Messages are transmitted not only faster than snail-mail but also, for at least five messages a week, without charge. One very small group might have lamented this newfangled way of … [Read More...]
Simplicities in life motivate condemned prisoner
At one time, Jerry “Mo Mo” Rodriguez, 52, was one of more than 700+ men on San Quentin’s infamous Death Row. Incarcerated since 1994, he spent 25 years alone in a cell. Today, he is a Peer Specialist worker on the permanent work crew at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton, California. In a series of one-on-one interviews, Rodriguez … [Read More...]
Resident works towards restitution by overcoming drug addiction, insecurities
An incarcerated former U.S. Marine Corps veteran speaks about his journey from military service to self-help after years of neglect, drug addiction, and self-realization. Carl Lewis Raybon Jr., 61, was sentenced to 26-years-to-life for the murder of his girlfriend Patricia B. As he sat in the Alameda County Jail, Raybon made a … [Read More...]
Creative talents on display at San Quentin’s second film festival
The captive creativity and immense talent of San Quentin resident filmmakers shone through at the second annual San Quentin Film Festival Oct. 23-24. Residents mingled and networked with film directors, actors and producers, including Jesse Williams of “Grey’s Anatomy,” and Sheryl Lee Ralph, known for many roles on hit shows like “Moesha” and … [Read More...]
Incarcerated person’s smuggled books change his life
A young man’s defiance of a book ban in solitary confinement changed his life, and after his release, he vowed to create prison libraries across the U.S. At the age of 16, Reginald Dwayne Betts carjacked a man sleeping in his car in Fairfax County, Virginia. Convicted in adult court, Betts spent about 10 years in prison, part of it in solitary … [Read More...]
Correctional Construction Management crew big part of Upper Yard remodel
The sounds, smells, and sights of progress at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center have changed from carbon blades cutting steel, to jackhammers, diesel exhaust, and shadows of heavy equipment maneuvering behind a 10-foot-tall security fence. For more than a year, Correctional Construction Management crews (formerly named Inmate Day Labor) have … [Read More...]
Resident strike team cleans up biohazards
A “strike team” of eight to ten San Quentin residents, trained in biohazard cleanup, stands ready to respond to a biohazard event at all hours. The California PIA Healthcare Facilities Maintenance (HFM) employs and oversees the team. “When people overdose using the synthetic drug spice, they sometimes defecate on themselves,” said resident HFM … [Read More...]
Impaired driving impacts all facets of society
Federal laws prohibit driving under the influence, but they do not prevent drunk-driving tragedies, and people who choose to drive drunk set themselves up to cause harm. According to the Centers for Disease Control, drunk-driving incidents kill around 29 people daily across the United States, one every 52 minutes. The annual toll is more than … [Read More...]
Cultivating healthy relationships a catalyst to favorable environment
San Quentin’s recent celebration of Mental Health Wellness Week reveals how the prison’s cultural shift benefits residents and staff alike. San Quentin Rehabilitation Center held events through the second week of September to bring awareness to mental health while offering support and positive outlets to residents and staff. Some of the events … [Read More...]
Pretrial diversion program offers rehabilitation outside of prison
An offender’s dream is to avoid jail, which is not always possible, but with public support, a new jail diversion program will increase their chances. A program called Executive Treatment Solutions steers minor offenders toward change through rehabilitation to avoid incarceration. Many people in the United States face incarceration for … [Read More...]
Ghost of father’s past does not deter resident’s journey
The shadow of a person’s past can sometimes be a burden that stalks them like a plague. Fortunately, for one man, he has managed to escape his past. Kojo Damani Cluchette is quiet, but when he speaks it’s with the confidence of a man who is sure of himself. He’s dedicated to his passions, an avid learner who has gained the respect of many of his … [Read More...]
Incarcerated-built furniture donated to at-risk youth
San Quentin staff and residents came together in a continued effort to support the homeless at-risk youth of Richmond, California. In collaboration with Tiny Village Spirit, SQRC furthered its aim to build a relationship with the outside community by building furniture for those now living in the new Tiny Homes. Sally Hindman, the Bay Area … [Read More...]
From walking the Row to walking the dog
A former Death Row resident now walks his road of redemption among the general population of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center with a canine companion by his side. Sentenced to death for murder, four attempted murders and kidnapping in 1995, the State of California placed Loi Tan Vo, 52, in SQ’s condemned housing unit where he remained for 29 … [Read More...]
Former Death Row residents thrive at CHCF
No more shackles, cuffs, or escorts bring feelings of anxiety and gratitude San Quentin’s infamous Death Row has been empty for more than a year. The institution’s East Block used to house more than 700 men who have been condemned to die by lethal gas or lethal injection. Where are they now? About 80 prisoners from “The Row” — a name many … [Read More...]
California Health Care Facility residents connect with their roots
Asian Pacific Islanders build up worship service, learn Hawaiian/Polynesian songs and dances “Aloha” is a Hawaiian greeting a group of Asian Pacific Islanders use at the California Health Care Facility, in Stockton, California. Many of them need wheelchairs but are at work to build up their own spiritual worship service. On most Tuesday … [Read More...]
Two San Quentin residents visit California Medical Facility, discuss expansion of Canine Companions
San Quentin residents and their four-legged tail-wagging trainees visited a Northern California prison in an effort to expand the Canine Companions Program. Correctional Officers escorted incarcerated dog handlers Jared Hansen, 42; Chase Benoit, 29; and service dogs Ferguson, Cedric, and Jermone to the California Medical Facility in … [Read More...]
Peer Support Specialists pass state exam
After receiving his results for a rather difficult exam he had taken a month earlier, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center resident Michael Moore walked to the Lower Yard beaming with confidence. He held up a letter from the California Mental Health Services Authority that prominently showed the word “PASS” in capital letters. Moore, 64, had taken … [Read More...]
Day of Peace showcases music, harmony, humanity
Resident Michael Endres said he remembers the day in 2006 when a race riot between Black and Mexican San Quentin residents resulted in a six-month lockdown. “When that incident took place, I didn’t hear anything about any tension.” A year later, in an effort to curb violence in the institution, residents created the Day of Peace … [Read More...]
Overdose Awareness
A day of educational training on life-saving methods critical for incarcerated individuals By Jerry Maleek Gearin and Ben Greenspon Overdose deaths from illicit drug use have been a growing problem throughout California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; therefore, overdose awareness was brought to San Quentin residents. Bay … [Read More...]
Empathy, accountability, amends part of residents’ journey to redemption
A San Quentin resident finds redemption and a second chance at freedom after serving decades behind bars for the killing of a rival gang member. Tommy Wickerd, 58, paroled on July 15, 2025, after serving 23 years of incarceration. He left behind a legacy of what it looks like to take full accountability for his actions and pursue a successful … [Read More...]
Insight Gardening renamed, expands to Lower Yard
The Insight Garden Program has expanded its planting and growing from H-Unit to San Quentin’s main yard. During this process the program has changed its name to Land Together. “Land Together, formerly Insight Garden Program, changed our name in 2025 to reflect the vast array of services we offer inside and for reentry,” said San Quentin IGP … [Read More...]
Gun violence discussions held at Arms Down graduation
Arms Down, a mutual-help group addressing firearm addiction, recognized its latest cohort of graduates in an uncommon violence intervention-type ceremony at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in August. Speakers on a panel discussed the seriousness of gun violence, instead of a predictable stroll to the stage Pomp & Circumstance. The … [Read More...]
Resident crisis prevention team seeks to make impact
As California’s Governor invests in men’s mental health, San Quentin residents speak their truth at a crisis intervention graduation. Light Keepers, a SQ crisis intervention program formerly known as Brother’s Keepers started in 2005, as a result of SQ resident Robert Dunbar committing suicide. One of Dunbar’s friends put in a request to receive … [Read More...]
Shared experiences break down false beliefs, build healthier connections
Are you incarcerated and want to share your prison experience with the world? Well, Humans of San Quentin is a nonprofit that does just that. HoSQ publishes stories about lived experiences, artwork that highlights individualized creativity, poetry about life and relationships, food experienced before prison, and recipes for cooking in … [Read More...]
School of Theology graduates seven residents
Resident Damou Evans, one of seven to graduate from the North Bay School of Theology at San Quentin, said he joined the program to be a leader, not only in the community, but also in his family. The 14-week advanced theology program provides contextualized leadership development to residents interested in putting God first as they gain insight, … [Read More...]