Skepticism about proposed incentives rooted in past experience

As one of the 40 individuals recently relocated to the prison’s East Block, formerly known as Death Row, I’ve been on a mission to understand why people ain’t chomping at the bit to occupy the cells.

The news about a kitchenette, washing machines, and dryers didn’t entice the population to sign up.

So, on July 11, I went to the Lower Yard to ask people in the population, “Why you not moving to East Block?”

Many people shared their uncertainty about whether the next California governor would lift the moratorium on executions, an executive order signed in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom.

The recurring theme in some of my conversations revolved around a new state governor taking office and deciding to deviate from Newsom’s policies. 

Would individuals convicted of a death sentence be returned to San Quentin? Would those housed in East Block be relocated to other housing units within the facility? These are the concerns that weigh heavily on the minds of the people.

A few individuals shared that they are uncertain about which officers are assigned to East Block. They find it senseless to move when they have established working relationships with correctional staff at their current housing unit.

Before moving to East Block, I lived in Donner, a housing unit within South Block, which operates as an earned living unit. The prospect of creating a more comfortable living space by adding a bit of paint to my cell was an appealing factor.

However, people’s concerns arose because the prison had already transitioned to single-cell housing prior to the opening of East Block to the general population. Had East Block been opened before the prison implemented single-cell housing, the prevailing thinking about the prison’s future course of action might have been different.

The concerns raised are valid. The truth is, I am unaware of the actions that will be taken by anyone, let alone the governor or prison staff, tomorrow.

The opening of East Block is part of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation acknowledgment of the need for normalization among the incarcerated population.  CDCR aims to enhance the population’s readiness for reentry, so it provides reentry programs and technology to help people navigate their way once they are outside the prison walls..

To achieve this, they plan to implement thoughtful spaces that foster dignity for both staff and the incarcerated. The renovations of East Block, the Upper Yard, and the new Learning Center are examples of community-standard architectural spaces that will promote self-responsibility and autonomy. As CDCR moves to recognize the importance of healing, usefulness, and safety in prison environments, so should we as people looking to earn our freedom.

However, there are concerns about the feasibility of moving, especially given the current single-cell setup in the entire prison. The rumors about incentives like kitchenettes and washers and dryers circulating among the inmates keep them skeptical. Additionally, after speaking to people in H-Unit, I learned that similar rumors had circulated about incentives like foosball and pool tables for H-Unit’s building 5, which was unofficially earmarked to become an ELU for residents in that section of the facility. Unfortunately, none of these rumors materialized, which adds to the reservations.

Despite these concerns, I believe in the positive transformation of San Quentin and I encourage people to move to East Block. I understand that some people may be hesitant and find excuses to remain in their current situations.

It will definitely take time for belief in the benefits of enjoying normalization like cooking and doing your own laundry to take hold. As the old saying goes, “seeing is believing,” and for those waiting to see what happens, they risk missing out on the chance to experience the positive changes firsthand.

My understanding is that people will be transferred to this prison and are already being vetted as programmers. I foresee some frustrated people who will find it unacceptable that someone can arrive from another prison and end up in what some individuals are calling the upper echelon of the 174-year-old prison, but again, this is your opportunity.

After hearing the concerns, which were numerous, I will diligently ask the administration to clarify some of the concerns circulating in the yard about East Block. However, to be honest, if you are not willing to move based on what you know already, you may never move.

Concerns about East Block include rumors of correctional staff opposing the prison’s forward-thinking model, overcrowding in the showers, noise levels, and potential issues with correctional officers. There are also concerns about rodents, the schedule of moving people in, the program, the ELU, incoming prisoners, criteria/requirements, clothing lines, buckets for washing clothes, the new governor, the unlocked back gate, the tier gate, and limited shelf space.