A resident at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center speaks about his journey through alcoholism, self-help, cancer, and parole suitability.

Carl Price, 68, has been incarcerated 18 years for a crime he said happened more than five decades ago.

“I was convicted for a murder that took place over 50 years ago through a home invasion that someone else committed,” Price said.

Price was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, California, and also previously resided in Compton and Inglewood, California. 

He earned his high school diploma in 1980. His education began outside of prison and concluded at California Training Facility, in Soledad. 

Price said his worst moment while incarcerated was when he was in a cell with a guy who made jailhouse wine. He added that alcoholism was a contributing factor in his crime, therefore, he started drinking again. 

After about one year of drinking he received a Rules Violation Report for constructive possession of prison-manufactured contraband. He then decided to move out of the cell and get involved in Alcoholics Anonymous, which he has been attending for the past 15 years.

Price has attended several self-help groups such as the California Re-entry Institute, Restorative Justice, PREP’s Victim’s Impact, and SQRC Mental Health Delivery System’s Anger and Stress Management.

Price stated that the program he resonates with is CRI, where he came into contact with people who were victims of violent crimes, enabling him to understand the scars that violent crimes leave behind. 

Price stated that CRI support doesn’t end at the prison’s gate; the program has the most re-entry services. He added the program sets you up with transitional housing and connects you with an AA sponsor and/or accountability partner.

Price arrived at SQ approximately 10 years ago. He was initially medically evaluated and received a colonoscopy and an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). At that time he was told by the medical staff that nothing was determined.

He had previously told SQ medical staff that cancer and heart disease runs in his family. Price said he was assured the medical department would continue to monitor his health.

One morning he woke up with pain in his shoulder that later spread to the left side of his torso. As a result of the pain the SQRC medical department gave him a shot that he said lasted only five hours. 

Price stated the following day his entire body was in pain and he went “Man Down” (a medical emergency) to receive urgent care. He added that his chest was hurting and he could hardly breathe. He was then transferred to Marin County General Hospital where he received another MRI. 

The second MRI determined that there was a large mass on his liver. Price stated he received additional tests that determined he had stage four cancer. He wondered how his cancer got to stage four without any earlier detection.

“I believe SQRC medical department dropped the ball, especially after I informed them I am medically high risk,” Price said.

After his diagnosis he began to receive chemotherapy and had a conversation about it with a family member. 

“I talked to my sister about receiving chemotherapy while in prison,” Price said. “She stated that it would impact my quality of life. I replied, what quality of life do I have in prison.” 

Price had previous plans to work for his nephew who owns a real estate company. He wanted to save some money while living in a transitional home and then start his own auto detail business, but the cancer diagnosis changed his plans. 

Price’s close friend is Gregory Starling Jr., 53, who has been incarcerated for 15 years. Starling said he met Price in 2023 at SQRC where they established a good friendship.

“He is older than me, therefore, he is like a wise counsel to me,” Starling said.

Starling stated that one day Price expressed to him that he was in pain, and his friend was trying to get the SQRC medical department to run additional tests.

He added that for his friend to be diagnosed with stage four cancer, he wonders whatever happened to the diagnoses of stages one, two, and three?

“I was like wow, my mouth just dropped,” Starling said. “My friend had to deal with all the psychological effects of having cancer because the end result of stage four cancer maybe death.”

Price previously has been to the Board of Parole Hearings multiple times and received two five-year denials, one in 2017, and another in 2022. In addition, he received two three-year denials in 2021 and 2025. 

On June 9, 2026, Price went before BPH and was found suitable for parole. “It was my honesty that got me through the parole hearing’s process,” Price said.