Despite differences of opinions on the new California Model system, a resource team has been tasked with trying to directly enhance the concept from policies and goals to something more tangible.
San Quentin’s resource team was constructed to work with the condemned population on the fourth floor of the hospital. Team members said they felt there was more they could accomplish and are spearheading efforts to inform individuals about the California model.
“I feel a lot of people have misconceptions or are unsure on how they fit into the California Model,” resource team member C/O Kruse said. “This is just as new for us as it is for incarcerated individuals.”
The California Model is a statewide initiative centered on four pillars to improve conditions within the carceral institutions. Four Pillars:
Dynamic security — promotes positive relationships between staff and incarcerated people through purposeful activities and professional, positive, and respectful communication.
Normalization — aims to bring life in prison as close as possible to life outside.
Peer mentorship — seeks to train incarcerated individuals to use their lived experiences to mentor and support their peers.
Trauma informed organization — improves the practices, policies, and culture of the entire department by educating staff at all levels to recognize the impacts of trauma and ensure the physical and emotional safety of all staff and incarcerated individuals.
“This is a public safety initiative. Corrections are working to rehabilitate you guys for public safety,” Kruse said.
He said the team is open to ideas from the incarcerated to fulfill objectives of long-term improvement to the carceral system. Events to help normalize the interactions between staff and residents have occurred for the last year.
Resident Manny Mena said opening up the lines of communication between staff and residents has helped change his attitude toward correctional officers.
“I get to look at him not as an officer, but a regular human being,” Mena said. “Lopez has made me feel positive, dependable, and that there is a chance to succeed in life.”
Kruse said residents have thanked him for treating them as human. “One resident told me how valuable what the resource team is trying do by changing the hearts of all individuals involved in corrections,” Kruse said.
Many residents have expressed differing opinions on the California Model.
Some are encouraged by the changes within the prison they have seen, while others said the model is still far off.
Those in the latter group said that changes to issues such as building lock-up times, institution movements with in and out times, and normal living standards would cost nothing to address or improve.
“California Model thing is a façade. Things we were told in H-unit have not happened,” resident Jesse Quiroz said. “I believe the peer mentorship of the model is important. A lot of us are in recovery and need the next man to hold accountable and support each other.”
Resident Adam Sardina said he is supportive of the changes. He said change can be uneasy and uncomfortable but for him is welcomed.
“Look at today for what it is now and not how it was in the past or else you may keep stumbling,” Sardina said.
