More than three years after a hobby craft program for San Quentin mainline inmates closed down, an in-cell program is in the works.
“In-cell hobby will be allowed so put a list of suggestion for us to look at,” Associate Warden Kelly Mitchell said, according to MAC meeting minutes dated July 9.
The program will include dorms too.
Hobby craft hasn’t been available to mainline inmates at San Quentin since the hobby shop was “temporarily” closed in July 1, 2012.
Death Row inmates’ in-cell program wasn’t affected by the closure.
Before the 2012 closure of the hobby program, inmates were allowed to use special tools inside the shop for woodworking, jewelry making, braiding leather, macramé and crocheting. These tools weren’t allowed outside the shop.
The hobby shop was supposed to reopen for mainline inmates, according to a 602 Inmate Appeal response received by inmate Nick Garcia in 2012.
However, a notice taped to the hobby door in February of 2015 read: “The time has come to permanently close the Main Hobby Craft.” That is how mainline San Quentin inmates were notified that the rehabilitative program they loved was over.
The Warden’s Bulletin SQWB#10/2015 declared mainline inmates had 15 days to decide whether to donate their hobby crafts and supplies or send them home.
“I joined hobby craft in 2011 and got my wood the day before they closed it,” said inmate Paul Stauffer, 58. “If they had told me sooner, I would have been able to send the supplies back and gotten my family a refund.”
Inmates involved in arts have a 30 percent recidivism reduction rate, according to Larry Brewster, a physiologist hired by the William James Association to conduct a study on recidivism. The study also showed a 50 percent reduction in prison discipline problems for inmates doing art.
“I draw, paint; it keeps me busy,” said inmate Roy Gilstrap, 48. “I learned how to play nice with others through hobby. I have gone from being in The Hole a lot to being a painter.”
“I use hobby to build family relationships,” continued Gilstrap. “I have adult kids who are mad at me for spending my whole life in prison. I made my daughter a cradle and sent it to her. That was the first time she talked to me.”
“That’s where the sense of accomplishment comes from …when you can give back to someone you have wronged by being in prison,” said McKinstry.
Inmates contributed to society through selling crafts. It paid their court-imposed restitution fines, and taxes. Inmate Welfare gives them a means to donate and take care of themselves
The men used funds sent to their Inmate Trust Accounts to order supplies. If they owed a restitution fine, which many owed $10,000 or more, 55 percent of any incoming funds were accessed towards the fine. Then all inmates were charged an additional 10 percent above the cost of the supplies to pay into the Inmate Welfare Fund.
Their hobby craft trinkets were sold in a store right outside the San Quentin East Gate, across from a Post Office. Buyers pay Marin County sales tax. Also, a nine percent markup was paid into the Inmate Welfare Fund, according to California Code of Regulations, Title 15 3104 (b) (2) Inmate Handicraft Sales.
The profits were placed on the inmates’ books, minus 55 percent for restitution (if any is owed) and the process started over with their next order of supplies, according to McKinstry.
“Doing hobby craft was paying off my restitution,” said Gilstrap. “I owed $17,000; now I’m down to $4,700. I have a job but I only make $36 a month as a yard crew worker.”
Gilstrap made little houses that said SQ Gas Chambers and sold for $21; his jailhouse rocks cost $6.
“The monetary aspect just allows you to do more artwork. If you are a true artist and doing it for the sake of the artwork, it’s where you want to be,” said McKinstry.
“It gave me a feeling of self-worth, that I was able to contribute instead of being a drain on my cousins and my mom,” said Stauffer.
Once hobby craft manager Andre William took over, the store stopped being open very often. He eliminated weekend access and reduced the shop hours to two a day at various times and days, according to McKinstry.
“It was never open when I came in,” said Ned Axthelm, an arts teacher.
Williams refused to comment on this story.
