James Estelle has many years experience as a prison guard and warden, and he says the Alcoholics Anonymous program has helped many inmates to turn their lives in a positive direction.
Estelle, who is one of six “Non-Alcoholics” that are official AA members, spoke Feb. 13 at the Saturday Night Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous in San Quentin. He sits on the AA Board of Directors, which also includes six alcoholic members.
His visit celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Saturday meeting. Estelle told of his childhood living on the San Quentin grounds when Clinton Duffy was warden.
He called himself a “Recovering Correctional Officer,” a title he earned starting as a guard at Folsom State Prison. His first encounter with the AA program came as a parole officer giving a parolee discharge papers.
“He handed me a copy of the AA Big Book, saying it was the only reason he ever made it off parole,” Estelle said.
After a time in the California system, Estelle became warden of a Montana prison. He talked of the positive influence AA provided to the prisoners under his supervision. After a time in Montana, he transferred to Texas as “Director of Corrections.”
He came to know a member of AA who coordinated all the volunteers coming into Texas prisons. Estelle was impressed that this drunk; not employed by him or the state, would make himself available whenever the director requested.
Estelle commented that AA members in blue have many good friends waiting to help them upon their release. San Quentin was where the prison version of AA began, and he said the program’s ability to change lives is obvious.
Another guest speaker, Ronnie C., shared his CDCR prison number, which starts with a “B.” He told of coming to an AA meeting at the suggestion of a CO at Jamestown. In time he discovered not only a faith, but a purpose for his life. Now living in Vancouver, Wash., Ronnie recently won approval to bring AA into the county jail. He was freed from prison 30 years ago.
AA meetings are scheduled at San Quentin on every day but Sunday. Monday and Wednesday evening meetings are in Education. H-Unit has evening meetings Tuesdays and Thursdays. AA meets in the ARC Trailer on the Lower Yard at 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturday evenings.