San Quentin prisoners are appealing new restrictions on the popular in-cell hobby program. The appeal was denied by the Warden and is being appealed to Sacramento.
The curbs were imposed on Mainline inmates effective in January by former Acting Warden Michael Martel. The changes effectively eliminated leatherwork, woodwork, stained glass, beading, jewelry and paper craft. It permits pen and pencil drawing, charcoal/pastel sketching, and watercolor painting.
The current acting warden, Kevin Chappell, was asked about his position on in-cell hobby during a recent Men’s Advisory Council meeting. He said, “As long as it does not cost the state any money or is a security issue, I see no problem.”
A memorandum from San Quentin Hobby Manager Andre Williams to all handicraft Mainline inmates informed them that a new allowable property list had been issued. The memorandum instructed them to turn in all no-longer-allowed tools and reduce their handicraft materials to the allowable limits, in order to avoid being in violation and having their hobby privileges suspended.
Williams is the hobby manager for Condemned Row, which is not subject to the changes made to Mainline programming, according to the Hobby Operational Procedure.
According to Williams, who has also taken over the responsibilities for the Mainline in-cell and in-shop program, the main issue regarding the changes is the number of hobby managers at the prison has dropped from three to one.
Williams explains that there are almost 200 inmates currently enrolled in the in-cell program but only 46 positions for the in-shop program.
“I’ve had maybe two to three in the past year or two.” stated Williams, when asked how often positions become available for the in-shop program.
Some of the Mainline in-cell hobby inmates decried these changes as “discouraging” and “ridiculous.”
Jasper Alford, a leatherwork and beading craftsman, said “not being able to have the right tools in my cell to work on things, like crimp pliers, lacing pliers, and things like that” make it impossible to do his work.
“It’s pretty ridiculous,” complained Valentine, another participant who works on plastic and paper models. “The only thing we really use to make models is tweezers; children’s scissors—the rounded, blunt kid’s scissors—sandpaper; and non-toxic, non-flammable model glue.”
“These things you make are all time consuming and, if you work (as at prison job), you can’t always make it to the shop,” states Richard Honea, a hobby participant who’s been in the in-cell program about 19 years. “The hobby manager can’t always be here 24 hours a day. He has a life of his own.”
“I’ve never had any problems,” Williams said when questioned about whether there have been any safety or security-related problems or issues with the Mainline in-cell hobby program.
Regarding the hobby program in general, Williams said, “I think it’s a great thing. I think there’s nothing like it. It’s one of the few things a person can do to stimulate their mind on the creative side. You’re giving them a skill that’s a gold mine out there…people still want it.”
Research shows that inmates actively engaged in positive hobby activities are less likely to have serious disciplinary problems.
