The Earned Living Units at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center have a process that promotes healthy living conditions, positive community, and self-help.
The two honor living units, Alpine and Donner, are located in the prison’s South Block. Donner is the only single-cell living unit, with a capacity of 238 residents. Alpine is double occupancy, and has a cap on its housing population.
The next single-cell living unit will be East Block and/ or Carson, according to Lt. Haub.
Patrick Kitlas has served over 20 years on a life term, and eventually he was paroled from SQ’s Alpine living unit.
“I was lucky enough to live by myself and it was the most advantageous aspect of being in the ELU,” said Kitlas. “It allowed me to concentrate, pray, meditate, and focus on what I needed to do in preparing for my parole board hearing. Living alone had a huge effect on my mental health by lowering my anxiety. I was lucky to do the last year of my time in one of the ELUs.”
Since April 2023, approximately 14 lifers from Alpine were found suitable and have paroled, according to Correctional Officer Stribling.
Less than 10% of all residents in SQRC have the opportunity to live in the designated single cells in Donner Section.
Correctional Lt. B. Haub said the current residents in Alpine and Donner units would have first options to move to East Block and/or Carson once they open.
Haub has emerged as one of the chief proponents in promoting and helping to move forward with the California Model.
He has helped to empower residents facilitate self-help groups, which have been a huge success.
There are currently more than 40 peer mentorship self-help groups and as many facilitators in both Donner and Alpine sections. The honor units also hold classes in parole board planning and re-entry plans for a successful transition.
These groups run seven days a week. In the past year, the ELUs have been a role model for change in prison culture at San Quentin.
The non-violent environments have promoted a community with a focus on rehabilitation and self-improvement.
An SQ resident expounds on his living experience in a healthy and safe community.
“I first moved into Alpine when it opened. That was nice because there was no violence in there but I had a cellie. After having been on the waiting list for a year, I was asked to move to Donner,” said J. Uhler.
He adds that living alone helps him get a good night’s sleep without someone moving about within the cell. The privacy has been wonderful for his mental health and peace of mind.
According to Lt. Haub, in order to move to any ELU there is a vetting process of job assignment or self-help attendance. Applicants must be free from any rule violations reports which includes 128s and 115s for 12 months. In addition, residents must have been at San Quentin for three to six months.
To be considered for residency, a person must send CDCR Form 22 to South Block Correctional Officers Stribling or Wilson. Residents who do not meet all qualifications will find their request delayed until they meet the criteria, according to Officer Stribling.
All people entering an ELU must sign an “Earned Living Unit Agreement,” which involves 10 basic guidelines residents must follow. The guidelines are common-sense directives, such as “no fighting.”
Alpine has established a section for hearing-impaired residents on the second tier. A Video Relay Services kiosk allows them to communicate with their families.
Color-coded light fixtures helps staff to alert and communicate with the hearing impaired residents. Also in Alpine, there is an electronic display showing program status.
The deaf community has excelled in programs, school, and is currently facilitating American Sign language groups, becoming a contributing and valued part of rehabilitation.
“The communication between the staff and the residents has improved,” said Correctional Officer K. Dotts about working in the ELU. “There is little to no violence…. Enforcing the rules has become easier and we are beginning to meet each other on the same level.”
