By Chase Benoit, Kid Cat Writer
When California lawmakers passed AB 1276, allowing offenders under the age of 26 to receive a behavior override, it marked a new phase in how CDCR saw rehabilitation and it gave opportunities to thousands of young people entering prison. The bill shaped a new future for many, if they want it.
What many don’t know is that the spark for this visionary reform began inside San Quentin’s walls, with a group of incarcerated men, of the youth offender program, who refused to let their pasts define them. Among them was KidCat a youth led group whose vision, advocacy, and hard work helped lay the foundation for YOP. Many called these men juvenile lifers but in reality they were change makers.
As someone who has been a part of KidCat for many years, first as a YOP participant, then a facilitator, all the way up to the chairman of KidCat, I have seen firsthand how change happens. Not just in us, but in the system. Through curriculum, outreach, and advocacy, we challenged the idea that youth who commit crimes are irredeemable. We proved that rehabilitation is not just possible; it is already happening and making our communities safer in the process.
In 2014, AB 1276 was passed and the YOP program was implemented within CDCR in 2015. Shortly afterwards busloads of 20-somethings started to arrive at San Quentin. Many OG’s were disgusted. Instead of going to a level-4 (maximum security) prison and facing violence, politics and little to no programming like they had to endure, these “kids” were coming to “Disneyland” and not getting the “real” prison experience. But what is the prison experience? Addiction, tattoos, putting in work and further harm; or is it growth, maturity, rehabilitation and change? Many OG’s complained “these kids have no respect, they don’t know how to do time!” well, who taught the OG’s how to do time back in their day? Probably other OG’s.
This program looked great on paper but there were little to no plans for each YOP hub. With that Kid CAT once again saw a need and stepped up with the support of the Community Resource Manager’s office we created a group for YOP’s by YOP’s with mentorship from respected Kid CAT members.
When I showed up at San Quentin, I was 21 years old and I had 58 points. I had just received a 16 to life sentence and I did not know what to expect. Kid CAT members like Kenny Vernon, Charlie Spence and Phang Tao among others initially approached me. They invited me to the YOP group and the mentorship by these facilitators and volunteers Adam and Ayoola started the change in my life. I began to open up to other youngsters about my past traumas and learned about responsibility and accountability.
This group led the way to me completely changing my life. I owe my rehabilitation and accomplishments to those volunteers, mentors, and policy makers. If it were not for them I would be stuck on a level-4 yard somewhere completely lost.
Today at San Quentin we have a robust YOP program with highly paid incarcerated YOP mentors, incentives, movie nights and groups. I am so happy that these YOP’s are getting the opportunity to change their lives and make amends in the best way that they can as I have had the opportunity to do. I am happy to see the administration on board with the rehabilitative efforts proposed by the incarcerated. And I want to highlight Kid CAT’s revolutionary grassroots efforts to get these laws passed and for not stopping there but for also setting the groundwork for the successful YOP program that we have here at San Quentin. Kid CAT is indeed the original YOP program mentor.
And for all the skeptics of this program, isn’t one person’s change a success? One less victim in our community? Wouldn’t it make all this worth it if just one youngster realized what San Quentin had to offer and changed his outlook, vision and conduct? Well I can tell you there are many more like me who have grasped this opportunity and are making that change here at San Quentin and I am sure there are more success stories to come.