San Quentin News THE PULSE OF SAN QUENTIN Award Winner VOL. 2016 NO. 5 May 2016 SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA 94964 www.sanquentinnews.com POPULATION 3,922 CDCR’s New Secretary Plans Rehabilitative Efforts By Noel Scott Journalism Guild Writer

California’s new prison boss says he plans major changes to boost rehabilitation efforts and cut back on inmate abuses. Scott Kernan said altering the Photo by Jane Tyska prison culture is his top prior- Ribbon cutting ceremony of the Richmond center ity as the new secretary of the California Department of Cor- rections and Rehabilitation, the Associated Press reported on New Richmond Feb. 10. It’s an us-against them cul- ture that often pits prison Reentry Center guards against inmates and out- siders, Kernan told the AP in an By David Eugene Archer Sr. KQED reports. interview. Courtesy of Sacramento Bee Journalism Guild Writer The center is located in Kernan, 55, worked his way CDCR Secretary Scott Kernan downtown Richmond to be eas- up through management start- The new Richmond Re-entry ily accessible to formerly incar- ing as a correctional officer in makers are emphasizing inmate This follows a scathing report Success Center is designed to cerated people, reported Sukey 1983. rehabilitation. by Inspector General Robert help people released recently Lewis for KQED. According to the AP, Kernan To accomplish this, Kernan Barton, who says the Califor- from prison or jail to get back reported the prisons are less wants training for rank-and-file nia Correctional Peace Officers on their feet, broadcast station See Richmond on Page 4 crowded, and state policy- correctional officers, leadership Union is “encouraging a code programs for supervisors, and of silence.” a search for methods that have worked in other states. See Secretary on Page 4 Outside Guests Flock to Financial Literacy Class at SQ

By Rahsaan Thomas Despite being a 2012 Yale Journalism Guild Chairman graduate, she knew nothing about investing. Outside guests and young in- “Yeah, I am one of the people carcerated men flocked to Cur- who thinks about finance as be- tis “Wall Street” Carroll’s Fi- ing an elite game,” said Laslie. nancial Education Class to hear “My parents are lawyers and I

Photo by Sam Hearnes him translate investing into am well-educated but I never terms they understand. thought about stocks, finance, Jeri Jones, Audrey Auld and Pam Delgado performing at Peace Day 2015 Up-and-coming filmmaker and assets management. I’m Taylor Laslie drove up from similar to a bunch of the guys Los Angeles to check out the starting out in this program.” A Look at Peace Day’s History class. She heard about it from a Life of the Law podcast. See Financial on Page 20 By Juan Haines In 2006, interracial strife kept tration to ask for a Day of Peace. Staff Writer San Quentin State Prison on re- Each year the Day of Peace peated lockdowns. Just before event draws support from high- The San Quentin Day of Peace a yard event to celebrate Black ranking administrators from the committee was established to history, all came to a head as a warden’s office for the efforts show fellow inmates ways to re- race riot erupted. Afterward, a from the peaceful-minded in- ject violence and support peace. multiracial group of men, most mates. The tradition continued April serving life sentences, came to- “Open dialogue, violence 23. gether and went to the adminis- prevention workshops and the annual Day of Peace celebra- tion serve as alternatives to vio- lence and thus stem the tide of violence by saturating prisons Important Notice: as well as society with peace,” San Quentin News asks for Chairman Chris Schumacher supporters to hold all said at last year’s celebration. donations for San Quentin News until further In support of peace, hundreds of inmates wearing white T- notice. Please DO NOT send any donations shirts along with prison staffers to either Prison Media Project or Media and local community members Alliance in support of San Quentin News. walk together around the pris- on’s Lower Yard. Thank you for your patience and support. Photo by Eddie Herena -San Quentin News See Peace Day on Page 4 Curtis Carroll talking with students after class Page 2 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Inside Edition #80 San Quentin Nurse Heals CDCR’s Secretary Q&A 1 Brown’s 309 appointees 8 New Richmond’s Reentry 1 CPAP panel 8 SQ Financial Literacy 1 Merle Haggard 9 One Inmate at a Time Peace Day’s History 1 Mother’s Day 10-11 Elina Appleton 2 Arts & Entertainment 12 By Tommy Bryant “This class Psychiatric Treatment 2 News Briefs 13 Journalism Guild Writer helped me to see DA Gascon’s Roadblocks 3 Wordcross 13 people cared more Prop. 47’s being blamed 3 Cinco de Mayo’s history 14 Diabetes is a serious problem about my life than in San Quentin, and Elina Ap- SF Immigration Policy 3 I did, so I’m grate- Cinco de Mayo’s historia 14 pleton has made it her mission ful,” said Morlin Divide over Prop. 47 3 Easter Day banquet 15 to help those affected. Dorgan, an inmate Racially Bias Shootings 5 Prisoners learn meaning 15 “Most inmates have no idea at H-Unit. He add- Police force on Blacks 5 CDCR losing battle 15 what the disease is or how it af- ed, “Some of my Minority incarcerations 5 Yard Talk 16 fects them until they start los- peers have gotten Outrageous Tactics 5 MAC Corner 16 ing toes, feet, legs, kidneys, go parts cut off.” blind, have heart attacks and/or “I now have the NYC settles death suits 5 Texas law helps parolee 16 strokes,” according to Appleton power to take con- Editorial 6 CDCR’s Firefighter prog. 16 a licensed vocational nurse best trol of my diabe- American prisons 6 Book Review 17 known as “Red.”. tes,” said another Former inmates 6 Watch This 17 The legendary H-Unit nurse student inmate. Kid CAT Speaks 7 Soledad’s VSO 17 filters a hundred questions Inmate Dennis and symptoms a week. Often Bagwell, a diabetic Elderly inmates burdens 8 Sports 18-19 the answer indicates diabetes. for 30 years, said, Criminalization and poverty 8 Judge and CCPOA 20 About 20 San Quentin inmates “I have…lost sight in H-Unit are on regular insulin in one eye due to treatment. diabetic complica- “Inmates with borderline tions. It is up to A1C blood levels approaching individuals to take Photo by Raphaele Casale UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 6.9 are the most likely candi- control of diabe- Elina Appleton dates for Type II diabetes,” adds tes before diabetes Graduate School of Journalism Appleton. Avoiding painful am- takes control of them.” to thank all of the San Quentin putation and expensive medical “The tough part is keeping medical staff for the help and care is clearly a win-win for in- sugar levels down with limited continuous support they have mates and taxpayers, she says. diet options,” inmate Demetri- afforded me.” She teaches a 10-week class us Verdun said. Inmate Robert Appleton said she entered a that covers diabetes issues in- Craig suggested, “Everyone on 100-Mile Bike Ride sponsored Prisoners United in the Craft of Journalism cluding using the glucose me- the planet should be taking a by Tour de Cure American Dia- in collaboration with students from the ter for healthcare management program like this, whether you betes Association, which raised “Once inmates observe their are diabetic or not.” $1 million for research on dia- glucose levels, most begin to Philip Budweiser said he used betes. watch what they eat and exer- to ignore diabetes because “I She said diabetes affects more cise after meals,” states Apple- was depressed…I used food and than 24 million in the United ton. sweets as a crutch. I would like States.

San Quentin News strives to report on forward- Early Psychiatric Treatment thinking approaches in criminal justice policies that support positive changes in prisoner behavior, particularly through rehabilitative efforts. Reduces Violent Incidents

We Want To Hear By Thomas Gardner by cop,” he walked into a local said Shafer. San Journalism Guild Writer police station in 1995 in pos- His parents have filed a law- From You! session of a handgun, reported suit against the Napa hospi- The San Quentin News Quentin Early access to psychiatric Shafer. tal alleging negligence for not encourages inmates, free staff, care for people who are mental- “He was wanting to die,” says keeping their son safe, the re- custody staff, volunteers and Frank Brackin, Shawn’s father, others outside the institution to News ly ill may result in fewer violent port notes. submit articles. All submissions Current and past copies of the San incidents and hospitalizations, who explained that his son had Violence remains an ongoing become property of the Quentin News are posted online at: reports public television station struggled since the age of 6, problem at the state psychiat- San Quentin News. (www.sanquentinnews.com) KQED. after having suffered a severe ric facilities, Shafer says. “Five Please use the following criteria (www.flickr.com/photos/san- When the opportunity to treat head injury as result of being years ago … a staff member when submitting: quentinnews) struck by a car, the report adds. • Limit your articles to no more beginning-stage mental health (psychiatric technician Diana Permission is granted to reprint articles than 350 words. disorder is missed, then a sort That tragic day at the police Gross) was murdered by a pa- • Know that articles will be edited appearing in the San Quentin News of “snowball” dynamic can be station, Shawn was shot but sur- tient at Napa State Hospital.” for content and length. provided credit is given to the author set in motion, where violence vived; however, an officer was In response, many changes • The newspaper is not a medium and this publication, except for articles and then more violence often shot and killed accidentally by a have been made, most of which to file grievances. (For that, use reprinted herein from other publications. fellow cop, the story noted. the prison appeals process.) We is the result, according to Scott are designed to protect staff. encourage submitting articles that Administrative Review Shafer’s story for The Crime The hospital is now allowed to are newsworthy and encompass Warden’s Office ...... Lt. S. Robinson Report. isolate the most dangerous pa- issues that will have an impact on ...... Sgt. Chris Siino “At California’s five state tients, the report states. the prison populace. “...we need to make CDCR Public Information Officer ...... psychiatric hospitals, patients Although most are minor, • Please do not use offensive language in your submissions...... Kristina Khokhobashvili are mostly criminal defendants more treatment Napa has documented 1,800 as- • Poems and art work (cartoons Adviser ...... Linda Xiques found not guilty by reason of saults within the last year, ac- and drawings) are welcomed. Adviser ...... William Drummond insanity or incompetent to stand available in cording to the report. • Letters to the editor should be Adviser ...... Joan Lisetor trial,” said Shafer. “We have made tremen- short and to the point. the community Adviser ...... Jon Spurlock Many families of patients at dous progress in safety im- Send Submissions to: the psychiatric hospitals feel whenever possible” provements and in mitigating CSP - San Quentin San Quentin News Staff that their loved ones are now violence at the hospital,” Napa Education Dept. / SQ News Editor-in-Chief ...... R. Malik Harris finally getting the kind of treat- Executive Director Dolly Mat- 1 Main Street San Quentin, CA 94964 Executive Editor ...... Arnulfo T. Garcia ment that they should have got- The sentencing court recog- teucci told Shafer. To receive a copy of the Managing Editor ...... Richard Richardson ten before the tragedy happened nized Shawn’s mental illness, The mother of one Napa pa- San Quentin News in the mail, Associate Editor ...... Kevin D. Sawyer that sent them there, Shafer re- and as part of a plea deal agree- tient, who was found not guilty send $1.61 worth of stamps for Journalism Guild Chairman ...... ports. ment he was found “not guilty by reason of insanity after hav- postage to: ...... Rahsaan Thomas “Advocates for the mentally by reason of insanity.” Shawn ing killed a person in the Berke- San Quentin News Staff Writer ...... Marcus Henderson ill say we need to make more has now been a patient at Napa ley Hills, said her son is slowly 1 Main Street Staff Writer ...... Juan Haines treatment available in the com- State Psychiatric Hospital for getting better,” adding “It was San Quentin, CA 94964 Staff Writer ...... Miguel Quezada munity whenever possible – nearly 20 years, Shafer reports. only because of the sustained The process can be repeated Staff Writer ...... Emile DeWeaver rather than in locked state hos- Yet, as if trapped in a repeti- treatment we had through every month if you want to Staff Writer ...... Chung Kao pitals like Napa,” Shafer said. tive cycle, violence continues Napa,” Shafer reported. receive the latest newspaper. Staff Writer ...... Wesley Eisiminger Recent high school gradu- as part of his life. Shawn has “Despite the complaints and Behind the Scenes Photographer ...... Eddie Herena ate Shawn Brackin had become suffered numerous assaults by problems at California’s state Researcher ...... Richard Lindsey The San Quentin News is printed increasingly depressed and other patients over the years mental hospitals, there’s a long by Marin Sun Printing, San Rafael, Layout Designer ...... Keung Vanh withdrawn. In what his family while at Napa and now appears waiting list to get into them,” with donations from supporters. Layout Designer ...... Jonathan Chiu says was an attempt at “suicide to have severe brain damage, Shafer notes. May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 3 DA Gascon’s Reforms Encounter Roadblocks By Charles David Henry “You have to understand, if I really wanted to look at future practices. Journalism Guild Writer you sit in my place and you see electability, would I be pissing She revealed the trajectory of all this stuff, off every single police union that Gascon San Francisco District Attor- it’s been one thing after anoth- in the country and certainly in faces discord in ney George Gascon’s attempt to er,” Gascon said of police criti- this state? If you’re looking for his own office reform law enforcement is gen- cism. a position in the state, you want where he took erating an all-out battle with po- Vivian Ho, who wrote the their support.” control of that lice officers and deputy sheriffs, story, said the union representa- This confrontation has cre- department af- the San Francisco Chronicle re- tives blasted back at him, deny- ated uproar in the city’s law ter never pros- ported. ing that there is racism in their enforcement community. “It’s ecuting a single Gascon is a former career ranks. However, they accused not surprising that many cops case. cop, who ascended to become Gascon at a dinner in 2010 of feel that they’re being painted There are the city’s top prosecutor. He “making racially insensitive re- by a broad brush,” Said Tony some prosecu- finds himself in an ugly dispute marks.” Ribera, a former San Francisco tors who op- with Police Chief Greg Suhr Retired police officer Chris police chief and director of the posed their and the police officers’ union. Breen accused Gascon of mak- International Institute of Law boss’ support This animosity stems from how ing disparaging statements, af- Enforcement Leadership at the of Proposition he proposes to set priorities for ter Gascon consumed a great University of San Francisco. 47. Some think fighting crime in the city, ac- deal of red wine, about Black Others applauded Gascon’s it was political cording to the Chronicle. officers he worked with in the scrutiny at a time of heightened grandstanding The rift escalated when Los Angeles Police Department concern over racial profiling at the cost of Gascon lambasted the Police This caused an African-Amer- and police brutality, according their ability to Official Photo Officers Association early in ican man seated nearby to ask to the story. do their jobs. SF District Attorney George Gascon the year in a statement to a blue him to quiet down because he According to Ho’s story, The story said, ribbon panel of retired judges he was offending his family. The “A prime source of friction “Their boss’ growing police re- er day-to-day has been bruised used to investigate corruption DA denies the allegations. emerged when Gascon co-au- form efforts hold the potential by “a lot of generalizations in the San Francisco Police To complicate matters, the thored Proposition 47, a ballot to further complicate their rela- about the Police Department Department, the story said. DA recently charged three San initiative that reduced six nonvi- tionships with police detectives that are not fair to the rank-and- Gascon described the city’s Francisco deputy sheriffs with olent felonies to misdemeanors. and other officers, whom they file,” said Ribera. law enforcement community staging “a fight club” for jail It passed in November 2014, and rely upon to testify in court.” County Public Defender Jeff as “an old boys club.” These inmates. That prompted the supporters and opponents are At trial, police officers must Adachi said, “You have the remarks upset the rank-and- deputies’ union to join its police increasingly debating whether disclose information that affects district attorney and the (po- file, and many cops were angry counterpart in accusing Gascon it’s helping people or spurring an assistant district attorney’s lice union) arguing about rac- about Gascon coming in and of padding his resume for high- a surge of property crime.” The ability to prosecute the defen- ism when five years ago, they they never have let him forget er office, Ho wrote. police union is sponsoring radio dant. The competency of police wouldn’t even acknowledge it; it, the story continued. Gascon told the reporter, “If ads attacking Gascon for his and prosecutors to work togeth- that’s progress.” Proposition 47 Being Blamed for Rise in Urban Crime A number of sources have Lansdowne told the Sacramen- The Post, “California’s decision responsible for the urban crime nals and endangered the rest of responded to Proposition 47 to Bee, “There’s no data prov- to cede authority over low-level increase in early 2015, as some us. Remember, the same dire critics’ claims that reducing ing such a link.” offenders to its counties has sources are arguing, then cit- predictions of a crime surge certain non-violent, non-seri- Two professors of criminol- been, for the most part, remark- ies in counties with the largest accompanied the state’s 2011 ous offenses from felonies to ogy, law and society in the ably effective public policy and reductions in jail populations adoption of realignment, which misdemeanors is the blame for School of Social Ecology at the an extraordinarily rich case in 2015 would show the biggest shifted responsibility for tens California’s 2015 increase in University of California at Ir- study in governance.” increases in crime; however, of thousand of felons from urban crime, The Washington vine and a professor from Stan- Mike Males, Ph.D., senior the data suggest this is not the the state to the counties. And Post reported. ford Law School told The Post, research fellow at the Center case.” a similar chorus of warnings Since it passed, critics of the “No such crime wave is likely of Juvenile and Criminal Jus- A nonpartisan Pew Chari- rang out when voters softened initiative have abundantly tried to occur.” tice, wrote in a research report, table Trusts study “found that the state’s three-strike laws in to blame Proposition 47 for a When disputing this assump- “If the reduction in local jail raising the felony threshold has 2012,” Lansdowne said. rise in crime. However, former tion, Charles E. Kubrin, Carroll populations after Proposition no impact on property crime San Diego Police Chief William Seron and Joan Petersilia told 47 passed in November 2014 is or larceny rates. It also showed that states that increased their thresholds saw crime drop “No such crime about the same amount as the wave is likely San Francisco Sheriff’s Response 27 states that did not change their theft laws.” The threshold to occur” amount has no bearing on prop- To Federal Immigration Policy erty crime and larceny rates. Harsher penalties cost tax- The Post reported the coun- By David Eugene Archer Sr. defeated in the last election, had will have to assure federal of- payers a bundle to build and ties that invested in offender Journalism Guild Writer said he was bound by city laws ficials they will return the in- maintain prisons. “They do not re-entry in the aftermath of barring cooperation with federal mates to ICE custody once their automatically cut crime, just realignment had better perfor- San Francisco’s newly elected immigration officials. criminal cases have ended. as lighter penalties don’t auto- mances in terms of recidivism sheriff says there are open en- U.S. Attorney General Lynch’s announcement was matically invite more crime. than counties that focused re- forcement questions about a new Loretta Lynch told the House less than a year after a man Offenders act for a wide va- sources on enforcement. policy that gives federal immi- Appropriations Committee that wanted by immigration officials riety of reasons, and whether “As other states and the gration officials instead of local the Bureau of Prisons will first allegedly shot to death 32-year- they might be convicted of a federal government contemplate agencies priority over inmates offer Immigration and Customs old Kate Steinle on a San Fran- felony than a misdemeanor isn’t their own proposals for prison wanted for deportation. Enforcement (ICE) the option to cisco pier. Bureau of Prison offi- a large part of their thinking,” downsizing, they should take Sheriff Vicki Hennessy said take inmates facing deportation cials had transferred the suspect The Bee reported. a close look at what these she awaits details on how the into custody. to San Francisco, where he was “In California, these latest California counties are doing policy will be enforced, The As- Lynch said law enforcement released instead of being de- results should help put the lie right,” the three professors sociated Press reported Feb. 24. agencies seeking to prosecute ported for a sixth time, reported to flimsy claims that Proposi- concluded. Former Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, those inmates on other crimes the AP. tion 47 has emboldened crimi- -Charles David Henry Law Enforcement’s Divide Over Prop. 47’s Implementation By Tommy Bryant Los Angeles Times article. Los Angeles County Sheriff Angeles County authorities ACLU. Journalism Guild Writer “Some are making irrespon- Jim McDonnell, blame a rise in told Poston. Petty crimes are being sible and inaccurate statements crime on minor consequences “I don’t know how they dropped without charges at Many law enforcement per- linking Proposition 47 and for repeat offenders under solve that problem,” said Marc some jails, while others detain sonnel are resisting imple- crime,” the ACLU said. “Oth- Proposition 47, Times reported. Debbaudt, president of the Los offenders, according to the menting Proposition 47, which ers are falsely claiming they The Sacramento County Angeles County Association of ACLU study. reduced some drug felonies to are no longer able to arrest Sheriff’s Department reported Deputy District Attorneys. The jail population with misdemeanors, according to people for petty crime or that arrests for Proposition 47 Noticeable drops in jail misdemeanors doubled in the American Civil Liberties a misdemeanor is not a ‘real offenses were down 43 percent. population occurred after Riverside County in March Union (ACLU). penalty.’” Enrollments are down in the passage of Proposition when compared to the same There is “a disappointing The ACLU strongly support- drug treatment programs 47, but that number has since month a year before. During the level of resistance,” the ACLU ed the California ballot propo- because a threat of a felony can risen as county jails continue same period San Bernardino’s states in their report, as report- sition. no longer be used to persuade modifying early release and misdemeanors dropped by ed by Ben Poston in a Nov. 11 Some law officials, including offenders to sign up, Los sentencing structures, said the one-quarter. Page 4 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Secretary Kernan Committed to Rehabilitation Continued from Page 1 to singularly keep an inmate, walls? tors are implementing promis- ward, or parolee behind bars A. Inside, we rebounded from ing and innovative programs The Inspector General report is evolving to an expectation significant cuts in our in-prison that are evidence-based and found that guards at High that all staff be professional educational and Career Techni- creating results in reducing re- Desert State Prison had created role models and participate cal Education (CTE) programs. cidivism. CDCR is tapping into a culture of racism and used in the rehabilitation process. We hired teachers and vocation- these resources. I am open to a startling amount of force We have to understand the al instructors, updated curricu- innovative and creative ways to against inmates, among many incredibly difficult environment lum, invested in learning tech- impact our inmate population other problems. that staff work under each day nologies, and expanded college positively. We will once again The new training will include and give them the training and education programs throughout strive to be a national leader in stress management and diversity tools to protect public safety, the system. Our Prison Industry the corrections industry by be- classes for all employees and a emotionally survive themselves, Authority (CALPIA) expanded ing open to change, listening to national executive training class while also changing the lives of cooperative agreements with the what works, and shaping cor- for wardens, Kernan said. the inmates under our charge. private sector and implemented rections policy. “The more training officers That is public safety at its core. a number of cutting-edge pro- Q. You have an extensive have, the better suited they We cannot tolerate abuse or grams that are both profitable background with the agency. are to contributing to a bias toward inmates just as we and rehabilitative. How do you see that helping better correctional system,” can’t tolerate abuse, violence, I will see that we build on the you do your job? said Nichol Gomez-Pryde, a and bias from inmates against improvements and expand these A. I spent nearly 30 years in spokeswoman for the guards’ other inmates or staff. I have programs. The evidence clearly CDCR and worked from a Cor- union. difficulty accepting when our Courtesy of CDCR shows that an inmate with an rectional Officer to my current The union, however, filed suit critics paint us with a broad Secretary Scott Kernan education, CTE certificate, appointment as Secretary. I re- against the department and the brush of being insensitive, or experience in a field that is member living with my mom at Inspector General’s Office over biased, racist, and abusive. needs and more complex chal- transferable to the private sector San Quentin as she pioneered the months-long investigation at But I also challenge us to not lenges that require response if is more successful. the female role in a previously High Desert. paint the same broad brush we are going to protect public Outside, CDCR is taking male-dominated system. She Kerman also said California toward inmates. I know that a safety. No matter that complex- a larger role in coordinating influenced my great love for is on its way toward regaining vast majority of staff come to ity, 90 percent-plus of inmates with federal, state and local corrections and all the employ- control over its prison medical work each day and do the right complete their sentence and are agencies to supervise and ees that are dedicated to the de- system. CDCR lost control of thing. We have to figure out released to our communities. program offenders to prepare partment. I made plenty of mis- its medical department more how to continue to evolve our Our challenge is to address them for transition to society. takes in my career and learned than 10 years ago by federal profession and help an inmate the individual inmate’s criminal We are building on our existing from them all. court order due to inadequate who will ultimately be our thinking and give them the collaboration with agencies and I am humbled to be appointed prisoner care. neighbor. skills to not perpetuate their developing new partnerships. I to this leadership position and The following Q&A with Q. What challenges are criminality and create more see the partnerships addressing strive every day to improve our Secretary Kernan was provided there in managing inmates victims. If we did that 20, 30, housing and employment needs, organization. I’m extremely by the CDCR’s Public Informa- after all the population 90 percent of the time, think access to medical and mental proud of the work we do and tion Office on Feb. 23: reduction measures? of the victims we would save, health care, transitional services understand that we must Q. What do you see in store A. The monumental shift in the money California taxpayers for long-term offenders, and continue to evolve and expand for CDCR staff? criminal justice practices in would save, and the lives we re-entry services for offenders our strategies to improve prison A. I see an evolving role the last five years has greatly would change. preparing for release. operations and public safety. I for all CDCR staff in a fast- impacted our population de- Q. How do you see CDCR’s Q. What can CDCR do to am positive about the future and changing criminal justice mographics. We have a tougher rehabilitation efforts working further reduce recidivism? our contribution to the larger system. The expectation of staff inmate with greater supervision – both inside and outside the A. The public and private sec- criminal justice system. Richmond’s New Reentry Center Helps Ex-Prisoners

Continued from Page 1 last decade, it’s really been un- months behind bars people looking for help feel successful ... over half of people on a felony assault more empowered, King said. “I The center is key to the coun- tend to go back into incarcera- charge. When he got know that when I came home, ty’s plan to help keep people out tion ... the bar is pretty low, un- out about a year ago, there was nothing like this,” of jail, said Contra Costa County fortunately. he had lost his hous- The center has helped Supervisor John Gioia. “If we Part of why re-entry work has ing and job. He said, about 100 people from across can show this center works and failed is that people can be de- “You have to gather the county since opening in these programs work, it’ll hope- nied employment and housing your thoughts ... and October 2015. Contra Costa fully help build the case for in- based on their criminal history, you have to just take has invested about $10 million vesting more money in this type Alexander added. The center’s every step a little in community-based re-entry of work, it makes quality of life holistic approach is designed to step at a time.” services and $400,000 in the better for people who are re- help its clients navigate those le- McDowell wants center, the March 10 story leased from jail and return, and gal barriers. to become a chef, reported. it makes our community safer. “As a whole we’re working but he’s working as a Supervisor Gioia said as more So it’s a win-win.” more collaboratively, so less janitor at the center. people hear about the center and Center Director Nicholas Al- people are going to slip through Fifteen years ago, Dameion possession. Now he’s a coach at get the help they need, he hopes exander commented, “If we look the cracks.” King was serving a three-year the center. it will become a model for the back at re-entry work over the Kenneth McDowell spent five sentence for firearm and drug The space is designed to make rest of the state. Day of Peace Established in 2006 to Discourage Violence

Continued from Page 1 erans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out; Ifa Foundation; Supporters take to a makeshift No More Tears; The Work; stage in the middle of the yard Protestant Church; Project to give speeches, recite poetry LA; TRUST; ELITE; Brother’s and entertain participants about Keeper; SQ CARES; Native what the event means to them. Hawaiians; Diabetes Project; During the last couple of Free to Succeed; REACH; Viet events, The Native Hawaiian Nam Veterans Group of San Religious Group of San Quen- Quentin; Catholic Church; Cen- tin entertained the walkers tering Prayer; Restorative Jus- with dances. A Hawaiian group tice; Karros; SQUIRES; TEDx, called Heiwa Taiko drummed San Quentin Prison Report; for the walkers. Hope For Lifers; Guiding Rage Music is provided by Bread & Into Power; Freeman Capital; Roses each year. California Reentry Institute;

Last year, the late folk singer Photo by Samuel Hearnes Criminal and Gang Members Audrey Auld entertained the The Heiwa Taiko drummers performing at the 2015 Peace Day celebration Anonymous; Shakespeare at walkers with songs that were San Quentin; The Richmond created in a workshop with in- to the Day of Peace, with more participants snacks donated by across the yard with various Project; Alliance for Change; mates. than 100 exhibits last year. Walkenhorst’s package vendor. self-help groups giving out in- The Last Mile; Restoring Our The sidewalk art contest is Josh Walkenhorst and Natalie Over the years of the celebra- formation about their organiza- Original True Selves; Kid Creat- one of the biggest attractions Tovar bring Day of Peace tion, tables have been sprawled tion. The groups include: Vet- ing Awareness Together. May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 5 Test May Explain Racially Biased Police Shootings By Kevin D. Sawyer such as wallets. culture that shapes the way a gun, when it’s actually just a Categorizing the differences Associate Editor The officers were asked their brain is wired, the article tool, right after seeing a Black between Blacks and Whites to press a “Shoot” or “Don’t reported. face,” the article reported. produces rapid or automatic “Uncontrolled prejudice” Shoot” button for each image. Other research, according assumptions about their char- may explain why White police Police officers reacted better to Mooney, suggests the men acteristics, the article asserted. officers shoot young Black men than community members when who killed Michael Brown and “Common stereotypes with the so often, according to an ar- deciding whether a subject was “You think of Trayvon Martin did not have to category ‘African-Americans,’ ticle published in Mother Jones armed but they still showed bias yourself as a be conscious, overt racists to for example, include ‘loud,’ magazine. against Black targets. pull the trigger. ‘good dancers,’ and ‘good at The conclusion is based on The IAT “asks you to rap- person who strives “You’re an officer, you’re sports.’” the Implicit Association Test idly categorize images of faces to be unprejudiced, pumping adrenaline, you don’t One key to correcting racial (IAT). It is designed to mea- as either ‘African American’ have time to evaluate whether bias, according to the article, is sure racial prejudice that people or ‘European American,’” re- but you can’t your implicit bias is driving to shift the behavior of people cannot consciously control, and ported Mother Jones. “You also your behavior,” Phillip Atiba and make them aware of how 51 percent of those who have categorize words like ‘evil,’ control these split- Goff, president of the Center for “cultural assumptions merge taken the test online demon- ‘happy,’ ‘awful’ and ‘peace’ as second reactions” Policing Equity, told Mooney. with natural cognitive process- strate a “moderate to strong either ‘good’ or ‘bad.’” There “doesn’t need to be in- es to create biases.” bias,” reported the Dec. 1, 2014, “As words and faces keep tent, doesn’t need to be desire; The article suggested plac- article by Chris Mooney, a book flashing by, you struggle not “Police are considerably there could even be desire in the ing people in scenarios where author and staff writer for The to make too many sorting mis- slower to press the ‘Don’t opposite direction. But, biased a Black person is an ally, add- Washington Post. takes,” Mooney reported. “You Shoot’ button for an unarmed results can still occur,’” Brian ing that it is possible to alter in- The article described a study think of yourself as a person Black man than they are for an Nosek, a psychologist at the stincts to decrease prejudice by where Denver police officers who strives to be unprejudiced, unarmed White man, and faster University of Virginia and IAT including other races as part of and community members but you can’t control these split- to shoot an armed Black man researcher, told Mooney. the same team. viewed photos of Black and second reactions.” than an armed White man,” re- The article said people regu- “A good start may simply be White men. Some of these men Negative words paired with ported Mooney. larly categorize and sort things making people aware of just in the photos held guns and Black faces suggest racial bias “You might also be more in- such as furniture, animals and how unconsciously biased they others held “harmless objects” that may come from someone’s clined to wrongly think you see concepts. These things are au- can be. That’s particularly criti- tomatically labeled and filed cal in law enforcement, where in various folders in the brain implicit biases can lead to trag- to help us function. But some ic outcomes,” Mooney wrote. Blacks Experience More ways of categorizing may be The IAT can be taken online erroneous which can lead to at: Police Force than Other Races “prejudice and stereotyping.” understandingprejudice.org. By Charles David Henry The report stated that of those likely than Whites (0.7 percent) Journalism Guild Writer who experienced force dur- to experience force during con- Wealth is Irrelevant to ing their most recent contact, tacts that did not involve a per- Blacks experience high- approximately three-quarters sonal search. er rates of police force than of the persons confronted de- Statistically, males and per- Minority Incarcerations Whites and Hispanics, a federal scribed the verbal (71 percent) sons 16 to 25 were subjected report says. or physical (75 percent) force as to more police contact and the By Marcus Henderson economic positions. “Blacks (14 percent) were excessive. use of force during their most Staff Writer “About 2.7 per cent of the more likely than Hispanics Persons in urban neighbor- recent contact than females and poorest White young people – (5.9 percent) and slightly more hoods (2.1 percent) were more persons age 26 or older, the re- A new study reveals that rich those whose household wealth than Whites (6.9 percent) to likely than those in suburban port adds. Black kids are more likely to was in the poorest 10th of the experience nonfatal force dur- communities (1.5 percent) to The information also showed go to prison than poor White distribution in 1985, when they ing street stops,” the U.S. De- experience nonfatal force with that “a lower percentage of kids, The Washington Post re- were between 20 and 28 years partment of Justice reported. law enforcement. Among those persons who were shouted or ports. old – ultimately went to prison,” “Blacks were twice as likely as who did not experience the use cursed at by police believed the according to the article. “In the Whites (0.7 percent) to experi- of force during their most re- forces was excessive (49 per- next 10th, 3.1 percent ultimately ence force during contacts in- cent police contact, Whites (73 cent) compared to those who “Race trumps went to prison.” volving a personal search.” percent) were slightly less like- were pushed or grabbed (79 It also stated that “their chanc- In the period from 2002- ly than Blacks (70 percent) To percent), hit or kicked (97 per- class, at least es of being imprisoned were far 11, Whites (20 percent) had a report one contact during the cent), had a pepper spray used less than those of Black youth greater rate of police contact prior 12 months. against them (81 percent), or when it comes to from much more affluent cir- than Blacks (17 percent) and The report shows Blacks were had a gun pointed at them (81 incarceration” cumstances.” Hispanic (16 percent). How- more likely to experience force percent).” The information indicated 10 ever, during the most recent by police regardless of whether In addition, among the resi- percent of affluent Black youths contact with police, “Whites the contact also involved a per- dents who experienced force “Race trumps class, at least in 1985 would eventually go to were slightly less likely than sonal search. Blacks (1.4 per- during their most recent con- when it comes to incarcera- prison. Hispanics to experience exces- cent) were twice as likely as tact with police (1.6 percent tion,” said Darrick Hamilton In 2012, the household wealth sive nonfatal force in their en- Whites (0.7 percent) to experi- of all contacts), 13 percent be- of the New School, one of the of Black participants in the counters with police through- ence force while also being per- lieved the police behaved prop- researchers who produced the study who had never been incar- out 2002-2011, the 2015 report sonally searched. Blacks (1.8 erly, while 87 percent did not, study, according to the March cerated was $16,200. added. percent) were also slightly more the report concluded. 23 Post article. Whites who had never been Hispanics were incarcerated incarcerated had an average more than Whites with similar household wealth of $192,000. Report Claims Outrageous Tactics wealth, but less than Blacks, the Blacks who had been in prison study concluded. had zero wealth at the median; The study began in 1979 Whites that had been in prison Used to Build Bogus Criminal Cases and followed a group of young reported wealth of $5,000, the people of various races and article reported. By Larry Smith stash house that actually was a prior plea bargain agreement. Journalism Guild Writer government “sting” operation However while issuing the de- with fake drugs. nial, Judge Edward Leavy of the The government is using out- Cota-Ruiz was a sheet-rocker Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals NYC Settles Two Inmate rageous tactics to build bogus with no previous criminal his- wrote a five-page condemnation criminal cases, The Crime Re- tory, unemployed, and desper- saying the “manifest injustice” Deaths at Rikers Island port claims. ately searching for money to buy by ATF agents should have led The tactic includes making food, clothes and school sup- to a dismissal of the original By Rudy Moralez allegedly ignored his pleas for up crimes, the report alleges. plies for his children, according case due to “outrageous govern- Journalism Guild Writer medical help after he ingested Is it OK when the government to Wisnieski. The sting was in- ment conduct.” a toxic “soap ball” used to makes-up crimes to catch vented by agents to catch some A Crime Report investigation New York City has agreed to clean cells. criminals? What if they are of the “most violent players” in found that from August 2014 pay $5.3 million to the fami- The family of Carlos not criminals? Writer Adam the drug trade who prey on fel- through 2015, 126 motions to lies of two inmates who died Mercado, who died of diabetes Wisnieski posed such questions low drug dealers, according to dismiss a case based on “out- at Rikers Island jail, Reuters complications within hours in a special report, “Outrageous the report. rageous government conduct” reported. of arriving at the jail in June Government Conduct.” The Cota-Ruiz and three friends, were filed. The vast majority of The settlement was an- 2013, received $1.5 million. story cites the case of a 36-year- who also were involved in the them were denied. nounced in November by Nick The announcement came five old Mexican immigrant, sting, pleaded guilty to avoid The report said government Paolucci, spokesman for the months after a federal judge Emanuel Gerardo Cota-Ruiz, a longer sentence than the 10 officials insist they need such city law department. sentenced a former guard to living in Arizona. He was years they received. Later one of sting operations because of the It provides $3.8 million to five years in prison for delib- sentenced to 10 years in prison the defendants filed an appeal, difficulty in dealing with drug the family of Jason Echevarria, erately ignoring Echevarria’s for conspiring to rob a cocaine which was denied because of the activities. 25, who died after guards medical problem. Page 6 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 CDCR’s Answer to Mental Issues and Suicide

By Dr. Timothy Belavich uations completed by mental nician must assess the inmate Contributing Writer health staff have been developed and determine if the inmate 1) and implemented. Additionally, understands the order 2) has Dr. Timothy Belavich an- Editorial a system for monitoring compli- difficulty complying with the swered San Quentin News ques- ance with CDCR’s suicide pre- order or 3) if the inmate’s men- tions last December about the posters are located in every in- istrative segregation units and vention policies was developed tal health symptoms are likely delivery of health care services stitution. Custody staff car- initiated the use of intake cells and will become part of the de- to get worse if force is used. to prisoners. Belavich was for- ries pocket cards that identify (cells that have been designed partment’s regular monitoring. The mental health clinician will merly acting director of the Divi- suicide warning signs and risk to be suicide-resistant) in ASU. Statewide suicide prevention work with the inmate if he is sion of Health Care Services and factors. We have created work- CDCR also developed a work- videoconferences occur month- suffering from a mental health deputy director of the Statewide books for inmates placed in re- book for all inmates placed ly and include medical, nursing, related condition. Furthermore, Mental Health Program. He is stricted housing, and we have in ASU, and purchased hand- custody, legal and mental health nursing staff will review the now employed by Los Angeles disseminated informational cranked radios for inmate’s use representation at all institutions. health care record to ensure that County. In previous editions pamphlets for inmates and their while in ASU. The workbooks Every institution has an assigned the use of a chemical agent will San Quentin News reported his families and friends. In addi- and radios were distributed be- Suicide Prevention Coordinator. not adversely affect an existing views on The Coleman Lawsuit tion, every institution has an as- cause it was recognized that What changes have been made health condition. Decisions to and Custody and Prison Culture. signed suicide prevention coor- initial placement in ASU can in the Use of Force policies and use force are now a team deci- This edition focuses on Suicide dinator who is required to attend be emotionally difficult, and procedures? sion that involves custody, men- and Use of Force. Transgender the Inmate Advisory Council it is important for inmates to Mental health is now involved tal health, nursing and medical Special Needs will appear next and Inmate Family Council in be able to have a diversion in in all situations that may require staff. If the team cannot agree, month. order to provide education about an isolating environment. The controlled use of force, whether the decision about whether to Tell us specifically about the suicide prevention and to answer workbooks contain some suicide or not the inmate is a partici- use force is elevated to custody programs and policies that have questions about mental health prevention messages and coping pant in the mental health pro- and mental health (and medical, been implemented to reduce the concerns. strategies. gram, also known as the Men- as appropriate) management. suicide rate? In order to try to reduce the Training for health care and tal Health Services Delivery Mental health is now involved in Education for staff, patients suicide rate in Administra- custody staff has been revised System (MHSDS). Specifically, all institutional reviews of con- and families is an important tive Segregation Units (ASU), and expanded. In addition, new when controlled use of force is trolled use of force and immedi- piece of any suicide prevention CDCR increased the frequency training modules and methods considered, a cool-down period ate use of force incidents involv- program. Suicide prevention of welfare checks in all admin- for enhancing suicide risk eval- is required. A mental health cli- ing patients in the MHSDS. American Prisons Can Take Cue From Nations Abroad By Charles David Henry tice style of punishment seems mature enough to live in adult Journalism Guild Writer to always be chosen. According prisons, where one in 10 is sex- to Dreisinger, this system “is ually assaulted. “We are one of The most punitive and rapidly not normal, natural or inevi- just nine countries who punish growing prison systems in the table.” (with) both life sentences and world are located in countries Western democracies, par- the death penalty,” Dreisinger with brutal histories, a noted ticularly America, have chosen continues. writer states. capital punishment, solitary Different approaches to These histories include co- confinement, mandatory mini- incarceration are being pursued lonialism or slavery, combined mum sentences, three-strikes in other parts of the world, with capitalist exploitation of laws, militarized police forces often with greater success, prison labor, said Michelle Al- and building of prisons unlike Dresinger said. “In Rwanda, exander, author and senior fel- anywhere in the world, Alexan- an entire nation has committed low at the Ford Foundation. der wrote. itself to healing, forgiveness,

In a review written for the America has the world’s File Photo reconciliation and restorative Washington Post, Alexander highest incarceration rate and Norway prison justice following a genocide in describes how Baz Dreisinger, an abysmal recidivism rate of which neighbors hacked one a professor at John Jay College 60 percent. However, the ra- prison industrial complex,” “We are the world’s-largest another to death in the streets.” of Criminal Justices, introduced tios of Aboriginal people jailed Dreisinger explains. It’s “a jailer, with 2.3 million people The country of Norway, “a wide range of approaches to in Western Australia are now tangle of legal, business, and behind bars.” One in 31 adults, “reflecting its long-standing crime, punishment and ques- worse than the racial disparities government interest that has ex- or 7 million people, is under egalita``rian culture and spirit of tions of justice in diverse coun- for African-Americans in the isted for centuries.” Despite that some correctional control. More communitarianism, a spirit that tries.” United States, Alexander nar- explanation, Alexander doesn’t African-Americans are in some extends to its prisons,” has a 20 Dreisinger’s intriguing new rated. think the author really answered criminal restraint today than percent recidivism rate. book, Incarceration Nations, In her review of Incarceration these questions. were enslaved in 1850. Up to 25 “We in America might one searches for clues that might Nations, Alexander wonders In a released statement, percent of the adult population day overcome our own history “answer the question of what whether it’s possible that priva- Dreisinger told the press. in prison also suffers from men- of genocide, slavery, discrimi- justice is or, rather, what it tization has something to do “America, it seems, is finally tal illness, she adds. nation and oppression and cre- ought to be.” with stimulating the profit mar- beginning to tackle the legacy America considers juveniles ate a justice system that is truly When the world is forced to gin that’s feeding the Australian of punishment and human too immature to vote or buy a source of international pride look at the reality of incarcera- appetite for mass incarceration. warehousing coldly captured by alcohol; however, our crimi- rather than shame,” Alexander tion, the American criminal jus- “These are the roots of the the term mass incarceration.” nal justice system deems them concludes. Former Inmates Face Multiple Barriers to Successful Reentry

By Forrest Lee Jones a sentence.” report. whelmingly provide housing, The study showed a strong Journalism Guild Writer This past year, there has been “We know that this country’s food and employment opportu- connection between poverty bipartisan support for prison long history of racial injustices nities for their previously incar- and criminal behavior, both Even with a new skill set and reform in Congress, which has led to communities of color cerated love ones. Among those making it nearly impossible to good behavior, returning home demonstrates the nation getting being overwhelmingly targeted surveyed in the “Who Pays” re- set formerly incarcerated peo- after years of incarceration can serious about prison reform, by the criminal justice system port, 48 percent of all families ple up for success. be difficult for former inmates the Jan. 29 story notes. How- and disproportionately suffer- and 58 percent of those living “Aside from the economic and the communities they ever, there is a critical element ing from poverty,” according to under the poverty line were un- devastation, other unmitigated return to, according to a report missing from the conversation Norris. “To effectively end this able to afford the fees and fines factors prove equally harm- in Ebony Magazine. of mass incarceration reform, cycle of criminalization, incar- and debt which deepen their ful to the reentry process. The “As we work to reduce mass which is how to reinvest in com- ceration and poverty, we need a economic despair. stigma, isolation and trauma of incarceration, we must not ne- munities that will help people serious plan to reinvest in men- The study shows the aver- incarceration have a sizeable glect to address the barriers the succeed once they come home, tal health care, housing, food age debt incurred for court- and terrible impact on the fam- formerly incarcerated will ulti- writes Norris, who is executive and employment services in the related fines and fees alone for ilies and communities of the mately have to face,” the op-ed director of the Ella Baker Cen- communities most at risk.” those facing incarceration was formerly incarcerated,” says by Zachary Norris says. ter for Human Rights. A study done by 20 com- $13,607. the report. “Once they leave the iron Reducing mandatory sen- munity organizations entitled “It’s no surprise then that The “Who Pays?” report con- gates and stone walls of prison, tencing for nonviolent offend- Who Pays? The True Cost of nearly two out of three families cluded that 50 percent of all for- they should not have to begin ers is front and center in the na- Incarceration of Families, re- (65 percent) with an incarcer- merly incarcerated persons and a new sentence on the outside. tional debate on prison reform, vealed how financial and other ated family member were un- 50 percent of the family mem- Without ample opportunities but there is little discussion barriers faced by the formerly able to pay their family’s basic bers surveyed suffered nega- and reinvestment in poor and among the nation’s policymak- incarcerated can dramatically needs, with nearly half unable tive health conditions, such as struggling communities, life ers and leaders about ensuring impact not only their future, to afford enough food or pay post-traumatic stress disorder, after prison easily becomes successful reentry for the for- but also that of their families. for their housing,” according to hopelessness, depression, anxi- nothing more than extension of merly incarcerated, says the For example, families over- Norris. ety and nightmares. May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 7 The Effects of PTSD on Juvenile Inmates

By John Lam a violent event is ‘damaged’.” about survival. I was numb and Journalism Guild Writer This was my experience of hopeless, and had difficulties prison. relating to the crazy events hap- In the many group discus- Kid CAT Speaks! Within several months get- pening around me (let alone) to sions held each day in San ting to prison, a numbness set in what I had done to get to pris- Quentin, it is not uncommon to ated with lengthy sentences and a new environment in that allowed me to survive the on.” hear men raise their hands and -- those for whom the parole which many people value self- fear of being targeted and the This numbness is particularly say, “I don’t know how to con- board will determine the time reflection. I’ve begun to suspect trauma of witnessing violence. troubling as I sit in groups with nect with myself.” of their release -- this dearth that living under such previous Though they may not receive men who are attempting to pro- I felt this way, too, for many of self-reflection can prove di- conditions may lead people to an actual PTSD diagnosis, in- cess their own culpability and to years. I thought I was alone sastrous: the parole board often develop Post Traumatic Stress carcerated people often respond take responsibility for the harm in that feeling — but I wasn’t. cites “lack of insight” in issuing Disorder (PTSD), which may to the violence they have ex- they caused. The goal in these I realized many incarcerated denials. have long-term mental health perienced with indifference, group settings is to truly empa- people were disconnected from When I came to prison at consequences. hyper-vigilance or other PTSD thize with and feel remorse for their emotions, due in part to a age 19, the violence and in- People develop coping mech- symptoms. victim(s), but men I have known lack of awareness about trau- timidation shocked me at first, anisms to survive the violence The U.S. Department of find that their numbness pre- ma’s impacts. but eventually fear became the and fear in prisons, but these Veterans Affairs reports: “All vents them from doing so. Trauma has created a serous norm. mechanisms are at odds with people (who) lived through a In addition, I have seen barrier to self-reflection for Since I have been incarcerat- self-reflection and insight. traumatic event that caused numbness keep people from un- many people, including my- ed at San Quentin, I have taken This issue has become in- them to fear for their lives, derstanding the factors leading self. For those people incarcer- advantage of self-help groups creasingly relevant as Califor- see horrible things, and feel to their crime; such understand- nia’s sentencing reform laws al- helpless…(experience) changes ing is essential to being found low more people to come before in the brain that may result in suitable for parole. the parole board, PTSD.” I believe everyone with “When I was in LA county Letter to Kid CAT whom I have been incarcerated jail, people were getting raped, Trauma has experienced these changes beat up, and robbed, so I put up Dear KidCAT, to some degree. a shield and never took it down In the worst moments of in- “I have been through four ri- so that people would not mess My name is Jeffrey Hall. I am serving a life without pa- carceration, trauma strips away ots since I have been incarcer- with me,” said Falao Toalepai, role sentence at Solano State Prison. I’ve been in prison for 25 the ability to empathize, to re- ated and numerous violent al- 52, serving 25 years to life for years in July. late to other people, to have tercations for the past 19 years,” first-degree murder. I’ve been reading (Kid CAT Speaks) articles… and I find self-awareness. said Donte Smith, 35, during an “I had no one I could trust to them intriguing. We have a fair amount of programs here at The Diagnostic and Statisti- interview. talk to about why I am in prison Solano Level 3, yet I really enjoy your articles and the cause. cal Manual of Mental Disorders “If you asked me three years (because) I was worried about Is there something LWOPs can do to help under the Kid defines trauma as “an event in ago (prior to coming to San how other people would look at CAT banner and/or to create a branch of Kid CAT? I’d be very which there is physical harm, Quentin), I would have told you me — and it cost me 32 years in grateful for any information/guidance you can offer. the self is wounded, or when a that I didn’t care about my vic- prison. I have been to the board person who directly experienc- tims or what they went through five times and was denied each Kid CAT Response: es, witnesses, or learns about because my top priority was time for a lack of insight.”

We appreciate your letter and willingness to be of service to your community. We receive letters from juvenile lifers in- cluding LWOP who desire to contribute to rehabilitative pro- Juvenile Interrogation Techniques grams. It is encouraging to see leadership in various prisons reach out and step up with the desire to create programs such as Kid CAT. Can Result in False Confessions We would like to help by creating an informational packet Children are now being ex- “Bottom line: using … potent that these pressures (of psycho- of the Kid CAT group so that our Community Partnership posed to a controversial inter- techniques like the Reid Tech- logical interrogation generally, Manager could send it to the Community Partnership Man- rogation technique that can lead nique on students is … a recipe not specific to Reid Technique) ager at Solano. We would work to gain approval to make this to false confessions by adults, for disaster,” the ABA reported. can induce a frighteningly high packet available. the American Bar Association Some of these vulnerabilities percentage of people to confess Meanwhile, Kid CAT holds monthly writing workshops (ABA) reports. are attributed to what is called to crimes they never commit- with The Beat Within. The workshops are based on a quotes The ABA newsletter urges the “juvenile brain,” which is ted,’” the ABA added. pre-written by a juvenile lifer. The participants discuss the parents and teachers to fight more prone to traits like impul- False confessions played a prompts, then break off to write responses. After, the partici- the use of the Reid Technique siveness, vulnerability, as well role in nearly 30 percent of all pants read their pieces. The prompts are general and intended in their schools. It encourages as a tendency to be motivated by wrongful convictions that have to stimulate thought. parents to demand that they be short-term rewards. This can in- been uncovered by DNA evi- You may contribute by writing about your personal trans- notified before a principal plans clude giving in to the pressures dence, according to the Inno- formation, realities and experiences as a juvenile LWOP. If to interrogate their child. of interrogation by deciding that cence Project. published, you will receive a copy of the issue in which you John E. Reid & Associates, a confession is the only way out There were 221 exonerations are featured. When possible, beginning this month, we will the developers of the Reid Tech- of a difficult situation, regard- since 1989 that involved proven publish in Kid CAT Speaks one prompt from each of the nique, “appears to be expanding less of its truth, the ABA notes. false confessions, according to monthly workshop so as to include all other incarcerated men the use of its technique on kids. The Reid website cautions that the National Registry of Exon- and women. In addition to training police it is “well-accepted that juvenile erations. interrogators, the company is suspects are more susceptible to Children are two to three Send writings to: The Beat Within now marketing its technique to falsely confess than adults.” The times more likely to falsely con- P.O. Box 34310 school administrators across the site warns that “every interroga- fess during interrogation than San Francisco CA, 94134 country, (so far, this training has tor must exercise extreme cau- adults, according to the ABA. occurred in at least 12 states),” tion and care when interviewing “Confessions are incredibly Please keep us updated on your struggles and achievements. the ABA reported. or interrogating a juvenile.” powerful evidence. A full 81 Send word: Write a letter to the youth in the Juvenile Hall The Reid Technique is a set of The consequences of using percent of proven false confes- that you came from. Write this letter as if you will read it in psychological tactics designed the Reid technique on children sors whose case went to trial person to the youth. Write this letter so it can be understood for one purpose – “to extract are not lost on the U.S. Supreme were convicted — and that fig- by each gender. Explain what juvenile hall you were in, ages, confessions … the technique is Court, the ABA reports. ure does not account for those why, when, duration and what units. Were you in and out? a guilt-presumptive, accusatory, “In the landmark 1966 deci- false confessors who pled guilty Were you released, sent to CYA, tried as an adult and sent to manipulative process,” the ABA sion Miranda v. Arizona, the before trial. (Of the first 125 county jail or prison? What is your age now, sentence and how reported. court cited the Reid Technique DNA exonerees who falsely long have you been incarcerated? This is your letter; tell your Children have a greater pro- to conclude that the ‘heavy toll’ confessed, 11 percent pled truth. Include what can be valuable to the youth. Keep in mind pensity toward false confes- of custodial interrogation may guilty.) People, including judges the advice or message you would or would not have listened sions due to the use of psycho- result in false confessions,” the and juries, are very reluctant to to at that age and time. Avoid preaching and talking down to logical interrogation techniques ABA noted. believe that a confession might them or at them; instead go to them, where they are at in their designed for seasoned adult “The court went even further be false — and the result, too life. If you were never in Juvenile Hall, write a letter anyway. criminals that exploit the devel- in 2009, in Corley v. United often, can be a wrongful convic- Send word. opmental vulnerabilities of kids, States, stating that ‘there is tion” the newsletter stated. according to the ABA. mounting empirical evidence –John Lam

Kid CAT (Creating Awareness Together) is a group of men that committed their crimes as teens and were sentenced as adults to life terms. The group’s mission is to inspire humanity through education, mentorship and restorative practices. Kid CAT Speaks wants to hear from the male and female juvenile lifers, educators, and policy makers concerning juvenile justice issues and rehabilitation. Contact us at San Quentin News, Attn: Kid CAT Speaks, 1 Main St., San Quentin, CA 94964 Page 8 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Elderly Inmates Burden State Prisons By David Eugene Archer Sr. By 2014, Virginia’ elderly Trey Fuller, the state’s prisons’ get-tough-on criminals 1990s Justice. Journalism Guild Writer prisoners had grown in number acting health services director. resulting in longer prison sen- When aging prisoners reach to 7,202, or 20 percent of all in- “Over time we’ll need more tences, the March 17 story re- the end of their sentences, cor- The elderly population in mates. and more money ... because ported. rections officials often have a state prisons continues to climb, The consequence of this for they will need more drugs, more “It was the push for manda- hard time placing them. “Pri- causing financial burdens and state prisons is it costs more specialist visits, more nursing tory sentences and three strikes vate nursing homes don’t want other problems, reports Michael money for health care for the hours, more everything,” Fuller you’re out,” said Linda Redford, to take elderly offenders...,” said Ollove for the Pew Charitable aged – between four and eight said. director of aging and geriatrics Virginia’s Fuller. Trusts. times that of younger prisoners, Corrections officials point to programs at the University of Studies have found that older State and federal prisoners according to the report. two factors that cause this in- Kansas Medical Center. ex-offenders are less likely than 65 and older outpaced the total In 2013 nearly half the $58 crease in older prisoners. One is People in prison generally are younger ones to commit addi- population by 94 to 1 from 2007 million Virginia spent on off- increase in the rate older adults less healthy than the general tional crimes after their release, to 2010, according to Human site prisoner health care was for are entering prison. The second population. They have abused Ollove noted. But politicians Right’s Watch. older prisoners, according to factor is changes enacted in the drugs and alcohol or neglected and the public don’t seem will- their health for many years, the ing to release former murder- story noted. They have higher ers and sex offenders, though rates of cardiac disease, high they are decades removed from Criminalization and Poverty blood pressure, hepatitis C, dia- their crimes and physically in- betes and other chronic diseases capable of repeating them, said than the general population. Liz Gaynes, president of the Os- Linked to Nation’s Prisons “Prisons weren’t designed for borne Association. By Charles David Henry In fact, the ACLU of Ohio led these as a “non-criminal fee,” patients who are getting older. “It comes down to they Journalism Guild Writer ground-breaking reform to meaning that a person cannot They were ... for people 18 to did a bad thing, and they combat debtors’ prison with its be incarcerated for failure to 55.” said Owen Murray, chief should be punished,” Gaynes Criminalization and poverty 2013 report, The Outskirts of pay them, but in practice, they physician for Correctional Man- said.“Endlessly.” are intertwined within the na- Hope. operate with little difference aged Care, University of Texas States will be forced to pay tion’s incarceration system, a Ohio has 88 counties with from a modern-day debtors’ Medical Branch, One in five more and more for that attitude, report by the American Civil over 100 jails throughout the prison, The Outskirts of Hope Texas prisoners is older than 50 Gaynes added. Liberties Union (ACLU). state. This report shows that reported. States have had to install “Either you figure out ways to “It is almost always the poor- 75 facilities are full-service “Any amount unpaid will re- ramps and shower handles and get them out of the prison sys- est among us who fall prey to jails. “Out of the 75 county fa- main on the person’s account make other physical modifica- tem and on to Medicare, or ... the two-tiered system of jus- cilities, 40 charge a pay-to-stay and will be counted against tions. Many prisons have had you need to fund those facilities tice that separates the haves fee for incarceration, either them if they are incarcerated in to create assisted-living centers and care services that are neces- and the have-nots,” the ACLU through a booking fee, a daily the jail again,” the report add- with full-time nursing staffs. At sary,” said Texas’ Murray. stated. fee or both.” ed. “Collections are processed least 75 prisons provide hospice So far, most states have opted “Pay-to-stay jail fees are the “In Jail & In Debt: Ohio’s through Intellitech Corpora- services for dying prisoners, ac- for the second approach, report- next generation of unending Pay-to-Stay fees” reported that tion. If someone were jailed in cording to the Vera Institute of ed Ollove. debts that seek to tether low- Williams County, home to the the CCNO for 180 days, they income people to the criminal Corrections Center of North- would owe about $11,996.20.” justice system,” the ACLU re- west Ohio (CCNO), charges According to the ACLU, ported in 2015, pointing to fees the highest pay-to-stay fees. individuals are typically ex- Brown’s 309 charged as booking fees and This 638-bed multi-county pected to pay their debts while daily fees. An inmate may be correctional facility houses in- incarcerated, either directly or assessed a booking fee upon mates from five counties. It has through commissary funds. If Judicial Appointees arrival, referred to as a pro- one of the highest booking fees the jail is unable to collect all cessing fee, a reception fee, or at $100. The jail then charges of the fees before the prisoner administrative fee. $66.09 per day. is released, the debt is turned in Five Years Some people are charged a “Williams County does not over to Intellitech within 180 daily fee. This should not ex- consider whether a person is days. If not, it will be reported By Salvador Solorio flect a significant shift from ceed the cost of housing and indigent when they assess the on the person’s credit history. Journalism Guild Writer the “tough on crime” trends feeding the person for each fees, so all people regardless In materials provided to the of the 1990s and early 2000s, day of incarceration, the report of income must pay the same ACLU, Intellitech claimed it Many of the judges Gov. which filled state prisons far maintains. Additionally, a few daily fee. When a person is does not pursue collections Jerry Brown appointed in the beyond capacity and led to a counties charge release fees, released, money may be taken against people who are indi- past five years have a public federal court order to reduce covering the cost of processing from their commissary ac- gent, yet this does not appear defender background, accord- the state’s prison population, a person out of jail, the report count to pay their pay-to-stay to be the practice. In inter- ing to KQED’s The California according to the report. added. balance if the amount is above views with people who were Report. A more-diverse bench will The report revealed that $25,” the report noted. clearly indigent and had been “Observers said the sizeable make a more-balanced system, courts in Ferguson, Mo. and These charges are imposed declared so by the court, they number of public defender ap- said Michael Ogul, president Concord, N.H. are illegally in- against a person simply be- reported receiving many calls pointments is a big shift from of the California Public De- carcerating people who cannot cause they are in jail, the report and letters and the debts were Brown’s predecessors, who fenders Association. pay their court fines and costs. said. The courts have identified reported on their credit history. largely appointed prosecu- “Now, the hope is that the tors,” noted the report. new era of public defender “Since taking office five judges will actually be people years ago, Brown has made 309 who are not jaded, who are CPAC Panel Takes on appointments to the bench. A genuinely open-minded, open KQED analysis shows that 26 to considering the totality of percent, or 81 of those elevat- the evidence, and trying to un- Criminal-Justice Reform ed, have been public defenders derstand the background of the at one point in their careers,” individual who appears before By Wayne Boatwright recent reform efforts, saying, and other nonviolent drug of- the report states. “About 14 them,” Ogul said. Journalism Guild Writer “All this is going to do, at fenders, Baptiste reported. percent were district attorneys, Brown has said he believes best, is shift the costs” down Clarke countered that such and ... 31 percent had some diversity extends beyond The conservative take on to the state and local level attempts to reduce incarcera- prosecutorial background.” someone’s race, ethnicity, criminal justice reform was as with California’s prison tion may simply be normaliz- Since Brown’s election to his sexual orientation or gender— debated at this year’s Conser- Realignment. ing criminal behavior in com- third term in 2010, the justice it also includes their life and vative Political Action Confer- Alternatively, the former munities that can least afford system has undergone a host of work experience. ence (CPAC). attorney general of Virginia, it. dramatic changes. The chang- The governor also said that A CPAC panel discussed Ken Cuccinelli, supports re- “If you’re a struggling mom es engineered or supported by “using and manipulating the policy tools that would send form efforts and noted that living in a slum or a ghetto...” Brown were made in large part fear of crime has allowed one fewer people to prison while “Over the last 10 years, (Tex- Clarke said “...you’re doing ev- to ease overcrowding in the segment of our society” – law maintaining public safety, as) has reduced both their bud- erything that you can to keep state’s prison system. enforcement – to dominate reported Nathalie Baptiste of get for prisons and their crime your kid away from that dope Brown pushed through Re- the bench. But prosecutors Prospect.org. rate by double-digit percent- dealer standing on the cor- alignment, which shifted the aren’t the only qualified law- The strongest advocate for ages.” ner....” responsibility for the supervi- yers “The judges are supposed maintaining the status quo Pat Nolan of the American In at-risk communities, sion of thousands of offenders to be independent. You want was David A. Clarke Jr., the Conservative Union supports without support structures in from state prisons to local jails. judges that have a commercial African-American sheriff a move toward an evidence- place for social alternatives to Recently Brown proposed a background, you want judg- of Milwaukee County since driven public health model: the incarceration like those man- ballot measure that aims to let es that have a prosecutorial 2002. Clarke acknowledged government would only pros- dated by California’s Proposi- nonviolent offenders qualify background, city attorneys, or that the United States spends ecute certain crimes like rape, tion 47, Clarke does not believe earlier for parole if they par- county counsel, or small prac- approximately $80 billion a murder and robbery while tar- that the most effective way to ticipate in rehabilitation pro- tice, plaintiffs’ practice – you year on its criminal justice geting major drug traffickers keep a community healthy is grams, want a diversity, instead of system. But he dismissed most as opposed to street dealers “by cuddling up to criminals.” Brown’s appointments re- kind of a one note fits all.” May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 9 Merle Haggard: San Quentin Parolee, Music Icon

By Thomas Winfrey a guitar-driven blend of blues, Art Editor jazz, pop and honky-tonk,” ac- cording to the New York Times. “I turned 21 in prison doing Four years after his release life without parole,” music leg- from San Quentin, Haggard end Merle Haggard sang in his reunited with Martin, who was famous 1968 hit “Mama Tried.” paroled, in 1964. Martin re- The song was Haggard’s public called how Haggard had already apology to a religious mother, become a success, “so much so Flossie Mae, and his acknowl- that he could drop $3,000 on a edgement that “she tried to bet at one of the tables.” raise (him) right.” In 1972, then-California Merle Ronald Haggard Gov. Ronald Reagan granted passed away on his birthday, Haggard a rare full pardon. April 6, 2016, at his ranch in But Haggard never forgot Palo Cedro, Calif. He was 79 where he came from. In his years old. song, “Branded Man,” which Haggard was only 15 years was released in 1968, Haggard old when he first went behind sang, “But no matter where I’m bars for a robbery. In the next living, the black mark follows five years, he was locked up for me/I’m branded with a number other petty crimes until, at the on my name.” age of 20, he was sent to San Martin, who has been back Quentin State Prison for bur- in prison since 1967 for a mur- glary in 1957. His three years der conviction, considers Hag- spent behind the San Quentin gard’s transformation a tri- walls ultimately impacted both umph. Haggard’s music and the his life and the music he made. File Photo stories he told with his songs Curly Ray Martin, 76, Merle Haggard in San Quentin North Block in June 20, 1994 have resonated with millions of lived several years alongside fans over the years. Haggard, inside and outside of said Haggard hopped a freight Merle sitting by himself near “I’ll tell you what the pub- “Merle made everyone prison walls. Both grew up in train and was chased all the the old steam plant, up against lic likes more than anything,” proud,” Martin said of his old Oildale, Calif., a small town on way to Fresno, where police the fence, writing songs, and Haggard once told the Boston friend. the outskirts of Bakersfield. retrieved him. He spent his everyone would just leave him Globe. “It’s the most rare com- Haggard is survived by a sis- “I drove my grandmother youth engaging in petty crime alone,” Martin said. “He would modity in the world – honesty.” ter, Lillian; his wife, Theresa over to Mrs. Haggard’s house and truancy from school. Even play a lot of his own music, but I On top of his honesty, Hag- Lane; their two children, Ben because they both were church- when he was in reform schools, would also hear him play music gard stood out in country music and Jenessa; four children from going women, and that’s where he attempted to escape, only to from Lefty Frizzell and George for “defying the conventions of his first marriage, Dana, Kelli, I met Merle,” recalls Martin. be thrown back in again, ac- Jones.” the Nashville musical establish- Marty and Noel; and a son, “About three months later, I cording to Henderson. When Haggard wasn’t alone ment,” and was “an architect of Scott, from a previous relation- heard he was in trouble — and Nearly a year after Haggard with his musical muse, Martin the twangy Bakersfield sound, ship. he ended up in San Quentin.” landed at San Quentin, Martin would join Haggard in the yard, But Haggard was in trouble followed in his friend’s where they’d drink and play from birth. He spent his first footsteps, and reunited with music. years in the abandoned boxcar Haggard at San Quentin for “In 1959, Merle and I went that his father, James, a railroad similar burglary charges. to The Hole twice for getting carpenter, had turned into a During their time spent together, drunk and raising hell -- once makeshift home for his family, Haggard taught Martin how to on his birthday, once on mine,” according to Nancy Henderson play the bass guitar. said Martin. in the New York Times. Soon, Long before Haggard got his The wild side that had Merle lost his father to a stroke. first break in the music indus- sparked in Haggard’s youth had “It was a devastating event try (he was hired to play bass in followed him into prison, where for the young boy, who was Wynn Stewart’s band in 1963), he spent his 21st birthday in sol- very close to his father,” writes Haggard honed his craft of mu- itary confinement. Henderson. sic on the San Quentin yard, While incarcerated at San Haggard spiraled into a re- Martin remembered. Quentin, Haggard saw Johnny bellious way of life. Henderson “Sometimes you’d see ol’ Cash perform live in 1958. The experience convinced Haggard File Photo to take his talents more seri- ously. After he was paroled in 1960, Haggard set his sights on becoming a country singer like his role models -- Lefty Frizzell and Jimmie Rodgers. He took his guitar and per- formed in the bars of Bakers- field, where he attracted atten- tion and help from those around him. “Liz Anderson, Ken Nelson, Buck Owens, Wynn Stewart and Tommy Collins all helped Merle because he was good and he deserved to be helped,” Martin said. By 1964, Haggard reached the Country Top 40 with “Just Between the Two of Us,” a duet with Bonnie Owens, the former wife of country singer Buck Owens, and Haggard’s second wife. Johnny Cash once introduced Haggard as a “man who writes about his own life and has a life to write about.” Haggard’s honesty became a staple of his unique music. He wrote about his drinking in his number one hit, “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink,” one of many songs in which Haggard was candid about his File Photo life and the questionable deci- File Photo Merle Haggard’s live performance sions he had made in life. Merle Haggard playing the fiddle Page 10 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Mother’s Day: A Chance to Honor Our Mothers By Angelo Falcone been there for each other I hope you have a happy and Journalism Guild Writer through good times and bad blessed Mother’s Day.” times. I have done a lot of bad Christopher Scull: “My In honor of Mother’s Day, we things in my life and she was mother was truly the most lov- wondered: How much do the always there for me when I was ing, caring and helpful woman men in blue love their moth- on the streets and in here. I am I have ever known in my life. I ers? More than their girlfriends happy that we still have that miss her very much. I will al- or spouses? Do their emotions bond. We love each other and I ways love her. I will always re- match those of men on the other can talk to her about anything, member her because she loved side of the wall? so I thank God for blessing me me the most.” “There is a higher volume (of with my mom and long as we Forrest Jones: “My biologi- flower sales) for Mother’s Day live.” cal mother, Genova Jones, died than for Valentine’s Day,” ac- Jose Flores: “Women come when I was a baby. My god- cording to Flower Confidential and go. Girlfriends can be here mother, Elvira Miles, raised me by Amy Stewart. today and gone tomorrow. But just like she raised her own chil- “There may be a reason for there is only one Mom, with a dren and she instilled in me the that. Valentine’s Day is all capital M. The love from Mom same qualities that she instilled about roses. But when people is truly unconditional. It doesn’t in her own children. I admire send flowers to their mothers, matter what I do or say, who I her for that. My godmother died they tend to send arrangements, am, or what choices I make, my last year.” not just a dozen roses ... so you Mom loves me no matter what. Cody Brown: “Mom, you might send more stems to your But the love of a girlfriend or are honest, loving, courageous, mother at Mother’s Day than wife is conditional. There are trusting, selfless, humble, re- you do to your wife at Valen- things that I can do, say or be spectful, resilient, tolerant, tine’s Day,” Stewart reports. that will cause a girlfriend or beautiful, and you have an Asked On the Line posed this wife to stop loving me. Only amazing sense of humor. No- question to men on the main- Mom loves forever.” body is perfect, but in my eyes, line: What do you admire most Walter Johnson: “Moms, you are the embodiment of a about your mom (or the woman thank you for always being un- perfect mother. I love you so who raised you)? derstanding with me, for always much.” Jarray D. Birdon’s mother Markee Carter: “My mama being there for me, and for al- Phil Phillips: “My mother Celestine Belton is my heart and soul. We have ways being truthful. Moms, is a pillar of strength and inde- Happy Mother’s Day

David Harrison, with his mother and father Kathleen and Steve

Joyce Smith

Shelly Warrens, Anthonyand family Ammons, members Shenique Ammons May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 11 Mother’s Day: A Chance to Honor Our Mothers pendence. My mother never let Sam Johnson: “Mariah John- the circumstances overcome son, Elizabeth Johnson, Connie her; she rose above them. She Herbert and Deloris Williams: also, by her diligent attention to You all loved me with so much health, stayed young and fit.” unconditional love, even with Matthew Edwards: “I ad- my flaws of not feeling I was mire my mother’s love, strength, good enough or when I was and sacrifice. My mother got weak with low self-esteem. Your pregnant by force, rejected her love wrapped my heart gently racist family’s disapproval, and and warmly. Your love assured still chose to birth me with love. me that I was a gift from God. Through disrespect, adversity, Through my 25 years, your or heartache for me coming to love kept me from being alone. prison, my mother’s uncondi- Thank you for your wisdom, tional love, strength, and self- understanding, strength and life less sacrifice remains unshake- lessons. When the walls of my able and everlasting.” cell felt like they were closing Ray Monde: “My mom’s in, your love penetrated the cold fierce independence and deter- darkness with the light and love mination to be self-sufficient of Jesus. To all my mothers who inspired me not to be easily in- raised me with their uncondi- fluenced by others.” tional love, hugs and kisses, I, Markee Carter and his mother Matthew Nguyen: “What I your loving son, love you and admire most about my mom, adore you in the mighty name aside from the fact that she car- of Jesus Christ.” ried five children from Vietnam A. Alvarez: “I am the lucki- to America and that she gave est man for being born to my birth to seven children, is that mom. She cherished me in a she gave birth to me, I was her way I couldn’t understand until last one, and I was an 11-pound, I became a parent. Thank you, 12-ounce baby. I love you mom, for loving me and not Mommy!” judging me.” Happy Mother’s Day

Jim Snider’s mother Margaret

Aunt Opal, Timothy Holmes his mother Pearl Holmes

Orlando Harris and his mother Page 12 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Arts & Entertainment

Photo by P. Jo Bonneville Salt Flats Photo Effect Snippets ercury, also Mknown as quick- Sudoku Corner silver has a silvery color and reflective metallic nature. Last Issue’s Sudoku 9 7 4 8 Solution n all of India’s I100,000 year history, 2 4 7 3 it has never invaded 4 8 7 6 2 3 5 9 1 9 2 6 7 8 4 1 5 3 another country. 1 7 3 5 2 4 9 1 7 8 6 8 1 7 5 3 6 9 4 2 6 1 9 7 8 5 4 3 2 5 4 3 1 2 9 8 7 6 unlight can reach a 6 5 9 1 2 6 8 4 7 9 5 3 7 6 4 9 5 8 2 3 1 Sdepth of around 262 5 7 4 9 3 2 1 6 8 2 9 5 3 1 7 6 8 4 feet in the ocean. 9 3 8 1 5 6 2 7 4 3 8 1 4 6 2 5 9 7 2 9 6 2 9 3 5 6 4 8 1 7 4 3 8 6 9 1 7 2 5 wls have an 80% 8 4 1 3 7 9 6 2 5 6 7 9 2 4 5 3 1 8 1 7 6 7 6 5 2 1 8 3 4 9 1 5 2 8 7 3 4 6 9 Osuccess rate for catching their prey. 4 5 ucha Libre wres- The Month of May Ltlers are generally 5 7 8 3 divided into two types: rudos and técnicos. 2 9 8 6 The rudos are the “bad • May is the third of seven months in a year with 31 days. guys” and the técnicos This year, May has five Sundays, five Mondays and five Tuesdays. are the “good guys.” • Holocaust Remembrance Day and Cinco de Mayo (The Battle of Puebla) are on Thursday, May 5. ctopuses has three 8 2 1 • Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8; Mother’s Day in Mexico Ohearts, which are is on Tuesday, May 10. all located in their • Armed Forces Day is on Saturday, May 21 and Memorial heads. 4 1 Day is on Monday, May 30. • For the Christian community, Eastern Orthodox Easter old is so mal- 2 4 9 is on Sunday, May 1; the Ascension of the Lord is on Gleable that a thread Thursday, May 5; Pentecost is on Sunday, May 15; The drawn from one ton of 5 8 4 9 6 Most Holy Trinity is on Sunday, May 22; Mary, The gold can stretch over Help of Christians is on Tuesday, May 24 and The Body 480,000 miles, compa- and Blood of Christ is on Thursday, May 26. 3 4 • The World Almanac reports May is Clean Air Month, rable to stretching from Get Caught Reading Month, National Barbecue Month, the earth to the moon 9 7 3 5 1 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, National and back again. Inventors Month, and National Mental Health Month. 7 9 4 • There are two astrological signs in May: Taurus, the oga comes from sign of the Bull (April 20 to May 20) and Gemini, the Ythe Sanskrit term 7 3 sign of the Twins (May 21 to June 21). word “yui” meaning “to • The May birthstone is the emerald. unite”. 9 6 1 May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 13

1. Sacramento — Gov. Jerry itary confinement for thousands Brown granted clemency to 59 of prisoners, making conditions people, just before Easter Sun- “more humane and more just,” day. Most were convicted of News Briefs reports the Associated Press. nonviolent drug-related crimes. She called solitary confinement All of those pardoned have ob- a “drastic and punitive designa- tained a court certificate declar- tion, one that should be used ing that they are now rehabili- only as a last resort and for the tated. A gubernatorial pardon shortest possible time to serve may be granted to people who the penal purposes for which it have demonstrated exemplary 5 is designed.” 98 behavior and have lived pro- 7 6 10. Williamsport, PA. — Ly- ductive and law-abiding lives 10 coming County Coroner following their conviction. Charles Kiessling Jr. has started 2. Los Angeles — Robert 1 ruling heroin overdose deaths as Contreras will be paid nearly 3 homicides. Kiessling says drug $6.9 million to settle a lawsuit 11 dealers are murderers. He said after police shot him and left he wants to raise awareness of him paralyzed, reports the a heroin epidemic that contrib- 2 Associated Press. Officers said 4 uted to a 13 percent increase in they fired after Contreras turned overdose deaths in the state in toward them with something in one year. “If you chose to sell his hand—it was a cellphone. heroin, you’re killing people 3. Colorado — A 2015 change and you’re murdering people. in the law regarding parole re- You’re just as dead from a shot vocation cut in half recidivism 12 of heroin as if someone puts a rates for technical violations bullet in you,” Kiessling told and reduced the state’s prison The Daily Item of Sunbury. population. 11. Frankfort, KY. — Pro- 4. Oklahoma — The Okla- posed new legislation would homa Corrections Depart- give some nonviolent felons a ment has paid $92.7 million to contractor, an official said. The before his conviction was nosed with borderline character second chance by letting them Tennessee-based Corrections demonstrations follow another overturned, and he was freed. disorder, mood disorder and seek to have their criminal re- Corporation of America and protest at Kinross Correctional While Rosario was in Florida, anti-social personality disorder, cords erased. Republican Gov. Florida-based GEO Group, Inc. Facility, the Detroit Free Press he was convicted of a shoot- spent much of those three years Matt Bevin said he looked to house state prisoners for one reports. ing that happened in New York in solitary confinement for re- forward to signing the bill, if year, according to prison of- 6. Hartford —In 2007 Con- City even though he said he peated rules violations. She had it clears the state House and ficials. Since 2004, the state necticut raised the age at which had 13 alibi witnesses to con- faced new charges of criminal Senate, reports the Associated has spent about $975 million juveniles can be tried as adults firm his story, reports the As- mischief, harassment, obstruct- Press. on contracts with the for-profit, to 17. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sociated Press. Rosario’s case ing government administration 12. Ocala, FL. — Johnny private prison companies, the says he now wants the age to adds to the more than 25 New and assault, all from her stay Edward Ostane was freed Oklahoman reports. The state’s be raised to 20 by July 1, 2019. York City convictions that have in jail. The charges were dis- after serving more than two prison system is operating at Malloy’s reasoning includes re- been overturned in the last five missed in March. years for battery of a police 122 percent of capacity, prison search that shows developing years. 9. New York — U.S. District officer and other charges. officials report. brains can make bad, impulsive 8. New York — A jury trial set Judge Shira Scheindlin ap- Ostane’s release came after 5. Kincheloe, Mich. — In- decisions that can lead younger Candie Hailey, 32, free after proved a plan in March to re- a follow-up investigation mates at Chippewa Correction- people into the criminal justice dismissing a charge on which duce solitary confinement in found inconsistencies with the al Facility in Michigan’s Upper system, reports the Associated she had spent more than three the state’s prisons. Scheindlin arresting officer’s report, along Peninsula have participated in a Press. years in a New York City jail, says the “historic settlement” with inconsistencies in other peaceful protest over the qual- 7. New York — Richard Ro- reports the Associated Press. will greatly reduce the frequen- reports by the same officer, the ity of food provided by a state sario spent 20 years in prison Hailey, who has been diag- cy, duration and severity of sol- Ocala Star-Banner reports. WORDCROSS PUZZLE Across Switzerland 9. Type of oil used in 1. Nautical way to say yes 52. Tragedy emotion Nutella 4. Cable movie network 54. Southeast Asian spicy 10. Shumer of “Trainwreck” 7. Food measuring label cuisine 11. Lifers’ obstacle (Abbrev.) 55. To rotate, spin 12. Asian comedian 10. “Blackish” network 57. Beloved Margaret 13. River in S. France 58. Prison bus 18. Watery discharge from 14. Gun toting group (Prison Slang) a sore or wound 15. U.S. medical doctor’s 61. Weather condition 20. To be frank with group (Acronym.) limiting movement someone 16. Car speed rating in prison 22. Oversharing of (Abbrev.) 64. Whiskey alternative personal stories 17. FOX TV show about 68. To express approval or 23. A type of child’s gun crime solving angel triumph in Spanish 24. To be high spirits 19. A coach drawn by four 69. Searching airport agency (Slang) horses 70. Mr. Tina Turner 25. Genre “___-Fi” 21. 4:00 p.m. prison number 71. Swed. name for Turku 28. To move quickly, crunch (Prison Slang) 72. Sound made when violently 46. Out of, tall, or call to WORDCROSS ANSWERS 23. NBA The Heat’s Chris winning a game 29. The crest of a hill 47. A type detection test 26. Matt of “The Martian” 73. Person who makes, 30. English lang. forming 48. U.S. marijuana regulator 27. ‘80s TV show writes, etc. the 3d person (Abbrev.) 49. A type of medical scan “Miami ____” 74. Adds style to a web page 32. Children’s detective 51. A spade’s job 31. The six degrees of 75. The dot character in Drew 53. Chemical symbol for Kevin _____ Morse code 34. Eddy of SQN April’s element 87 (Abbrev.) 33. Giorgio Armani cologne Down Documentary 55. To stretch, taut 34. Millions has six of these 1. ___-or-nothing 36. Bon Jovi: “I’m wanted 56. What a person’s 35. Donald Trump’s talk 2. Any person ___ (Abbrev.) uses to get by 37. Drag’s oneself (Yiddish) 3. Rest, and so forth 38. Life-saving technique 59. Formal customary 39. Refusal or denial (Abbrev.) (Abbrev.) observance 40. School fitness subject 4. Intelligence (Slang) 41. Used to express delight 60. Petitioning other people (Abbrev.) 5. Sigmund 42. Retirement govt. agency 61. 10 across comedy show 41. Navy depth charge 6. Spiderman comic book (Abbrev.) about a Chinese family (Slang) villain 43. Former Katherine of (Abbrev.) 65. TV show 45. Gov. Schwarzenegger 7. TV show”Blindspot” “Grey’s Anatomy” 62. Forming commercial “Breaking ___” 49. Affeck of “Ocean’s story line revolves 44. Every January 1st is a? names (Suffix) 66. Brown sash worn with Eleven” around these 45. Able to live only 63. Ruby, sapphire, a Kimono 50. City in Central 8. Rafael Nadal’s country where oxygen is present or diamond 67. Like it or ___ Page 14 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Cinco de Mayo’s History and Celebration By Tare Beltranchuc establish an empire in Mexico however, in and Marco Villa that would favor French inter- Puebla, Mex- Contributing Writers ests. ico, where the The French army was confi- battle took Cinco de Mayo is probably dent of victory. On May 5, 1862, place, it is an the most misunderstood holi- over 6,000 well-armed French official holi- day celebrated in the United soldiers, led by Gen. Charles day. The com- States. The defeat of a French Latrille de Lorencez, attacked a munity of Po- army is often mistaken for poorly equipped Mexican army blanos stages Mexican Independence Day, of less than 2,000, led by Gen. a military pa- which is observed on Sept. 16. Ignacio Zaragoza. The battled rade and mock Cinco de Mayo, translated lasted from daybreak to early battle to com- Fifth of May, has gained popu- evening. memorate the larity in the U.S. where many Surprisingly and against all Cinco de Mayo people are unaware of the his- odds, the Mexicans defeated the victory. toric battle that inspired the cel- French army, considered “the In the United ebration. premier army of the world,” States, com- It started in 1861, when which had not been defeated for munity mem- Benito Juarez became president almost 50 years, wrote Ignacio bers display of a country in financial ruin. Gonzalez, author of The Signif- Cinco de Mayo The fleeing conservatives had icance of Cinco de Mayo. banners and emptied the national treasury, The victorious Battle of in some plac- forcing President Juarez to Puebla represented a great Mexico’s Flag es the streets suspend all payments on moral victory for the Mexican are closed for foreign debts until he could government, for it symbolized the 1960s, “Chicano activists ple,” Alamillo declared. neighborhood gatherings. make new arrangements with the country’s ability to protect embrace the holiday as a way Now Cinco de Mayo is a day Students decorate their class- the European governments. its sovereignty against other to build pride among Mexican- to celebrate Mexican food, tra- rooms and try their hand at In response, France, Britain nations. Americans,” José Alamillo ditions, culture — and booze. cooking some basic Mexican and Spain sent their troops to As Time magazine noted, said. He is a professor of eth- Beer corporations like Dos food. Some restaurants spice up Veracruz to demand repay- “The Puebla victory came to nic studies at Washington State Equis, Tecate, Corona and An- their menu with Mexican dish- ment. The British and the symbolize unity and pride for University in Pullman. heuser-Bush (Budweiser) have es (mole poblano, barbacoa, Spaniards negotiated their own what seemed like a Mexican By the 1980s, this holiday be- taken advantage of the ever- tamales, burritos, enchiladas, settlements with Mexican au- David defeating a French Go- gan to be advertised on a wider growing Hispanic community tostadas con guacamole, salsa thorities and headed back to liath.” scale, “changing the meaning to commercialize this holiday. picante) and enjoy their drinks Europe. However, France was In the United States, Cinco of the celebration from com- Today, the commemoration (margaritas, beer and shots of ruled by Napoleon III, who saw de Mayo has attained greater munity self-determination to a of the battle is not observed as tequila) to the rhythm of the an opportunity to conquer and significance than in Mexico. By drinking holiday for many peo- a national holiday in Mexico; mariachi bands. Cinco de Mayo’s Historia y celebración

El Cinco de Mayo es el día Veracruz para exigir el pago de festivo que probablemente la la deuda al gobierno mexicano. mayoría de personas en los Es- Los ingleses y los españoles se tados Unidos confunde con la marcharon después de haber Independencia de México, la llegado a un acuerdo en el cual cual se celebra el 16 de Sep- México garantizaba continuar tiembre. con el pago tan pronto como A pesar que el Cinco de Mayo le fuera posible. Sin embargo, a ganado popularidad en los Es- los franceses gobernados por tados Unidos todavía existen el Emperador Napoleón III personas que desconocen la aprovecharon la oportunidad historia que dio origen a la cel- y trataron de conquistar y es- ebración. tablecer un imperio frances en Todo comenzó en 1861, cu- territorio mexicano que favore- ando Benito Juárez llego a ser ciera los intereses de Francia. presidente de un país económi- El 5 de Mayo de 1862, el camente arruinado. Los conser- ejercito frances bajo el mando vadores habían derrochado el de el General, Charles Latrille Tesoro Nacional, obligando al de Lorencez ataco a el ejército Presidente Juárez a suspender mexicano encabezados por el los pagos de la deuda externa General Ignacio Zaragoza en hasta llegar a un acuerdo con el Estado de Puebla. La armada los gobiernos europeos. francesa estaba completamente FIle Photo En respuesta Francia, España, segura de obtener una victoria Cinco de Mayo celebration in the streets of San Francisco e Inglaterra enviaron sus flotas fácil, ya que superaba al ejérci- de guerra a ocupar el puerto de to mexicano en número y expe- derrota alguna por 50 años, es- A la llegada de los años 80’s, de poblanos organizan un des- riencia. Los fran- cribió Ignacio González autor esta festividad empezó a tener file militar y simulan la batalla ceses contaban del Significado del Cinco de una publicidad a gran es- de Puebla para conmemorar la con más de 6,000 Mayo. cala, lo cual de acuerdo a Jose victoria del Cinco de Mayo. soldados bien ar- El triunfo de la batalla de Alamillo,“Cambio el significa- En los Estados Unidos algu- mados y discipli- Puebla constituyo una gran do de una celebración enfocada nos miembros de la comunidad nados, contra un victoria moral para el gobierno a la comunidad a una festividad celebran el Cinco de Mayo ex- ejército mexicano Mexicano, representando su ha- de alcohol”. hibiendo banderas mexicanas y pobremente ar- bilidad de proteger la soberanía El Cinco de Mayo es aho- en ciertos vecindarios las calles mado con menos de la Nación. La revista Time ra una celebración mexicana son cerradas para celebrar en de 2,000 solda- Magazine comento que “La donde los platillos mexicanos y grande. dos. La batalla se victoria de la batalla de Puebla las bebidas alcohólicas son el in- En las escuelas algunos estu- extendió desde el simboliza unidad y orgullo, lo grediente primordial. Grandes diantes decoran sus salones de amanecer hasta el cual aparento ser una batalla corporaciones cerveceras como clases y cocinan comidas mex- atardecer. entre un David mexicano derro- la Dos Equis, Tecate, Corona icanas básicas. Varios restau- Sorpresiva- tando a un Goliat frances”. y Anehuser-Bush (Budweiser) rantes deleitan a los consumi- mente y en contra En los Estados Unidos, el han tomado ventaja de la cre- dores con platillos mexicanos de toda predic- Cinco de Mayo ha obtenido más ciente comunidad hispana para (mole poblano, barbacoa, ta- ción los mexica- popularidad que en México. En comercializar este día festivo. males, burritos, enchiladas, nos derrotaron a los años 60’s “Activistas chi- Actualmente la conmemo- tostadas con guacamole, salsa el ejercito fran- canos acogieron la festividad ración de la batalla de Puebla picante) y disfrutan de sus be- ces, considerado como una forma de edificar no se considera como un día bidas favoritas (margaritas, en esa época dignidad entre México-Ameri- festivo nacional en México, cervezas, y tragos de tequila) como “el primer canos”, Jose Alamillo expreso, sin embargo, en el Estado de al ritmo de la música de Ma- ejercito del mun- Jose es un profesor en estudios Puebla donde se llevo a cabo la riachis. do”. El cual no étnicos en la Universidad de batalla, si es considerado un día –Marco Villa había conocido Washington en Pullman. festivo oficial. La comunidad and Tare Beltranchuc May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 15 Easter Day Banquet Celebration at SQ By Arnulfo Garcia and of Jesus Christ,” he added. to honor Jesus Christ who died as we come to share these pre- son said. Charles David Henry Michael Adams opened the for us is what gives reverence cious moments with other men S. Woige said, “It’s a blessed San Quentin News Staff Easter Day assemblage with to the spirit of the church. I of faith.” day. God is good all day. To- these words: “We are all shar- want to give a special thanks day serves as a reminder that The doors of the Catholic ing the love of Jesus Christ to Father George for his tire- there are times when we must Chapel were swung open to ap- here today. The church wel- less dedication to the men here “It’s the coming come to appreciate the sacri- proximately 250 invited guests comes all men of all races and at San Quentin.” fices that are taking place all on Sunday, April 3. They came all interfaith dominations to Stephen Pascascio said, “It’s together of people around us every day.” to dine, fellowship and listen share Jesus’ love and to rejoice a blessing to see everyone en- “Mother Earlene,” a regular to the smooth sounds of jazz in God’s love.” joying a pleasant meal and in the church and visitor to the various religious pianist Matthew Lee Jaspar, a After Father Williams the warmth it brings to share non-members that affairs at San Quentin, was quartet of Spanish musicians blessed the provisions, 12 line God’s blessings and to thank ecstatic. “I’m so happy to be and songs by Michael Adams. servers filled the plates of the Father George for his dedica- brings the gift of fellowshipping with the guys As Father George Williams invited guests. tion and tireless work.” sharing love...” during Easter Week. Every- welcomed the congregation, The Easter Banquet had spe- Jessie Skinner said, “It’s a body should come and join us he told them, “The doors to the cial meaning for many. Robert glorious day at San Quentin.” in the name of Jesus Christ.” church are always open and Tyler explained his feelings: “God is benevolent and mer- B. Chandler, a man of Jew- Marischal Brijido closed not just to come to eat food. “It’s the coming together of ciful,” said Bernard “Abdur– ish faith, said, “I’m here seek- with these remarks: “I feel We are here to serve all, at all people in the church and non- Raheem” Ballard, a Muslim ing the experiences of other blessed to see all the brothers times. members that brings the gift of who was invited to attend. religious worships.” come together from all around “Easter is the most impor- sharing love as a blessing.” “It’s interfaith events like this “I’m very grateful and the prison to be in one place tant celebration of the Catholic Roger Chavez commented, that show how gracious and blessed to be here with the for a worthwhile purpose. Church; it’s the Resurrection “The celebration of Easter and merciful God’s blessings are, men of San Quentin,” C. Jack- They are my rock.” Prisoners Learn Meaning Behind Good Friday By Juan Haines Choir. In the background four uled special guests were unable took innocent blood for man to working for God or doing God’s Staff Writer large palm leaves uniformly to get into the prison, and the have a way back to God.” work needs to be the driving decorated the wall, a reminder Final Four college basketball Ferrari Moody described force behind being a Christian. With his huge 1960s Afro of Jesus’ triumphal entry to Je- tournament was underway. Christ as “the trustworthy, the “Whatever God has placed in standing out in a sea of blue- rusalem on what became known Church leaders delivered a sinless leader of man.” front of you, complete your as- shirted inmates, Greg Dixon’s as Palm Sunday. A tall wooden short sermon about the signifi- Moody addressed the power signment,” Holloway said. “Peo- soft keyboard melody gave San cross, nailed to the back wall, cance of Good Friday. of being washed in the incor- ple are fickle. They like you to- Quentin’s Protestant Chapel invoked Jesus’ death by cru- Trent Capell and Michael ruptible blood of Jesus. “Have day, and they’re gone tomorrow. a type of pleasantness rarely cifixion. A placard hung atop, Hampton focused on the power you been washed in the blood of Just keep walking for Jesus.” found in a prison setting. slight askew, reading, “Jesus of redemption. the Lord?” he asked. “The deeds Holloway’s sermon examined Pats on the back and hugging King of the Jews.” They let the men know the in- of the earth do not matter, if sin, and he admonished the au- repeatedly took place as the The services began with all escapable nature of sin and the you haven’t been washed in the dience to understand that com- men-in-blue mingled about in the men standing with heads gift Jesus Christ gave to every- blood of Jesus.” pleting their assignment could the place of worship. bowed. A fiery sermon spoken one through blood sacrifice that Other church leaders added to “cost you your personal posses- Adding to the relaxing mood, in Spanish caused all hands to created the covenant between the meaning of Good Friday and sions, your family or even your Albert Flagg’s keyboard and a rise skyward. It ended with a God and man, allowing every- the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. life.” sharp, yet muffled bass guitar long applause. one entrance to the kingdom of Holloway then took the po- Holloway praised Chaplain filled the air while dozens upon Again hands rose while the heaven. dium and began his sermon Mardi Jackson, the first Afri- dozens of incarcerated men men were swaying in rhythm to “The blood. Why is the blood that took the church-goers from can-American woman to work waited for Good Friday services the choir singing halloo-lo-yah. so significant?” James Cavitt Genesis to the crucifixion of Je- in the prison’s Garden Chapel. to begin. Elder Derrick Holloway gave asked. “Why did it take the sus Christ. “That’s got to be the work of Seven microphones were thanks to all of the men-in-blue blood of Christ to make a differ- Holloway emphasized “com- God,” he said. evenly posted on the stage for for coming to Good Friday ser- ence? Without the remission of pleting your assignment,” as a The sermon ended with the the 25-member Garden Chapel vices, even though the sched- blood, there is no forgiving. It way to let the men know that singing of Amazing Grace. CDCR Losing Battle in Disrupting Cellphones in Prisons

By Kevin D. Sawyer leader in the prison phone in- But the prisons where MAS (CCST) to analyze the issue of “Managed access as pro- Associate Editor dustry, has the contract with is operating was not disclosed contraband cellphones and the posed will not do the job that CDCR to provide inmate call- because of “safety and secu- viability of proposed technolo- the CDCR wants done,” a 71- The state’s prison system is ing service and MAS technolo- rity reasons,” she said. gy to manage cellphone access page CCST study said. losing its battle to disrupt cell- gy. Taxpayers, however, do not AP reported the state in- in state prisons. “MAS is not the only tech- phone use by inmates in its 34 pay for its cost, according to stalled MAS “to prevent un- “As for the proposed MAS nology that could be used,” the facilities, the Associated Press the AP. The company “recoups authorized cellphone signals recently contracted for by the CCST wrote. “Several other reported. from reaching their destina- CDCR for managing cellphone technological options, includ- The California Department tion.” access in prisons, our conclu- ing some that were identified of Corrections and Rehabilita- However, the technology sions are clear: the technol- during the development of this tion (CDCR) has so far failed in used previously to carry cell- ogy shows promise, but it is report, should be considered, its attempt to block cellphone phone traffic switched over to not ready for deployment,” the tested and weighed before signals in the prisons, AP said. the new Long Term Evolution CCST stated in a 2012 letter. committing to a full invest- Because of rapid technological (LTE), 4G technology, which ment in MAS.” advances, the CDCR may have transmits voice calls over a The CCST letter conclud- to shift gears and find new wireless network, and the pris- ed, “…we believe California methods to combat illegal cell- ons’ systm does not capture “...we believe must plan carefully how best phone use by inmates. Wi-Fi transmissions, the AP California must to manage the issue of con- “It’s been difficult to make reported. traband cellphones in prisons, sure the technology can han- CDCR no longer plans to plan carefully and invest in research and de- dle those upgrades,” CDCR expand MAS technology in its velopment that will produce a spokeswoman Dana Simas remaining 16 prisons, the ar- how best to system which meets the needs told the AP, adding, “Wheth- ticle noted. manage the issue of the state through deploy- er we’re going to scrap it or GTL spokeswoman Megan ment of mature and tested whether we can find solutions Humphreys said in an email to of contraband technology.” to these issues, that will be de- the AP that the company can- The AP reported that the termined later.” not comment because it is cur- cellphones in CDCR has asserted that Glob- CDCR reported in 2011 that rently in discussions with the prisons...” al Tel-Link will be able to it had run tests using Man- CDCR. keep up with developing tech- aged Access Systems (MAS) In 2012 state legislators nology. technology to interrupt con- its cost from the fees inmates raised concern over whether The CCST said the pre- The number of cellphones traband cellphone signals at pay…using (GTL) land lines.” GTL’s professed MAS technol- liminary testing conducted in confiscated in California state two of its prisons. At that time In 2014, Deputy CDCR Press ogy would be able to keep pace California at the time was “ex- prisons has dropped, the AP there were plans to have MAS Secretary Terry Thornton said, with industry development. tremely limited in scope and reported. In 2011 there were installed “at all institutions by “Eighteen CDCR prisons have Members of the state Senate scale,” proving only a concept about 15,000 phones confis- 2015.” Managed Access System tech- asked the California Council trial and not a full pilot pro- cated. In 2015 there were less Global Tel-Link (GTL), the nology installed and in use.” on Science and Technology gram. than 8,000 phones seized. Page 16 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Topic of Discussion: Felons’ Voting Rights Part 2 By Rahsaan Thomas in Selma, Ala., in which many generation to generation.” Journalism Guild Chairman people were attacked for par- Many provision of the Vot- ticipating. His leadership and ing Rights Act of 1965 expire. There was a time when it courage led to the passing of Yard Talk The expiration date was reset took rampaging terrorists to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, in 2006 until 2031, according to keep people from the polls, now which granted protections that voting changed. We had Black one goal and the game is over, Wikipedia. it’s voter apathy discouraging allowed Blacks to return to the senators, members of Congress: instead of pushing for more is- many Americans from the bal- polls. Harim Revels, P.B.S. Pitchback, sues.” lot box. A Yard Talk panel met in San and Ida B. Wells. They changed Jamie Sanchez: “You would “They have to have Emancipation left Blacks as Quentin State Prison’s Lower the whole Southern society in be able to get more votes when the majority in the South. Freed Yard gym to brainstorm on how 10-20 years. Then President more people are affected. They the impression that Blacks in five Southern states to get people back to using this Rutherford B. Hayes pulled out have to have the impression outnumbered Whites. During right many died to make avail- the federal troops and southern- that their vote really matters their vote really this period, which was around able. ers started attacking the vote, because it really makes a differ- matters because 1867, African-Americans start- Q. How can we motivate so we know that the power is ence.” ed electing Black senators, ac- people to go to the polls? there. We have to bring folks Johnson: “We are not the it really makes cording to the history book John “Yahya” Johnson: back into the remembrance. spearheads or champions of leg- “Enduring Vision” by Paul S. “The solution is simple: know- “Although we don’t like many islation -- even though we made a difference” Boyer, et al. ing the power is in the people. things about the system, if you these things happen by power The Klu Klux Klan was Apathy in colored communities can get enough people galva- of the vote. The conception of Q. What do you think about formed in Tennessee back in is because we show our discon- nized around an issue, you can these things came from parts of the fact that certain parts of 1866. It used violence and ter- tent and nothing gets done. We change it.” the system, and we became the the Voters Right Act have to rorism to stop Blacks from vot- have to start teaching the peo- Eric Curtis: “There have assistants. When we realize we be renewed? ing, according to “Enduring ple what the power of voting re- been things that changed – peo- have the same power, we can Johnson: “The implica- Vision.” ally means. ple of color were able to do it – make things happen.” tions of the Freedom and Vot- Much later Dr. Martin Luther “When the slaves were freed the Rockefeller law, Proposition Curtis: “Basically sports fig- ers’ Right Acts are we have to King Jr. led non-violent protests in the South, look at how much 36. However, it’s like we score ures and entertainment figures be protected by law to have an are listened to more often; they inalienable right granted to us, can do blogs and web sites to and that’s insane. Why haven’t get people to vote.” we passed a law that makes the Inmate Computer Usage and Johnson: “Rock the Vote Freedom Act and Voters’ Right was big, but on a more Act permanent?” sustainable level, it takes us Sanchez: “I think the reason Laudatory Chronos in a grassroots movement to they do laws in that way is be- start organizations…we have cause they don’t want to lose By Angelo Falcone to make this a profession. Start control. They want to be able to Journalism Guild Writer with making social institutions take it away.” for change. We can’t rely on If we aren’t using our right to Updated security protocols MAC Corner stars; we need to have things vote, maybe they already have will affect all inmate workers in place we can sustain from taken it away. and clerks who use computers document is a security threat, cludes staff computers. Instead as well as inmate workers with there will be no adverse action of Access, staff will use Share pay numbers. taken at this time.” Point and inmates may only use In a meeting with Chief When it comes to inmate Microsoft Word, Excel, and Ac- Texas Law Helps Deputy Warden Kelly Mitch- groups and ILTAGs, Mitchell robat.” ell, the MAC Executive Coun- said, “Inmates cannot be in- Inmate computers will no cil learned that all computers volved in making chronos or longer be connected to local Parolee Reentry for inmate use must be modi- having control of waiting lists printers. “All printing must go fied, tasks involving chronos for programs or have access to through staff. We will be tran- By David B. Le still deny people with crimi- and waiting lists must be in the any type of database, inmate lo- sitioning to central printers Journalism Guild Writer nal histories without violating hands of staff sponsors, local cators, or attendance sheets for accessible by state employees the Fair Housing Act accord- printing will no longer be sup- programs. only,” said Mitchell. Former prisoners have a ing to the newspaper. ported, and inmates with pay “Inmates may not print or Concerning inmates with better chance of finding rental Testifying for the bill, Doug- numbers will be audited in the have any identification infor- paid job assignments, Mitchell housing in Texas, thanks to a las Smith of the Texas Crimi- near future. mation about other inmates, said, “We will be conducting new state law. nal Justice Coalition said he “We reviewed the hard drives including names, CDCR num- audits of inmates with pay num- The new law exempts land- had a criminal record and of about 40 inmate computers bers, housing, and race or bers. Job assignments take pre- lords from civil liability for recounted a conversation he and found personal files,” said ethnicity on their computers. cedence. Inmates may not par- renting to people with crimi- had with a landlord: “I asked Mitchell. “No personal inmate Inmates are also not allowed ticipate in groups during their nal records, the Austin Chron- if they ever made exceptions. documents should be on any to have control over other in- work hours. An inmate is paid icle reported in January. He said, ‘No! If we made an computer. This includes per- mates’ documents, especially to be at work, not at a group. If Even with the help of HB exception for you, a White sonal files and documents such those that can affect a release an inmate is attending groups 1510, formerly incarcerated person, and not someone else, as letters, homework, canteen date or Milestone credits. during his work hours and he people find it difficult to at- then we’d be violating the Fair and package lists, legal work “Also, Microsoft Access will is getting paid, that is fraud and tain housing because of hous- Housing Act.’ I was shocked.” and letters to victims. Unless a no longer be supported. This in- he will be issued a 115.” ing shortages. Landlords can Smith paroled in 2014 and reported he had been living in his parents’ garage apartment. CDCR to Expand Inmate Firefighting Program City Councilman Greg Casar said increasing more California’s new corrections health problems, cautioned Accessory Dwelling Units secretary says he plans to use Berkeley Professor Frank would improve affordable more county jail prisoners in- Zimring, who studied Califor- housing opportunities for ev- stead of state prisoners for the nia prisons for over 30 years. eryone. firefighters program, The As- Kernan could have extended “We’re in a landlord’s mar- sociated Press reported. the program to include first- ket,” said Casar. “If we don’t “As we expand to the coun- time offenders with certain have more than enough hous- ty level, I think it’s going to violent convictions who have ing, landlords are going to be able to keep our fire camp “remained disciplinary-free, have that advantage. It’s really population at a right, reason- continued positive program- important for us to have more able level,” said Scott Kernan, ming, and clear of mental than enough housing for our who recently took over as sec- health issues,” inmate Alvin population so that landlords retary of the Department of Timbol said in an interview. have to compete for tenants.” Corrections and Rehabilita- Inmate Somveng Thongsy Isa Arizola said she had tion. commented that it is rehabili- rented an Accessory Dwelling Kernan said he has made tation, job skills, and respon- Unit with her family without agreements with 12 county sibility that will help give him incident until the new land- sheriffs and four more are a better transition back into lord asked her to file a new pending to send county in- society. application in which Arizola’s mates to the state’s fire camp Both Timbol and Thongsy criminal record was revealed. program. Courtesy of CDCR concluded that Kernan’s de- At that point, she and her fam- About 40 percent of the Firefighters working in the field cision diminished opportuni- ily were asked by the landlord approximately 3,700 inmate ties for people like themselves to move out . firefighters committed man- inmates are reviewed for any the firefighter program. who are working toward their “My kids are suffering the slaughter, assaults, batter- risk of danger that they may County jail inmates may rehabilitation. consequence of what I did sev- ies, or robberies. However, pose before they are sent to have active drug or mental –David B. Le eral years later,” Arizola said. May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 17 Navigating the New World Through Virtual Reality By Juan Haines quest and family by probing into Staff Writer a willingness to be open-minded while journeying into the un- For someone who has never Book Review known. experienced 21st century tech- This is quite different than nology, understanding new tech- more than the circumstances of about these convicts, seeking Cline’s characters who leave the nologies, like the internet, can be the game. adventure: every one says their “real world” in order to immerse challenging. But placing these Nevertheless, Wade finally quest must be based on finding themselves into a make-believe new developments in the context understands reality: solutions to anti-social behavior. place. of a world from which you are I come to see my rig for what They want to be do-gooders. Hans in Journey to the Center separated while incarcerated is it was: an elaborate contraption Two classic stories—As I Lay of the Earth contemplates the even harder. for deceiving my sense, to allow Dying by William Faulkner and quest toward the center of the Ernest Cline explores these el- me to live in a world that didn’t Journey to the Center of the earth with his uncle: ements in his book Ready Player exist. Each component of my rig Earth by Jules Verne—also use It must be that a man who One (2011), in which he touches was a bar in the cell where I had well-developed characters to shuts himself up between four on themes of individuality, com- willingly imprisoned myself. discuss social conflicts through walls must lose the faculty of as- ing of age, and technology. Some San Quentin inmates adventure and quest. sociating ideas and words. How Set in 2045, the story revolves are also gamers who, like Cline, The premise of Faulkner’s sto- many persons condemned to the around a future internet called have created their own avatars ry is quite simple: after family horrors of solitary confinement OASIS. Its creator, the reclu- Art3mis, wants to be the person in images seemingly in perfect matriarch Addie Bundren dies, have gone mad — simply be- sive and wealthy bachelor James to chance the world for the bet- rehabilitative form. Everyday the father, Anse, and his children cause the thinking faculties have Donavan Halliday, passes away, ter. Parzial’s sidekick, Aech, is San Quentin gamers sit around want to honor her dying wish to lain dormant! leaving behind his entire $240 on the quest for himself. with their thick reference books, be buried a long way from home, These interesting works of billion fortune to anyone who The characters in Ready Play- making up fantasy worlds that Jefferson City. literature seem consistent with can solve a puzzle he has built er One bond together in an effort have all-imaginable technology, The character interaction in Cline’s theme that is a rich and inside the internet. to beat the powerful corpora- defined magic they know and As I Lay Dying holds onto a layered storyline of social re- Wearing a virtual reality tions. understand. Their avatars have dysfunctional Southern world sponsibility. mask, the main protagonist, Cline’s use of gaming is an im- superpowers that include force- view that draws sympathy for all Ready Player One takes on Wade Watts, enters the digital portant element in this futuristic fields and invisibility. the Bundrens. The long journey global warming, corporate world as an avatar named Parzial fantasy novel. They lay their cardboard gave Faulkner apt opportunity greed, and poverty in a way for and plays a game to solve the It creates two distinct worlds: worlds on tables and go on ad- to dissect family values. Read- readers to identify. Even though puzzle. the virtual world of OASIS, ventures that get them away from ers learn the Bundrens, in spite the story occurs at a time and in Parzial wants to solve Halli- and reality. Cline’s characters the stale life of incarceration; of challenges, are a family that a place unfamiliar to most incar- day’s puzzle, get the money and struggle with this dichotomy, but an activity easily understood, sticks together, no matter what. cerated readers, it earns a “read become someone of importance, come to the realization that real- looking from the inside and In Journey to the Center of it” mark because of its fast pace while the girl he cares about, ity, and the people in it, matter out. The most interesting thing the Earth, Jules Verne combines that keeps the mind working. Tomorrowland Inspires Dreamers to Change the World By Jonathan Chiu movie highlights are global Staff Writer warming, terrorism, and wealth disparity. The story’s villain is Finding solutions to Earth’s Watch This Governor Nix (Hugh Laurie). biggest problems is a major He feels such a sense of hope- theme of Tomorrowland, a Dis- socially conscious movie that for the future without taking lessness for the world that his neyland attraction and name of pits worldwide epidemics steps to make concrete changes solution is to destroy Earth an alternate dimension movie. against dreamers seeking to right now.” with all of its inhabitants. Casey Newton, the main change the world. “I hear you,” said Rahsaan “Ironically, the bad guy character in Tomorrowland, is San Quentin Reviews meets Thomas. “But you have to wasn’t wrong about his assess- recruited to save the world by in the lot between the Edu- hope. It goes back to that say- ment of the world,” I said. “We Athena, a child android. When cation Department and San ing, ‘Whether you think you do face epidemics of starvation murderous robots try to kill Quentin News to discuss the can or think you can’t, you’re in Third World countries while them, they turn to Frank Walk- movie’s message of hope. right.’ You create your own the United States faces a rise in er (George Clooney), a former “I feel cynical today,” said self-fulfilling prophecy. And if Type II diabetes due to obesity. citizen of Tomorrowland, to Emile DeWeaver. “Tomorrow- you have no hope, you’re hope- I like the parallels between To- help them complete their jour- land portrays hope as salvation, less; then there are no solu- morrowland and real life. Peo- ney. but it nags at me that hope can tions.” ple try to fix the problems, but Tomorrowland is a fun and sometimes be an excuse to pine Some of the problems the they’re hindered by politics and people with money and power wanting to keep them.” who recruits dreamers. “I ap- Juan Meza agreed with me preciate the plug, but are you Soledad’s Veteran Service Office that bureaucracy and politics saying I’m a little girl android?” get in the way of many so- “Man,” Thomas says and lutions. “And we see this in bounces to the edge of his seat. Assists Reentry Inmates prison. If I designed a positive, In the movie there’s a strange healing program that works, I dynamic between the android By Tommy Bryant “Back at Base.” and their dependants receive may never be able to implement girl and George Clooney’s Journalism Guild Writer Lytle reflects, “I think over $15 million in benefits it because of the bureaucracy. character, who fell in love with because I was in prison, I for the past 10 years. It makes me think about the the android when he was a boy. The Veteran Service Office couldn’t deal directly with The Monterey County Vet- struggle to educate the public “What’s up with George Cloo- at Correctional Training Fa- them. I was dealing with them eran Service Officers assist about restorative justice. How ney holding a torch for a 12- cility in Soledad is assisting through the mail, the only pro- the prison office in submitting can we introduce restorative year-old girl? It was weird.” incarcerated vets in obtaining cess I had.” paperwork after reviewing ideas into a system that’s insti- We erupt with agreement. benefits. Lytle eventually transferred claims. tutionally retributive? That’s a DeWeaver said, between fits Ed Munis had worked as a to CTF Salinas Valley. This is “And plus we can access big problem, and I don’t know of laughter, “I felt like some- lobbyist for veterans’ issues where he heard about the Vet- and check status on appeals if we have a solution.” times they were about to kiss, in Sacramento before his in- eran Service Office. on the outside,” says George “The solution is easy.” because the music and the mo- carceration. He was recruited The office assisted Lytle in Dixon of the Monterey County Thomas throws his hands in the ment was there! What is wrong by originator inmate Michael obtaining his disability com- office, adding that they are air, exaggerating his hyperbole. with Disney?” “Doc” Piper. With the war- pensation. He was entitled to here to assist all veterans, not “We have dreamers like Emile “Nothing is wrong with Dis- den’s approval, they started $1,000 a month for exposure to judge them. ‘Dreamweaver,’ who thought ney,” Meza says, straight face. the Veteran Affairs Office 10 to Agent Orange and also suf- “An awful lot of people that up the Prison Renaissance to “What’s so weird about a dude years ago. fered from PTSD after serving are in the VA ... that are not too build a culture of community, obsessed with internet, lives Inmate Jerry Lytle recalled, in Vietnam. excited about helping out con- mentorship, collaboration and alone, keeps older women out “In 2004, I met up with another Due to his current incarcer- victed felons, so that’s been a rehabilitation. And it’s fo- of his house but takes in run- veteran who was getting ben- ation, Lytle can only receive struggle,” acknowledged Mu- cused on recruiting the biggest aways? Totally normal.” efits, and he said, ‘You know 10 percent of that amount or nis. “So far, we’ve prevailed.” dreamers: artists and educa- I get the last word. “So the you should get your benefits. about $100 per month. “I plan on paroling ... con- tors.” message of the movie is: ‘Wake You’re entitled to them.’” Similar offices assist incar- tinuing to do this until ... they The members of SQ Review the dreamers inside of you.’ We Filing for the disability cerated vets in 23 other states bury me,” says inmate Munis. laugh, and we close out the day all need to come together to benefits never seemed to get and all California prisons via “Back at Base” is part of a telling jokes. save ourselves, this planet, and anywhere, reported Krista mail, Almanzan reported. series broadcasting on seven “Wait,” DeWeaver says to to create a world where George Almanzan on radio station The office has helped about NPR radio stations throughout Thomas, whose comment emu- Clooney can fall in love with KAZU in an NPR series titled 1,000 incarcerated veterans the country. lates the android in the movie adult robots.” Page 18 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 San Quentin Giants and A’s Get Revamp

By Marcus Henderson through multiple fielding drills ment. On the streets, you really Staff Writer to test their baseball IQ and me- don’t get that. With positive chanics. reinforcement, you gain the More than 35 incarcerated “You can be athletic and tal- confidence that you can do any- men displayed their skills and ented, but you have to know thing.” athleticism at San Quentin’s what to do in real time on the The younger men were not 2016 baseball try-outs. field,” said Isaiah “Raheem” the only ones that came out to The San Quentin A’s and Thompson-Bonilla. “For the show and prove. The 52-year- Giants coaching staff observed infielders, they should know old Robert Hollis has skills in many new players with raw what play to turn in any given the infield that might put him on talent. situation. The outfielders need the roster. “This is one is our biggest to know their cut-off points.” “I wanted to leave my mark turnouts, since they opened The mechanics consisted of: on second base and show the West Block,” said Giants spon- the proper way to grip the ball youngsters that I’ve still got it,” sor and Head Coach Elliot and transition to a smooth throw, said Hollis. “I pray that every- Smith. “We lost a lot of players how to hold the bat, laying down thing goes well for everybody.” from last year and we want to Photo by Sam Robinson a bunt and base-running. Now the task for the coaches replace that talent.” “I grew up around baseball; is to decide if there is enough The influx of youth offenders SQ Coaches Elliot Smith and Steve Reichardt I played in junior league,” said talent to build two teams – the made up the majority of players Aaron “Duddah” Sanders. “I’m A’s and Giants -- or just one. fighting for a spot on the teams’ going home. Steve Reichardt said, “It was here to show the best of my abil- “We are looking to have a 17-man roster. “This program teaches you good to work with the first-time ities. If I’m up to par, I can make team with integrity and cohe- “As a youth, being active is a cooperation and that teaches players. The key points we will something out of this.” siveness,” said A’s Head Coach part of our rehabilitation,” said you jobs skills. Because when focus on are our pitching staff, Player hopeful Vance “DT” John “Yahya” Parratt. “We will Cordiare McDonald. “Playing you do get home you will have fundamentals on defense, and Farland said, “I’d rather play have more team management and talking to outside teams will to work with other people.” discipline when at bat.” than watch the game. The train- this year. We will come out fo- help me restructure my life for A’s volunteer and Manager The energetic players went ing given is positive reinforce- cused to go undefeated.” Six-Mile Run Brings Out Runners of All Ages Over loud cheers and con- ing me the mental and physical great story,” said Sovern. “I New member Tommy Lee to let someone older than me stant encouragement, 70-year- strength to endure,” said Tay- think it’s terrific that these Wickerd finished his first six- beat me, like Larry Ford and old Steve Wilson completed the lor. “I notice people are getting guys set goals and accomplish mile run at 48:07 for 11th. Mr. Wilson. No, for real, my San Quentin 1000 Mile Club’s excited to see me accomplish them.” “I decided 14 years ago to goal is to finish the marathon. annual Six-Mile Run with the these goals, and that gives me a After the GQ article, some eliminate all negativity from Those guys are my inspiration.” time of 62:17. chance to give witness. of the runners had mixed emo- life,” said Wickerd. “So doing The March 25 event saw two “The guys wouldn’t let me “It’s starting to motivate peo- tions about media coverage. something good in prison and veteran runners struggle and quit,” said Wilson. “Too many ple to come out and accomplish “I thought 95 percent of the with support is priceless. My drop out at the halfway mark, people get in their 60s and their goals, and that motivates article was good. It talked about wife pushes me to be the son while four walk-ons pushed stop doing things. They just sit me. People I don’t even know rehabilitation and the team’s ca- my mom and dad raised me to their way through to the finish around the tables playing cards are starting to ask me for run- maraderie,” said Chris Schuh- be.” line. and dominoes. If you think ning pointers, and that is hum- macher. Troy Dunmore, who is 52 and “These events are for the you’re old, you will be.” bling.” “I was disappointed because following his doctor’s orders to yard. More people should come Wilson has been running less Community volunteer Coach I thought it took the easy route exercise, placed 13th at 49:39. out and test their mettle against than a year and has become the Kevin Rumon said, “He makes and played into the criminal “I have a heart condition the time,” said long-time vet- club’s inspiration. it look easy. It’s like Stephen stereotypes. We all know what and I mainly run for that,” said eran Tone Evans. “I had triple bypass surgery Curry -- you know the guy is we are in for, but most of the Dunmore. “But my goal is not –Marcus Henderson a few years back,” said John working, but he makes it look guys committed their crimes 15 Levin, Wilson’s running part- easy.” or 20 years ago. I believe these ner. “I figured if he can go out Reporter Doug Sovern of ra- guys have mended their lives there and run; I knew I could dio news station KCBS 740 AM and are very remorseful and not do it.” and 106.9 FM came to cover the that same people.” After weeks of rain and a event. Schuhmacher placed fifth cancellation, the 24 runners “That guy Taylor runs with a time of 43:10. were excited about finally start- smooth. I ran back when I was Chris Skull, who sees run- ing the Six-Mile Run. in school, but I wasn’t that ning as a power to transform, Front-runner Markelle Taylor smooth,” said Sovern. took second at 40:02. was on the road to perfection as He said the idea to cover the “This was a great experi- predicted. He shattered the six- 1000 Mile Club came when his ence,” said Skull. “Running mile record by three and half editor read the February GQ puts everything in perspec- minutes with the time of 34:23, article on the San Quentin 2015 tive for me -- my frustrations beating 37:56. marathon. Sovern did not read and disappointments. This This is the third record Tay- it; he wanted to experience the feels good. I was a person who lor has broken this year. race for himself. wouldn’t finish anything; so Photo by Krissi KKhokhokashvili “I thank Jehovah God for giv- “I thought this would be a this is a great feat for me.” Member Markelle Taylor running the 6 mile race Univ. Pacific Comes to SQ for Tennis Exhibition The University of the Pacific nervousness and fear,” said S.Q. Verbeek shared that he had above the net, each about a rack- The March 26 event ended Tigers tennis team broke barri- member Clay Long. “When the best four years of his ca- et length high. The higher the with a spirited exhibition game ers and built bonds through an they see something different, reer in Stockton and that it is balls are hit offensively gives between Pacific’s top four play- exhibition game with San Quen- then they don’t want to leave. I a very real and sincere place the opposing player enough ers, giving the small crowd a tin’s Inside Tennis Team. think it’s important to share our that shaped him as a person time to regroup defensively. show of quality play. “Prison life is a part of the stories.” He also said their com- and player. The college also has The lower the balls are hit cuts “It was really nice of these American society that most ing in “helps me to be a better something else to smile about: down on your opponents’ reac- college kids to come out and people don’t know about, and citizen.” it just hired former NBA star tion times. show us love,” said S.Q. tennis if you think your students are The Tigers were ranked 56 in Damon Stoudamire as its head “It’s about skills develop- member Chris Schuhmacher. highly educated, then they need the NCAA. They have recruited basketball coach. ment, toughness and character,” All the members of the S.Q. to come here and understand players from around the world, “You are always representing said Redondo. “Some matches team were moved to be reunit- this,” said Pacific Athletic Di- including India, Brazil and Ec- something bigger than yourself. can take three or four hours, so ed with volunteer Leslie Lava, rector Ted Lellan. uador. You represent the culture and you have to be in physical shape. who brought the Tigers in. Lava After an hour drive from Their star player, senior Sam the program,” Verbeek added. That’s why we train with a lot of broke her ankle picking up one Stockton, the Tigers started the Verbeek, is from the Nether- Pacific Head Coach Ryan visualizations and meditation.” of her 70-pound show dogs. day by partnering with the mem- lands. He plans to turn pro after Redondo shared his experience The tennis players then She came down the Lower Yard bers of the San Quentin tennis graduation. and deep passion for the game played king of the court, where ramp with a smile and an ankle team for doubles matches. The “It’s refreshing coming here. by taking the men through a about five teams faced off. The boot. lively games found the guys You can get caught up in your workshop. first one to two points stay on “I made it,” said Lava. “I bonding, being openly support- own bubble,” said Verbeek. In They performed hitting and the court, then the next team couldn’t let the team down.” ive and offering congratulations San Quentin, “You get exposed serving drills. Coach taught steps up. The team with the By the look of joy on every- with each great play or return. to a different part of life you about net zones, where you most wins becomes the king of one’s face, she didn’t. “Most visitors come here with don’t get on campus.” have to visualize invisible lines the court. –Marcus Henderson May 2016 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 19 SQ Kings Win Over Bittermen in Season Opener

By Rahsaan Thomas to 57-53 with one minute left in Journalism Guild Chairman the fourth. Ryan tried a three-pointer The San Quentin Kings bas- from the top of the key, but it ketball team held off a fourth- missed. The Kings failed to quarter surge to beat the visit- score and Ryan missed another ing Bittermen in the surprise trey. season-opener, 61-53. Bittermen Timmy Hall “They got out to an early lead fouled-out intentionally grab- and held on for dear life,” said bing Holloway to stop the Trailblazer Ryan Williams, clock. Holloway sank one free who also plays for the Bitter- throw, increasing the lead to men. “We’ll put our feet un- 58-53. der us and come back ready to Bittermen Rob Enber shot rock.” for a three from the top of the Before the game, seven visit- key that clanked off the rim ing Bittermen trooped onto the and landed in the hands of King San Quentin yard on March 18, Tare “Cancun” Beltran. He expecting the Kings to be there broke down court to score his ready to play the season-open- sixth point, putting the game er. File Photo out of reach for the Bittermen “It feels fantastic,” said SQ Kings’ Demond Lewis (left) and Bittermen Timmy Hall guarding Oris Pep Williams as time ran out. Williams. “We’ve been waiting “It’s a good start,” said all winter to come back here.” The Kings jumped out to a finished with 23. points scored on back-to-back Beltran. “New guys, new However, nobody told the 30-10 second-quarter lead with For Quimel, a junior high plays including an and-one and chemistry. My prediction is Kings that the Bittermen were the shooting of Demond Lewis basketball coach, it was his first a floater. The score was Kings we’re going to be undefeated coming. More than half the and Oris “Pep” Williams, who time playing inside a prison. 49-34 at the end of the quarter. this year.” Kings were locked in their cells finished with team highs of 15 “People can tell you or give “It feels great being out here King Charles Sylvester stood watching March Madness on and 12 points, respectively. you a scouting report, but with the guys,” said Lewis. beside Beltran, nodding his their 13-inch personal TV sets. Toward the end of the period, you’ll never experience it un- “We added nice new pieces and head in agreement. The two While King Head Coach Ryan hit a three-pointer while til it’s game speed,” said Qui- it made us better.” guards borrow a movie title to Orlando Harris scrambled to falling to the ground. That ig- mel. “Basketball has been re- Lewis was referring to call themselves Rush Hour for assemble his team, the Bitter- nited a Bittermen 10-2 run with ally really good to me. This is new King members Derrick their coordinated fast breaks men watched the SQ Warriors new recruit Ron Quimel con- an opportunity to give back to Holloway, D. “Zayd” Nickolson, and slight resemblance to Chris tryouts and chatted with fellow tributing an assist. The score the game that I love and make and Whitney Vardel Jackson. Tucker and Jackie Chan. basketball enthusiasts. By the was 32-20 Kings at the half somebody’s day.” They played their first game in Bittermen and former semi- time the sun broke through the after Ryan scored through con- In the third, Lewis dropped a white uniforms with the gold pro Will Wheatly was held to overcast, the Kings were in uni- tact, but missed the free throw. trey to help push the King’s lead crown crests on them. eight points. Quimel and Ted form, ready to go. He had 13 first-half points and back up. Oris followed with five The Bittermen closed the gap Salviet also dropped eight each. SQ Warriors’ New Season Brings New Talent Twenty-three incarcerated you.” team, averaging about 9 points basketball players showed up in Potential new re- and 5 rebounds a game. He the Lower Yard to compete for a cruits included Don- played with NBA player Tyreke chance to play for the San Quen- nelly Thompson, a Evans at the alma mater of tin Warriors. muscular guy who Derrick Rose, who now plays The group included most of played youth league for the Chicago Bulls. His team last year’s team and several new ball, and David Silva, made the NCAA tournament’s guys eager to earn one of the 12 an 18-year-old who Sweet 16, but he didn’t get to spots. would have started play because of a suspension Making the Warriors is a huge his prison time in a over off-court problems. Playing opportunity. They play against higher security level for the Warriors represents an former NBA players from the prison, if not for the opportunity for redemption. Golden State Warriors coaching Youthful Offender He missed a chance to go to staff, as well as former college Program. Under this the NBA because of “not being basketball players and former new law, incarcer- focused. I had no father figure; overseas pros. They have even ated teenagers are nobody taught me anything played active college teams like sent to lower-level growing up in Oakland,” said

St. Mary’s and Pacific Union. prisons instead of File Photo Simekins. “I’d tell kids to stay “It would mean a lot. It would maximum-security Warriors’ Luke Walton playing against the SQ Warriors focused. Don’t lose track of mean I accomplished a feat over facilities. your goals, and listen to good 23 other dudes. It means I have “It’s a fantastic opportunity – Thompson had a quiet, solid a former John Marshall High mentors or you’ll be in my posi- some talent,” said Edward Moss. better than being on a level three game, playing good defensive School player, who made the tion – all this talent and I ended No one is guaranteed a spot, with all that serious mentality,” and scoring a couple of baskets, team. up in prison.” said SQ Warrior Head Coach said Silva. but Silva stood out to Wright. Noticeably missing was Warriors from last year who Daniel Wright. “I don’t care who The tryouts consisted of full- Silva put himself in position to 6-foot-7 former Memphis Uni- re-earned their spots included: you were last year. You have to court scrimmage games, com- make easy baskets by being the versity player Mack Simekins. Allan McIntosh, Harry “ATL” earn your spot.” plete with referees. first one back on offense. The 26-year-old was on a visit Smith, Montrell “Mad De- Wright listed the qualifica- “Your game isn’t judged by “I didn’t think he was going to during the tryouts. fense” Vines, Rafael Cuevas, tions for being a Warrior as: what you did in pickup games,” make it, but for what he did, he Simekins still made the team Jason Jones and Anthony Am- having a great attitude, dominat- said Wright. “The game is earned a spot,” said Wright. because of his experience, mons. ing a game without scoring, and judged with officials and shot The tryouts ended with a height and talent. He said he was Other new Warriors are Four- making him say, “I got to keep clocks.” slam-dunk by Tevin Fournette, the sixth man on the Memphis nette, Maurice Gipson, Darrell Benford, Harold Malbrouga and Dave Lee. Benford said, “I’m excited. Inside Tennis Team’s Season Opener I came at the beginning of last year and didn’t make tryouts. By Marcus Henderson ented women, who have sup- Metairie and the women in yourself and your partner. I like everybody’s attitude and Staff Writer ported the program for years. said coming in gives them the “It felt like a visit,” said how they move the ball around. The women said they came chance to learn about the guys’ Paul Oliver, SQ tennis team I like how everybody plays The San Quentin tennis pro- to share their passion for the life journeys and how their member. “I thank San Quen- together. I like how (outside gram opened its 2016 season sport of tennis, and it’s about games have improved. tin for providing this outlet. teams) come in here and devote with intensive fun and compet- community involvement. “It’s always a good time Playing is a great stress re- their time-- it gives me hope itive games of mixed-doubles. “I always wondered what playing here,” adds Metairie. liever. It’s a thinking game, that society doesn’t look at us “You always want to have it was like in prison,” said “You don’t always get that in and that helps me keep my like we’re just prisoners.” a good match no matter who Metairie. “I never wanted to go the outside world.” wits. The whole program is Lee said, “Hopefully as a you’re playing,” said volunteer to prison. Then I saw the tennis As the volunteers packed up about being positive and good point guard, I can dictate the Eddie Metairie. “Even if it’s documentary, when the double their rackets and shook hands, health.” flow of our game. I’ll be able to doctors or lawyers, you ap- champions Bryan Brothers the goals for the season were The March 19 opener lived help keep the team under con- proach the game the same.” came in. Then I thought, that’s set: to have respect for each up to its excitement with good trol – cool, calm and collected.” Metairie came with three tal- was a good way to get in.” other, to have patience, to trust competition and friendships. –Rahsaan Thomas Page 20 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com May 2016 Financial Literacy’s Solutions for Everyone Continued from Page 1 uses unconventional methods with his younger students. “The Her lack of investing knowl- same old status quo doesn’t edge is the norm for Black peo- work. I’m here (in prison, so ple. Only 25 percent of Black for him) the battle was lost. households have over $10,000 We’ll lose the war if we don’t saved for retirement, compared do something different. If took to about double that percent of me 10 years to realize I needed White people, according to the to make some changes. We have telecast Nightly Business News. to find a faster pace to get them “That means the odds are you (young students) to see the need will never be financial sound,” to make a change.” said Carroll. “You’re screwed... Carroll also instructed the so what’s your alterative – class on how to evaluate when drugs, robbery? When I heard a disaster could mean a compa- that, I almost cried.” ny’s stock is undervalued. Echoing the statistics of non- “I find value by going into stock-owning African-Amer- the storms, because people that icans were other guests at the run from a storm leave all their March 10 class, including Ma- stuff behind,” said Carroll. “Oil rio Catley, author of Why Not is the crisis which means oil is You: Nine Steps to Reprogram- the value. For the people in the ming Your Family’s Health, and Photo by Eddie Herena San Quentin News streets, they love it because oil his cousin, stay-at-home mother Carroll teaching financial solutions to the class is cheap. With money they are Travina Catley. saving, they are thinking of buy “I want to get educated; If I’m stock market. age cookies and chips ... then Laslie said, “Wall Street’s a new car...they are consumers. educated, I’ll be able to educate Now his classes are chang- you can’t manage money. We ability to take seemingly scary They aren’t thinking about ben- others as well,” said Travina. ing the landscape of investors. are trying to change that tide. financial situations and turn efiting from the very thing that “This is something that we Of the 50 incarcerated men You can’t keep your mom from them into understandable terms is saving them money – lower didn’t grow up learning, so it who braved the rain to attend, going to a home ... you are is incredible, because teaching oil stock prices.” would be nice to be able to help at least 17 were men under 25 broke. It ain’t your choice. We is a really hard thing to do. It The San Quentin Prison Re- others, so they grow up finan- years old. ain’t even in a position to take says a lot about his patience and port, the prison’s TV-crew, cially free as well.” Carroll commanded the at- care of our elderly.” passion.” filmed the class for a teaching Carroll gained national fame tention of the class with his can- Robert A. Bagwell, a 19-year- Joe Hancock, Carroll’s assis- tool in other places. for teaching fellow-incarcerat- did dialogue and use of prison old Hispanic student with VL tant teacher, handed out small “It seems like it is a blessing ed men the money management analogies. tattooed on his face, said “It’s packs of cookies to youngsters that this gentleman has gotten and investing skills he devel- “It’s not about the money; it’s fairly simple. It’s not that hard who could tell him what a P/E the opportunity to educate him- oped in prison after learning about style of management,” to understand the way they are ratio is. self in the system, and now he’s how to read and studying the said Carroll. “If you can’t man- teaching it.” Carroll explained why he educating others,” said Catley. Sacramento Judge and CCPOA President Visits SQ By Salvador Solorio with individual students. has been a very effective and Journalism Guild Writer Their visit came after an in- influential lobbying organiza- vitation from Prison Univer- tion that pursued an agenda A judge and peace officer sity Project Executive Director that made correctional offi- leader, who visited San Quen- Jody Lewen. cers some of the highest-paid tin recently, said they want to Both Judge White and Al- and benefit-endowed public support reforms in the crimi- exander understand public servants in the state. nal justice system. anxiety about: crime, sentenc- The Don Novey era of the They visited the Compara- ing reform, the impact of the CCPOA influenced policy- tive Religion class at San Three Strikes Law, and man- making legislators to pass Quentin to observe up close datory sentencing. Both want laws that did eventually lead one of the prison’s more than to analyze data and inquire to state prisons becoming 70 rehabilitation, educational into what things are being overcrowded to the point fed- and vocational programs. done wrong in the current jus- eral jurists determined prison “You guys are here of your tice system process. conditions had become uncon- own accord, on your own Judge White wants to change stitutional. time,” Chuck Alexander told the influence of law-making Photo by Eddie Herena -San Quentin News Statistics have shown in- the students. He is president that historically was emotion- Lewen giving a tour of San Quentin’s Education mates that educate themselves of the California Correctional ally driven and instead use have much lower rate of re- Peace Officers Association data that will rationally influ- advocates that stakeholders in approves of the educational cidivism, which translates into (CCPOA). ence law-making and criminal the prison system work togeth- opportunities such as Prison savings for the state. Studies He was accompanied by justice policy. er and focus upon programs University Project’s program show that job skills learned in Judge Steve White of Sacra- Alexander, a successor to that will benefit public safety. at San Quentin. prison translate into employ- mento, who spent time talking CCPOA President Don Novey, Alexander said he strongly Historically the CCPOA ability on the street.

Photo by Eddie Herena -San Quentin News Photo by Eddie Herena -San Quentin News Judge White talking with a Prison University Project student Chuck Alexander speaking to the Comparative Religion class