San Quentin News

WRITTEN BY THE INCARCERATED-ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE VOL. 2020 NO. 45 September/October 2020 Edition 129 SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA 94964 www.sanquentinnews.com POPULATION 3,010 The #STOPSANQUENTINOUTBREAK coalition break in a podcast interview with of Re:Store justice, a justice advo- Brie Williams of the Geriatrics cacy organization. and Palliative (GeriPal) Care blog. Abercrombie is a singer/song- “Physical distancing is impos- writer whose music can be heard sible in prison and jail,” said Khan on the Fox Sports documentary Q- on the broadcast. “They’re not Ball and the San Quentin podcast built for it. Walkways three feet Ear Hustle. wide. Bunk beds where you can In July the #STOPSANQUEN- feel all your neighbors’ breath TINOUTBREAK coalition move- ment reached the gates of the prison. Chants of “Free Them All” and banners calling for ac- “There must be space tion waved in the background. The coalition held a press conference in society for the that included these elected offi- humanity of every cials: State Sen. Scott Wiener, D- San Francisco; Assemblymembers single person”. Marc Levine, D-San Rafael; and Ash Kalra, D-San Jose. Some of the officials called for “To compound the issue, prison- a continued monitoring of the ers are afraid that if they get sick COVID-19 outbreak inside Cali- they will be put in The Hole (soli- fornia prisons. “We must sustain tary confinement). So they don’t attention here at San Quentin and admit when they’re sick,” Khan at every facility where people are and Abercrombie added. “The ma- sentenced for time and locked up jor response should be decarcera- across the state of California,” tion. Reduce the crowding in our said Assemblymember Levine. overcrowded correctional facili- “We must sustain this attention ties.” because unfortunately COVID-19 Since returning home, the pair is not going away, so we can’t let has worked tirelessly to bring our guard down.” File Photo awareness to the community. San Quentin’s COVID-19 out- Participants in front of the prison’s main gate “Many people think of prisons break ballooned to more than as disconnected from society, like 2,000 positive cases and the death By Marcus Henderson reduction in the incarcerated rate King paroled from San Quen- a cruise ship,” said Khan. “But for of 26 prisoners and one correc- Editor-in-Chief is necessary for public health tin in December after being found every two people in a correctional tional officer. safety,” said James King, former suitable for release by the Board of facility, there’s about one person Activists and family members Major protests, media appear- San Quentin resident, member of Parole Hearings. King worked as a who works in the facility and lives are calling for release of those ances and a growing social media the Ella Baker Center for Human lead clerk for the Prison Universi- in a community. The workers are incarcerated to make it easier to campaign are being led by former Justice, and state campaigner for ty Project, the institution’s college bringing out whatever they’ve control the spread of the virus in- San Quentin prisoners, families of the Oakland-based organization, program. been exposed to in prison.” side the prison, and bringing the the currently incarcerated, prison #STOPSANQUENTINOUT- Adnan Khan and Eric “Maser- Khan and Abercrombie pro- medical care within the system reform advocates and some gov- BREAK. ati-E” Abercrombie, two former duced short films and public ser- into compliance with the consti- ernment officials. The campaign is “not just for San Quentin residents, took to the vice announcements through First- tutional standards that were court- “We (the coalition) continue to people inside the prison but people airwaves via social media and ra- Watch, a film-making program at mandated. agree with public health experts outside of prison,” King contin- dio. Both men bought awareness San Quentin before paroling. who have said that at least a 50% ued. to the prison’s COVID-19 out- Khan is the executive director See STOP from Page 4 CDCR and how they’re SQ’s Sgt. G. Polanco handing the global pandemic passes from COVID-19

By Rahsaan Thomas ness as just one example. “Also, outbreak caused when officials Contributing Writer before I would do that, I would be transferred infected men from looking at the empty housing units one prison to two others. The pur- California prison officials are that do exist within CDCR and pose of the hearing was to review doing everything they can to pro- maximized zones to reduce density CDCR’s plans to prevent further tect incarcerated people from at institutions.” spread. Coronavirus outbreaks, except re- Diaz as well as Clark Kelso, the Senate committee members, lease half the population. federal receiver over CDCR health activists, healthcare experts, and “What we are not going to do is care for incarcerated people, spoke state assembly members Marc make a bad situation worse,” said at the California Senate Public Levine and Ash Kalra lined up to Ralph Diaz, Secretary of the Cali- Safety Committee Meeting July 7. have their say and get their ques- fornia Department of Corrections The meeting, chaired by State tions answered. and Rehabilitation (CDCR) at a Senator Nancy Skinner, was initi- Levine called for accountability; recent hearing. He cited homeless- ated to review the Corona virus Senator Scott Wiener said that if the state wants to control the virus, it will have to reduce the prison Due to the COVID-19 outbreak in San Quentin, San Quentin population Senator Hannah-Beth Jack- News had to temporarily suspend production of the newspa- son was so concerned about the per and Wall City magazine. We are currently working on the situation, she questioned whether best practices to bring you a quality paper that meets the administration’s CDCR saw incarcerated people as protocols. Our voices truly matter and it’s important to keep human. In his opening remarks Diaz out- our families and our incarcerated communities informed. Photo courtesy of CDCR lined the efforts CDCR has taken to Sgt. G. Polanco We thank our readers and supporters for your patience. You prevent Coronavirus outbreaks (see all know the challenges of working from within the prison. sidebar) and he responded to Sena- San Quentin News would like to give a special thanks to Warden Ron tor Jackson’s remark about whether By Marcus Henderson to this deadly disease. Polanco be- CDCR viewed incarcerated people Editor in Chief came the first correctional officer Broomfield and CDCR Headquarters for giving as human: “…that’s the farthest to die of the illness at San Quentin. SQ News the opportunity to re-launch in these trying times. from the truth. We care about in- Sad news: West Block has lost The daily interactions between We thank our advisers, volunteers and former staff members who mates, we care about staff.” another guiding light. On Sunday guards and prisoners are always have returned home and continue to work to produce this pa- By May of this year, there were August 9, Sergeant G. Polanco died complex: from the hardliners (on hundreds of positive COVID-19 from coronavirus. Polanco, 55, a both sides) who view each other per. We we would not be able to do this without you all. cases at the California Institution West Block unit Sergeant, is among with disdain, to the humane, who This pandemic has caused all of us to find new ways to move forward. So for Men at Chino, a prison in South- the growing death list in our San try not to lose their true selves in we thank you again for your patience.-Marcus Henderson ern California. Quentin community. this environment. We have lost 26 of our incarcer- See COVID from Page 5 ated peers, friends and associates See POLANCO from Page 6 Page 2 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com September/October 2020

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY Graduate School of Journalism

AroundSkid Row Runningthe Club inWorld the Ecuadorian Amazon giving a shout out to their running friends th in the 1000 Mile Club-October 5 , 2019 Photo courtesy of Melissa Arcaro September/October 2020 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 3 Survivor describes his struggles battling COVID-19 By Alfred King distance themselves, and had been virus-free and the City, where he was placed longer infected, though he after losing 30 pounds and Journalism Guild Writer who face unclean living men were quarantined with in a special Intensive Care still suffered from a variety cannot stand for longer than conditions and poor health- no infections; within a short Unit for people from San of symptoms. a couple of minutes. The Covid-19 outbreak care delivery. time, thousands of men and Quentin. There he saw a lot Dr. Coleen Kivlahan, As harsh as the virus was at San Quentin has caused numerous guards had it. of guys he knew from the head of primary care at on him, he is glad to have the death of 26 prisoners Jeffrion’s first symptoms prison. the University of Califor- survived, thinking back to and one guard. Ron Lee Jef- were the loss of taste and He was not allowed to nia San Francisco, sees some of the guys he saw at frion, 55, is a survivor of the “I’m lucky to smell, followed by extreme notify his family that he up to 20 patients like Jef- Seton Hospital who did not outbreak. headaches, and he could was sick and near death. frion, whom she refers to as come back. He has been locked up be alive, and I not lay on his back. With- For weeks he drifted in and “long-haul patients.” He realizes that he is not at San Quentin for the last in hours he could hardly out of consciousness, pray- She estimates that there out of the woods yet. The 14 years, working for the continue to thank breathe, so it was time for ing that he would get better are tens of thousands of so- virus is still here, and he Prison Industry Authority’s God I made it him to go “Man Down”— and see his family again— called “long-haul patients” can see it around him, that (PIA) mattress factory and the prison term for when his wife and two daughters. who continue to experience proper measures are still assigned to a cell in North this far, but I also you have to call for help. After 30 days on oxygen fatigue, chest pains, cogni- not in place to protect peo- Block. He contracted the vi- When the officers got to in the ICU, he was returned tive issues, and that much ple in North Block. There is rus during a period of quar- realize that I’m his cell, along with a nurse, to San Quentin, but instead remains unknown about the no consensus on how long antine at the prison. still in danger” he had a temperature of 101. of going back to his hous- virus, according to a Wall he will be immune from “I’m lucky to be alive, They took him out to Bad- ing unit, he was placed in Street Journal article. catching the virus again, and I continue to thank God ger section, part of the pris- some sort of medical unit Jeffrion still complains but some data suggests he I made it this far, but I also on reserved for people who recently constructed in the about his loss of memory will be immune for three realize that I’m still in dan- He contracted Covid-19 were showing symptoms. PIA complex. He stayed and shortness of breath, weeks, while other data ger,” Jeffrion said in an in- after the California Depart- He stayed there for the next there for the next 18 days, and can hardly stand on his says he will be fine up to terview. ment of Corrections and five days as his condition then was told that he was no own. He is weak and frail three months. Jeffrion is one of the Rehabilitation imported 121 kept getting worse. 3,000 prisoners currently men from a Southern Cali- With no improvement, an housed here at San Quentin fornia prison with a serious ambulance transported him who are not able to social virus outbreak. San Quentin to Seton Hospital in Daly United States resumes federal For prosecutors nationwide execution in midst of pandemic By Kenneth R. Brydon bital executions have been Honken’s spirtual adviser, Novembers’s election may heat up SQ News Alumnus performed without incident. Mark O’Keefe, a Roman The court also ruled Lee’s re- Catholic priest, made the By Harry C. Goodall Angeles Daily News. Quentin resident. The federal government quest for “last-minute” inter- same argument. Journalism Guild Writer LA County District Attor- In Houston, incumbent has resumed executions dur- vention was improper. The Supreme Court ruled ney Jackie Lacey will battle prosecutor Kim Ogg faces a ing the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee remained strapped to that protective equipment was The November election for re-election in a Novem- contested general election in prompting unsuccessful chal- the execution gurney for four available for the advisers and can bring swift and signifi- ber run-off. She was elected November. lenges before the U.S. Su- hours while the legal jousting that the executions would be cant changes to the current in 2012, and ran unopposed Mike Kennedy, a Texas preme Court. played out in the high court. carried out, regardless of the criminal justice system. This in 2016. This year she faces native housed at SQ said, “I One condemned man ar- Upon the lifting of the stay, risk created by the pandemic. will be based on the outcome George Gascon, former San doubt Texas will ever have gued that the use of pentobar- his counsel received no notice The US Department of Jus- of many prosecutors’ races. Francisco district attorney. reform when it comes to bital to carry out his execu- of the final ruling, and Lee tice later stated: “Despite the Reform activists have “If Lacey loses to Gas- criminal justice. It’s not as tion would amount to cruel was executed in the middle of pandemic, the government supported the election of con, maybe he’ll do for LA bad as Cali, but it clearly and unusual punishment. The the night. still must carry out its impor- district attorneys who have what he’s done for SF. Lacey needs to work their (Tex- challenges also question tant duties.” “promised to reduce reliance seems to not want to change as courts) death penalty whether the reasonable fears These federal actions can on incarceration, increase her ‘lock up everyone and stance.” of contracting COVID, held be contrasted against what transparency and promote throw away the key’ mental- In Chicago, Kim Foxx will by the family of the victims “Despite the occurred in Tennessee, where equity,” according to the Los ity,” said Bobby John, a San face multiple challengers in and spiritual advisers were pandemic, the two executions were delayed the Democratic primary. sufficient cause to impose when it was decided that it The historical nature of stays. government still was impossible for the court San Quentin News prosecutor elections is that Three federal prisoners must carry out its to provide full and complete San Quentin News Staff Administrative Review they usually run unopposed were at the center of these due process under present and serve multiple terms. emergency arguments, made important duties” pandemic conditions. Richard Richardson, Executive Editor Lt. S. Robinson, Warden’s Office There are over 2,300 juris- necessary by the govern- Federal executions are in Marcus Henderson, Editor-in-Chief Sgt. R. Gardea, Warden’s Office Juan Haines, Senior Editor Joe Orlando, CDCR dictions in America that ment’s unexpected and hasty contrast to trends in the coun- Information Officer I Kevin D. Sawyer, Associate Editor Krissi Khokhobashvili, have voting for prosecutor decision to carry out execu- The family members of try which are shifting away Joe Garcia, Deputy Chief CDCR Office positions, but only 700 juris- tions in the midst of the pan- Lee’s victims had also filed from capital punishment. In Journalism Guild Chairman of External Affairs Anthony Faulk, Managing Editor Linda Xiques, Adviser dictions presented the voters demic. petitions seeking a stay due some instances it has been the Aaron Taylor, Sports Editor William Drummond, Adviser with a choice of candidates, Daniel Lewis Lee was put to concerns about the poten- inability to attain execution David Ditto, Staff Writer Jan Perry, Adviser to death July 13, Wesley Ira drugs because pharmaceuti- Joan Lisetor, Adviser according to the Daily News. tial of being infected by CO- Michael Johnson, Staff Writer Stuart Wagner, Adviser In 2015 the prison reform Purkey was executed July 15, VID-19 while witnessing the cal firms no longer wish for Anthony Caravalho, Staff Writer Steve McNamara, Adviser movement took a strong hold and Dustin Lee Honken was execution, due to the presence their products to be utilized Charles Crowe, Staff Writer John C. Eagan, Adviser Heriberto Arredondo, Staff Writer Jon Spurlock, Adviser in state legislatures. There put to death July 17. All three of four confirmed cases at in that fashion. But there are Jessie Blue, Staff Writer Susanne Karch, Adviser has been a notable shift in were executed at the U.S. the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre growing changes in the use of Timothy Hicks, Staff Writer Nikki Meredith, Adviser the national conversation Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Haute, but their request was the death penalty. Juan Espinoza, Layout Designer Monica Campbell, Adviser Lourdes Cárdenas, Editora Richard Lindsey, Researcher about criminal justice, ac- Indiana. also denied. A number of states have Lisa Adams, Development Manager cording to the article. Lee maintained his Purkey had been diagnosed abolished capital punishment, San Quentin News Contributing Staff In his 2016 nomination ac- innocence and argued that with schizophrenia, dementia and its support has waned in ceptance speech, Pres. Don- pentobarbital induces the the past few decades. Wayne Boatwright, SQ News Alumnus Miguel Quezada, SQ News Alumnus and Alzheimer’s. In his case, Kenny Brydon, SQ News Alumnus Watani Stiner, SQ News Alumnus ald Trump told the Repub- effect of drowning, and the Rev. Seigen Hartkemeyer, This is happening now in Michael Cooke, SQ News Alumnus Aly Tamboura, SQ News Alumnus lican National Convention therefore must result in a 68-year-old Buddhist priest an atmosphere of protests Eddie Herena, SQ News Alumnus Jesse Vasquez, SQ News Alumnus David Lé, SQ News Alumnus Jonathan Chiu, SQ News Alumnus that as president he would extreme pain. A District and Purkey’s spirtual adviser, and unrest over inequalities return the country to a “law Court ruled that his argument requested a stay because of his and racial injustice in cit- Current and past stories of the San Quentin News are posted online at: and order” agenda. He now had merit, but a 5-4 Supreme own age and physical health ies across the nation and the (www.sanquentinnews.com) Follow us on Twitter @SanQuentinNews reportedly sees criminal jus- Court majority rejected his issues. He contended that he world. Permission is granted to reprint articles appearing in the San Quentin tice reform as a way to woo position. was being asked to minister Keith Dwayne Nelson was News provided credit is given to the author and this publication, African American voters, The majority pointed out to the condemned prisoner at scheduled for execution Aug. except for articles reprinted herein from other publications. the article said. that more than 100 pentobar- the risk of his own life. 28. We Want To Hear From You! San Quentin News encourages the incarcerated, free staff, custody staff, volunteers and others outside the institution to submit articles. All submissions become property of the San Quentin News. Please use the following criteria when submitting: • Limit your articles to no more than 350 words. • Know that articles will be edited for content and length. • The newspaper is not a medium to file grievances. (For that, use the prison appeals process.) We encourage submitting articles that are newsworthy and encompass issues that will have an impact on the prison populace. • Please do not use offensive language in your submissions. • Poems and artwork (cartoons and drawings) are welcomed. Your writing should reflect a positive message that helps the youth make a better decision in life. Your stories will be • Letters to the editor should be short and to the point. Send Submissions to: read by the youth in detention centers. If published, you will receive a free copy of the publication. Your story can San Quentin News 1 Main Street San Quentin, CA 94964 make a difference. Tell The Beat Within you read about them in KidCAT Speaks! For inmates that want to receive a copy of the San Quentin News in the mail, send $1.61 worth of stamps for postage to Words from the wise, quote of the week - “I believe that you see something that you want to get done, you can- the above address. The process can be repeated every month if you want to receive the latest newspaper. not give up, and you cannot give in.” -John Lewis (1940 – July 17, 2020) was an American politician and civil rights Behind the Scenes leader who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1987 until his death in 2020. Lewis also helped organized the 1963 March on Washington. He fulfilled many key roles in the civil rights movement and its actions to end legalized racial segregation in the US. What do you think of this week’s quote? Can you relate? What is something in your life (your freedom, your family, making a change, an education, a job) that you want to get done, and you will not give up or give in? “I believe that you see something that you want to get done, you cannot give up, and you cannot give in.” The Beat Within P.O. Box 34310 The San Quentin News is printed by Marin Sun Printing, San Rafael. San Francisco, CA 94134 Page 4 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com September/October 2020 The demands of the #stopsanquentinoutbreak coalition

experts who have clearly public health experts have organizations are eager and detention centers. prioritize the release COMMENTARY stated that the prison popula- emphasized that a drastic pop- prepared to receive our loved 3. Gov. Newsom must of transgender people tion must be reduced to be- ulation reduction is also nec- ones and the larger incarcer- begin the process of who are at dispropor- low 50 percent of what the essary to prevent community ated community upon their drastically reduc- tionate risk of harm By San Quentin prisons were designed for to transmission and bed capacity re-entry. We will continue to ing the overall prison and violence in prison. Outbreak Coalition adequately address unsafe shortages at local hospitals. push for comprehensive re- population to below Additionally, CDCR overcrowding during the pan- In addition, the Newsom leases as long as the threat of 50 percent of current must ensure that the This article was written demic. Administration’s continued harm and death by COVID-19 capacity, as recom- incarcerated trans back in August and reflects To reach the recommended focus on people with non-vi- in prisons continues. mended by Amend, community has ac- conditions then. target of 50 percent capacity, olent convictions ignores the We reiterate the demands a group of medical cess to hormones and After months of urging roughly 2,000 people would undeniable truths that those from our coalition, as stated professionals at the healthcare immediate- Gov. Gavin Newsom to take need to be released from San convicted of serious offenses at our recent press conference University of Califor- ly – before and after action to curb the spread of Quentin alone — the site of grow and change over time, outside San Quentin State nia San Francisco that their release. COVID-19 in our prison sys- California’s worst COVID-19 that people age out of crime, Prison: works to transform “The #StopSanQuentinOut- tem, we are relieved to see that outbreak where to date, over and that those committed for 1. Gov. Newsom must correctional culture break coalition is comprised he is finally starting to grant 1,900 people tested positive. violent offenses actually have visit San Quentin to reduce debilitating of formerly incarcerated folks, releases. In just the last three weeks, the lowest rates of re-arrest State Prison and tour health effects. Amend loved ones with direct con- The governor’s July 10 at least 10 people have died upon release. the facility with the visited San Quentin in nections to San Quentin State promise to review 8,000 in- at San Quentin due to CO- We urge Gov. Newsom press so he can bear the midst of the out- Prison, community organiz- carcerated people for release VID-19, the majority of them to expand his release plans witness to the deplor- break, on June 13. In ers, and several social justice is a step in the right direc- were housed on Death Row. to include incarcerated peo- able conditions inside. order to achieve this organizations. We commit to tion. But releasing a mere 6 Failure to reduce the popu- ple across all categories of 2. The governor and Cal- level of decarceration, working with currently incar- percent of the people inside lation significantly will result convictions and sentencing ifornia Department Newsom must grant cerated folks to ensure that our California’s overcrowded in incarcerated people con- — including those serving of Corrections and releases without cat- advocacy is grounded in their prisons falls woefully short of tinuing to face grave risk of Life Without Parole and con- Rehabilitation must egorical exclusions needs and vision, as we engage the large-scale decarceration illness, inhumane conditions demned sentences — and con- immediately stop all based on crimes of in rapid response work combat- needed to protect the health of confinement, and death. sider individuals for release transfers between Cal- commitment or sen- ting the horrendous COVID-19 and safety of the community. While the incarcerated based on who they are today. ifornia prisons, and tencing. outbreak impacting prison fa- We stand by public health community is most at risk, Families and community from prisons to ICE 4. The governor must cilities across California. What’s really needed are paths to good jobs By Aly Tamboura skill-building that begins in- distract us from the structur- to reenter the workforce af- their families out of poverty. lege tuition. SQ News Alumnus side of prison. al underpinnings of inequali- ter prison. I also know the To move formerly incar- Having equity lifts people Take my friend Kenny B ty in the workplace for Black value of learning skills while cerated people out of pover- out of poverty and brings To stop the revolving door for example. Kenny has been and Hispanic men. in prison that can provide ty, we must reduce reliance self-perpetuating, intergen- between poverty and incar- home and working for six Instead, we should be cre- near seamless reentry into on job readiness and training erational sustainability. ceration, the more than 70 years and still cannot afford ating paths to employment society. programs post-incarceration Death Row lawyer and million Americans who are healthcare or his own apart- and entrepreneurship which I spent two years learning that are solely administered activist Bryan Stevenson justice-involved need access ment because he works at a create self-sufficiency in to code while serving a 12- and funded by the govern- tells us that “The opposite to employment that allows low-skilled job. fulfilling their needs indefi- year sentence at San Quentin ment — and, we must work of poverty is justice.” Until self-perpetuating sustain- Despite his efforts to care nitely while building social State Prison . to improve these programs system-impacted people at- ability. for himself and his loved and economic equity. The skills I learned not and their outcomes, and push tain true economic freedom, When people come home ones, Kenny remains reliant Expanding support for only paved a path to near- to remove the red tape that they will remain “have nots” from prison or jail, they face on government social ser- programs like The Last Mile, instantaneous employment makes the reentry process and suffer all of the systemic immense challenges, not the vices and charities — some which teaches computer cod- when I was released but also difficult to navigate. Instead, injustices that come along least of which is stigma, and of which are funded by phil- ing to incarcerated people, provided enough compensa- we should fund and support with being poor — including the burden that a criminal re- anthropic dollars. and the Prison Entrepreneur- tion to provide the resources job training and entrepre- incarceration. cord places on people’s abil- As a newcomer to phi- ship Program, which offers I needed to thrive post-incar- neurship programs for peo- Aly Tamboura is a mnager ity to find safe, secure hous- lanthropy and a former en- leadership training and a ceration. ple that begin while they are in the Criminal Justice Re- ing and gainful employment. trepreneur, it hasn’t taken six-month, in-prison “mini- There are another 2.2 mil- incarcerated. form program at the Chan While millions of phil- long for me to conclude that MBA” program, have much lion people languishing in We also need to change Zuckerberg Initiative. He anthropic dollars pour each attention to policy reform, greater impact and outcomes prisons and jails, most of the narrative that incarcer- joined the organization in year into reentry and job however necessary, has been than many programs admin- whom will return to their ated people are incapable 2017, after working as a training programs — which insufficient if we are truly to istered post-incarceration. communities. They will need of learning and performing software engineer. Having are necessary for people in dismantle the systems that These programs provide jobs, housing and healthcare, in high-skilled jobs. High- spent over a decade of his the short-term — we need to create and perpetuate the support and mentorship af- and most will have to navi- skilled employment not life incarcerated, Tamboura do more to address the long- twin cycles of poverty and ter people are released and gate the daunting aspects of only provides income and brings both his firsthand ex- term impacts of incarcera- mass incarceration. — because they are private reentry without the profes- stability, it also enables an perience with the criminal tion on the perpetual cycle of We have, for example, wit- — they function outside of sional skills required to pur- individual to gain equity in justice system and his strong poverty. nessed how campaigns like government bureaucracy. sue employment compensa- homeownership, to access technical skills to CZI to help This includes investing in “Ban the Box” can serve to I know how difficult it is tion that will raise them and health care, and to pay col- advance critical reforms.

CDCR to follow that data. needed during these times of people as they return from calling for the heads of the and months will likely chal- “The science of people trials in her July COVID-19 prison…and, above all, 4) leadership of San Quentin or lenge us in unprecedented #STOP aging out of crime, as well update letter: transforms the state’s sen- CDCR.” ways to respond to the ques- Continued from Page 1 as the CDCR’s own risk as- “What we need right now tencing laws. Lewen added that things tion of why the lives of people sessments that have identified is political leadership that 1) “What we do not need are at San Quentin would be dra- in prison—including those The activists are not naïve tens of thousands of people as directly addresses the pub- legislators, advocates, or matically worse if San Quen- who may have committed ex- of the challenges and possible low risk for recidivism or vio- lic’s misguided fear of any- members of the media who tin did not have its current treme violence—have value lack of political will to have lence, should be the criteria,” one who has been convicted seek to craft sensationalistic warden. and meaning.” major releases. But the re- said King. of a serious violent crime; scandals out of deeply en- “There must be space in King concluded, “We stand turning citizens who have be- Jody Lewen, Prison Uni- 2) proactively seeks out real trenched systematic problems this society for the humanity by ready to help facilitate and come agents of change urge versity Project executive di- strategies for safely housing or sidestep collective soci- of every single person,” said use our resources to facilitate Gov. Gavin Newsom and rector, weighed in on what is and supporting thousands of etal failures by, for example, Lewen. “The coming weeks safe entry.”

File Photo File Photo Assemblymember Ash Kalra speaking to the crowd James King arriving at the press conference September/October 2020 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 5 The astonishing growth of San Quentin News By Steve McNamara depend on stories written comes from outside the none of the incarcerated men writers whose work has also ers Association that includes SQ News Adviser from inside and outside the prison system. in his care knew how. So, he appeared in outside publica- all of the state’s major news- prison, then laid out and pre- In time, when COVID-19 recruited three retired news- tions such as The Washing- papers. This is a difficult time for pared for printing and distri- recedes and San Quentin is paper people and tapped four ton Post. • There is membership by the San Quentin News. But bution by former staff mem- again fully operational, the inmates who were willing to • Usually 30,000 copies of staff writers in the Society it’s not difficult for the rea- bers who earlier had been SQ News will be back as have a go at it. The first is- a 20 to 24-page monthly pa- of Professional Journalists, sons that plague nearly every released from San Quentin, before, entirely the product sues were 5,000 copies of per are printed with color on Northern California chapter. other newspaper in the coun- plus volunteer advisers who of its incarcerated staff. four pages printed on left- a newspaper press. • A Twitter account carries try. Those newspapers are help the process just as they Between now and then, it’s a over orange paper on an an- • Distribution is to all links to SQ News articles. in trouble because they are did inside. good time to run through the cient sheet-fed press and dis- 35 California prisons, plus • San Quentin News Fo- running out of readers, who But the core value and astonishing transformation tributed within the prison. county jails, plus some pris- rums: These groundbreaking increasingly switch to the in- mission of the paper remains of the newspaper. Then, to Ayers’s amazement ons in other states and also to events pair groups of incar- ternet for their information. the same as it says on Page 1: The roots of a paper at San and delight, the paper took contributing individuals and cerated men with groups of The San Quentin News Written by the Incarcer- Quentin go back to the 1930s to off. Today it is this: officials focused on criminal officials involved with crim- has plenty of eager readers. ated – Advancing Social Jus- a short-lived publication named • Seventeen incarcerated justice. inal justice who previously Its current problem is that tice. The Wall. It disappeared until staff members plus seven • A significant annual bud- had no personal experience the staff inside the prison’s That’s unique. Across the 1960s when a new paper veteran newspaper advisers get is supported by individu- inside a prison. The Forums walls cannot gather for staff America and the world called the San Quentin News plus another six volunteers als and a range of founda- began in 2011 with the de- meetings to plan and run there are a vast number of emerged. It flourished with from outside the walls work tions including the Reva and partment of San Francisco the paper and cannot eas- publications focused on local prison news until the au- in a dedicated media center. David Logan Foundation, District Attorney George ily connect outside the walls criminal justice, but almost thorities grew sufficiently up- • A dozen or more incar- the San Francisco Founda- Gascón and have expanded to get the paper printed and none of them are actually set by its approach and forced cerated men learn report- tion and the Ford Founda- to include district attorneys distributed to all of Califor- produced by incarcerated its closure. ing skills in classes offered tion. from throughout the Bay nia’s other 35 prisons and to persons. At the SQ News it Then came an enlightened by the SQ News Journalism • Laudatory articles fre- Area and the United States, the hundreds of other people is these people who decide warden, Robert Ayers Jr., Guild. Successful students quently appear in major judges, school teachers, de- who usually receive it. what to write and how to who in 2008 wanted to re- move on to staff positions outside publications ranging fense attorneys and police The reason, of course, is write it — how to approach vive the paper, mainly as a created by the frequent pa- from the New York Times, departments, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic and improve the system that conduit for in-prison news. role of staff members. L.A. Times and Politico, plus the San Francisco Police De- that hit San Quentin harder governs their lives. And how He wanted freedom of ex- • A rate of zero recidivism coverage on national TV. partment. than perhaps any other place to raise the money to pay for pression — “not just the among paroled newspaper • A website presents cur- What you’re reading now on the planet. The sad fact of it — the California prison warden’s newsletter” — but staff members. rent and earlier printed is- is a stop-gap version of the San Quentin’s infection rate system provides computers he had no idea how dramati- •A newspaper staff of four sues in searchable form, plus San Quentin News. So, hang and lockdown has been cov- and an office, but that’s cally it would grow. persons without prior expe- video. in there. We’ll be back with ered extensively. Meantime, all. Financial support for Ayers didn’t know how rience has blossomed into a • There is membership in the real version as soon as the paper’s ongoing issues printing and distribution to publish a newspaper and large group of accomplished the California News Publish- COVID-19 allows it.

were retested at Corcoran,” Kelso said. At San Quentin, COVID he said that out of the 122 Continued from Page 1 transferred from Chino, 25 tested positive at San Quen- In order to protect medi- tin. cally vulnerable people Cases ballooned at both housed at Chino, the CDCR prisons. By the date of transferred some of the men the hearing, Corcoran had to San Quentin and some to jumped to 125 active cases Corcoran State Prison. Sev- and San Quentin had in- eral of the transferees had creased to 1,106. COVID-19. There were no confirmed At the hearing, federal re- Coronavirus cases at San ceiver Kelso explained the Quentin until after the group decision to move men out of from Chino arrived. CIM. “On May 23, we decid- Moreover, in order to re- ed that the expanding cases duce the dorm populations at CIM posed an unaccept- from 200 to 100 people at able risk to the last remain- San Quentin, the cell blocks ing dorm where hundreds of were filled with two men in COVID-19 high risk patients almost every 6x9 foot cell. were housed.” According to Kelso, doc- Although each person was tors from UC Berkeley and tested before transfer, Kelso UCSF toured San Quentin said the results were far too on June 12. They noted that old to be reliable indicators the cell blocks’ poor ventila- for the absence of COVID. tion could cause the “virus Photo by Eddie Herena “In some cases,” he said, to spread very rapidly,” just “the results were four weeks like the dorms. San Quentin’s CCHCS building old.” Dr. David Sears, a physi- “As it turned out, two of cian and professor of medi- said at the hearing, “Califor- in custody are at a low risk include people who have dispatched to disinfect the 66 patients moved to Corco- cine at University of Cali- nia prisons are already over for recidivism. “It’s clear we committed violent crimes but prison, including the cat- ran tested positive when they fornia who was on that tour, 100 percent capacity and can safely and dramatically have a low risk assessment walks. every s quare in that chess- reduce the prison population score for future violence. In Several additional hous- board has one or two pieces today,” she said, “releases addition, they must be age 65 ing spaces have been set up Measures adopted by CDCR: already on it. This makes should include lifers and not or older, or have multiple un- at San Quentin including strategic movements of resi- be made with categorical ex- derlying issues, according to air-conditioned tents on the At the California Senate Public Safety Committee dents nearly impossible.” ceptions.” a Prison Law Office report. yard, beds in the furniture Meeting on July 7, Ralph Diaz, Secretary of the At the time of the hearing, Rodarmel is a former San Diaz has also taken 12 factory, and all three chapels California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation the areas used at San Quen- Quentin volunteer whose weeks off the sentences of for those who test positive (CDCR) listed measures the department has taken to tin for isolating people with husband is currently incar- everyone in CDCR without a for COVID-19, according to COVID-19 or symptoms cerated at the prison. recent disciplinary issue. a memo from SQ Warden prevent Coronavirus outbreaks. (the hole and former recep- Sam Lewis, a formerly in- Prisoners who are within Ron Broomfield, dated July tion cell blocks) were filled carcerated man who heads 180 days of their release 22. • Suspended visiting statewide in March to capacity, leaving dozens the Anti-Recidivism Coali- dates are being released im- Even with the additional of people with the virus tion, spoke about the group’s mediately. space, prisoners with dif- • Halted all construction within institutions housed in the same unit, and efforts to provide communi- At San Quentin, names are ferent infection statuses — • Health screening for all employees prior to en- in some cases, the same cells ty support and transportation being called to parole almost positive cases, positive cases as those who tested negative, to people coming home from daily. On July 28, San Quen- resolved, and negative cases try according to men incarcer- prison. tin released about 90 people, — still inhabit the same cell • Provided fact sheets and displayed posters ated in North Block. Senator Holly Mitchell, possibly a record for one day. block. To mitigate harm, “Our report recommends chairwoman of the Joint Those found suitable for however, the population educating about COVID-19 that the prison population Legislative Budget Commit- parole are being processed showers in three different • Issued hand sanitizers at San Quentin be urgently tee, asked Diaz about a plan in record time. Gary Harrell, groups: reduced to at least 50 per- to transfer up to 700 people for example, went to the pa- 1. Those who tsted posi- • Increased cleaning of high traffic areas cent of the current capacity,” per week from county jails to role board for the 20th time tive but cleared the virus. Dr. Sears said. (See report state prisons. on May 20, 2020. On July 7, 2. Those who tested nega- • Produced and issued cloth barrier masks and at: https://amend.us/wp- Diaz clarified that the plan 48 days later, Harrell went tive. made wearing masks mandatory content/uploads/2020/06/ actually calls for transferring home. Parole board releases 3. Those who tested posi- • Reduced the population of dorms by utilizing COVID19-Outbreak-SQ- 200 people per week, but due usually take 120-150 days. tive and could be actively Prison-6.15.2020.pdf) to COVID-19 outbreaks, the On July 13, San Quentin contagious. gyms and empty housing units A major obstacle to reduc- transfers stopped in April went on a two week lock- And, in spite of the release • Suspended intake from county jails ing the prison population was and, as of August 13, were down to clear the prison of of 8,000 more people, the Gov. Gavin Newsom’s early still stopped. COVID-19. During the lock- prison population is still 100 • Expedited the release of over 3,500 prisoners release orders that only in- Since the hearing, CDCR down, the kitchen was closed individuals over 100 percent cluded people who had com- has increased its efforts to and catered cuisine was pro- design capacity. • Worked with Global Tel Link to provide free mitted non-violent crimes. stop further viral spread. vided by an outside vendor. As of August 10, more phone calls on specific days each month Danica Rodarmel, the Governor Newsom has an- The food was far superior to than 2,000 San Quentin pris- state policy director of the nounced that he will release chow hall food. oners and 261 staff members • Mandatory staff testing at 12 institutions San Francisco Public De- 8,000 people from the Cali- N-95 masks were given to have been infected with Cov- • Set up a website to keep family members in- fender’s office, argued that fornia prison system by late the prison population at San id-19. The virus has claimed by CDCR’s own calculation, August or early September. Quentin. Also, teams wear- the lives of 25 prisoners and formed. more than half of the people The criteria for release now ing bio-hazard suits were one staff member. Page 6 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com September/October 2020 Orlando Romero remembered by friends and by his art

By Joanna Macy and Michael Goldstein

We want to tell you about Orlando Gene Romero, Jr., a dear friend to us and many others. Orlando would have turned 49 next week. During his childhood, Or- lando was seriously neglected and horribly abused, physi- cally and emotionally, by his mother, after his abusive fa- ther left the home. He blames no one else, however, for his criminal involvement while self-medicating with drugs and alcohol when he was 20. Orlando had been incar- “one of the most free people cerated for 28 years, most of I have come across,” espe- them here at San Quentin, on Photo courtesy of Michael Goldstein cially in his ability to extend death row. Orlando G. Romero love. He was not the same per- Orlando was in an out- son who went in. has been teaching painting to could to defend gay incarcer- side hospital, on a ventilator There is only time to tell others on the row, often shar- ated individuals from vio- for over two weeks. Though you a little about him. He ing supplies with them. Espe- lence. He sent out two large healthy and strong before the taught himself to paint here, cially during lockdowns, they paintings, one for each of state’s seeing prisoners as ex- with a friend sending him would line up to show him two organizations supporting pendable led to the epidemic money for supplies. Now his what they’d done. “It’s im- gay incarcerated individuals, inside here, his survival was skill and depth of imagina- portant," he said before he got so they could use those for uncertain because of extreme tion impress artistic sophisti- sick, "to keep the men busy their cause. So he is a force damage to both lungs. This cates. He has generously sent when they’re scared about for good inside and outside. is probably a partial result of many paintings to the friends COVID-19, and I have some Long-time activist and spiri- delays in diagnosis and treat- he has made on the outside. extra supplies.” tual teacher Joanna Macy, ment due to the chaos as the In more recent years he Orlando also did what he who provided much of the disease spread here. material in this letter, adds, Orlando died on August 2, “and he has been a force for apparently of complications good in my own life.” related to COVID-19, accord- Joanna, who has come to ing to CDCR news release. A know him well over the last coroner will determine the several years, considers him exact cause of death. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Galicia Romero’s art on display

Photo courtesy of Michael Goldstein Photo courtesy of Michael Goldstein Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Galicia Romero’s art Romero’s art Romero’s art on display

any situation with his smile conversation. membered for being one of ership and what it takes to tempts to get a handle on and years of experience. He “I remember when Sgt. the first to volunteer and be of service to your com- the situation, it shows that POLANCO would respect the rights of Polanco would work West help sponsor the incarcer- munity and nation. He comes the illness does not dis- Continued from Page 1 the incarcerated. If we an- Block, we would talk in the ated “Sign Language pro- from a military family and a criminate between guards ticipated we had something rotunda, where I played my gram” where incarcerated line of correctional officers. or the incarcerated. Polanco was in the hu- coming, he made sure that guitar, about politics, old men learn signing and be- His uncle Lee Polanco, a Sgt. Polanco will be mane category. In a place we would get it. But if you school music and travel,” come mentors to the incom- military veteran and former missed not just by his co- of constant uncertainty, broke the rules, he would said Aaron Taylor, former ing deaf population. San Quentin correctional of- workers, but also by some stress and toxic personali- give you what you’d got SQNews Sports Editor. “Polanco was always in- ficer, retired and became the of the men in blue, whom ties—once again, on both coming, too. “In those conversations it terested in connecting to prison’s Native American he counseled, gave sup- sides—Polanco will be Polanco was never away was just two middle-aged the human—which isn’t Chaplain. Polanco’s son is port during rehabilitative remembered as a fair and or isolated from the hous- men talking about life, not normal in CDCR—but also currently in the military. programs and debated impartial person and offi- ing unit. He was always a correctional sergeant and not an outlier at San Quen- As the coronavirus contin- sports trivia with. cer. Polanco had the abil- available to listen to griev- an incarcerated person.” tin,” said Taylor. ues to ravage San Quentin, Rest in Peace, Sergeant. ity and skill to de-escalate ances or just have a casual “Polanco will also be re- Polanco embodied lead- while the administration at- Community is Community

Photo by CDCR Photo by CDCR Photo by CDCR Sgt. Polanco with his friend Sgt. Polanco with his wife Sgt. Polanco with his son and wife September/October 2020 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 7 The stark reality of prison, COVID and the public perception

make amends. EDITORIAL The calls for early releases, to curb the surge of COVID-19 By Marcus Henderson and death, has set off Editor-in-Chief an array of emotions from joy of family The screams of “Man members and prison Down!” (the incarcerated reform advocates to emergency medical call) fear and indifference rattle around the various San from some of the gen- Quentin housing units. The eral public. alert starts the sounds of cor- How did we get rectional officers loud boots here? It has been al- hitting the pavement and most 30 years of con- their keys jingling adds to stant lawsuits. I do the chaos and the panic when believe some govern- the emergency alarms go off. ment officials want prison reform and that must be balanced with the concerns of All we hope for the general public. But I must say that is for society it has mainly been to remember the incarcerated and our advocates, who whatever the have humanized life within California and deed was, most the nation’s prison of us weren’t system. We (the in- carcerated) had to sentenced to fight for our religious rights (services, arti- death by the state facts, grooming stan- dards), or access to the courts. We even Medical nurses arrive, had to fight to end covered from head to toe in the indefinite use of Personal Protection Equip- solitary confinement ment (PPE) resembling a sci- and win adequate fi movie, to administer aid. healthcare—not Illustration by Orlando Smith This scene has played out for something special, months within the prison. just adequate. Now we are in the mist of CR’s own recidivism study, for new felonies, but none through participating in our COVID-19 has truly hit In 2011, the U.S. Supreme a deadly pandemic and ap- more than 50% of prisoners that required a life term, such self-help groups. It’s not for San Quentin hard. Twenty- Court ruled that California is proaching flu season. The cri- paroled after completion of as murder. us to tell people who have six incarcerated individuals required to reform prisons to teria of who may qualify for a determined sentence were So it pains most of us been harmed how they should and one correctional officer provide constitutionally suf- early release are very narrow. convicted of a new crime who have done the inter- feel. We must respect the pro- have died and thousands of ficient physical and mental The debate centers on non- within three years compared nal work—those who have cess. We just want to restore others have been infected care to incarcerated people. violent offenders versus those to only 5% of lifer parolees worked through the child- what we can. with the virus transmitted in It’s almost a decade later and who have committed violent who were convicted of a new hood traumas and accepted As the coronavirus spreads our community. “that can” seems to be con- crimes. crime within three years. accountability—to still be and becomes our new reality, Even in these times of cri- tinuously kicked down the However, the facts are A study by Stanford Uni- considered politically “risky” our fears of death are real. All sis, it feels that we (the incar- road. The cases went from rarely discussed or consid- versity between 1995 and and not for safety reasons. we hope for is for society to cerated) always have to prove Plata, Coleman vs. Gov. Jerry ered, mainly because of the 2010 found that of 860 mur- We also accept the victim/ remember whatever the deed our humanity, our rehabilita- Brown to Plata, Coleman vs. type of crimes attached to the derers paroled in California, survivor rights; we believe in was, most of us weren’t sen- tion and our willingness to Gov. Gavin Newsom. individual. According to CD- only five returned to prison their voice. We learned this tenced to death by the state.

Letters To The Editor

San Quentin News,

Just wanted to give you a shout-out for the article on Mental Health Week. I’m so glad that this has been brought to focus with the CDC. This is something long coming. People only see and hear what prison life does to a person, when there is more that can be done besides prayer, hope, love. I know this because your article has my brother’s name on suicides: Jes- se Hernandez. He was a big brother that I looked up to, and is still missed so much it hurts.

Thank you again.

Susan Jarcki

Dear Susan, We thank you for your kind and inspirational words. San Quentin News will continue to raise your brother’s name and the rest of our fallen brothers and sisters. We don’t always hear the effects this loss has on the family. If it’s not too painful, San Quentin News would like to tell your story.

Thank you.

Marcus Henderson

Good morning.

I have been following your website since learning of your news organization and journalists through a story on race relations in prisons that aired on NPR. I’m especially thinking of you all and your community, now as the COVID-19 virus threatens all communities, but especially those where individuals are not able to isolate in place. Are you receiving safety supplies? Sincerely,

Bryan

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Hey, I just wanted to say, you guys are doing a badass job at the San Quentin News! I love reading this every month; it helps us (family and friends) know what’s up with all of you guys…Good job, keep on doin what yo doin’. Stand tall and keep yo head up!

Angel Paradise Page 8 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com September/October 2020

The following articles are reprinted from the Titan Tribune, a newspaper written by students from the Miami Youth Academy, which is a commitment facility for teenage boys. The newspaper is part of a journalism class run by Exchange for Change, a Miami nonprofit that teaches writing skills at MYA and adult correctional facilities. Photos are blurred for purposes of the participants of the program Exchange class with University of Miami opens our eyes and creates mix of emotions By X. S. and K. C. Titan Tribune Staff Writers

Nine students at MYA are involved in an exchange class with University of Mi- ami criminology students. When we arrived at the campus for the first session, it seemed a little bit awkward because we were all wearing the same uniform. This stood out to the UM students. At the start of the class, we paired up with our part- ners. We started to get to know each other so we could build a relationship over the semester. The UM students were interesting because they managed to choose a different path in life to ben- efit themselves. We did have something in common with some of them. For example, some students were also involved with the Photo courtesy of Titan Tribune Photo courtesy of Titan Tribune juvenile justice system as UM students speaking to MYA participants University of Michgian students on tour with MYA participants kids. But they learned their lesson and changed to be- By J. B. come better in life. Titan Tribune Staff Writer Now, they and the stu- dents who were not involved On the way to our first in the justice system have a University of Miami ex- lot going for themselves. For change class, I felt excited example, some of them play but nervous. football or soccer. All are How are the UM students there to further their educa- going to look at me? What tion. are they going to think? We learned that if you As I walked through the want something, you have to doors at the university, I saw work hard to get it. One of some students stop and stare our partners said she strived curiously, wondering where to do well in school, which we came from. wasn’t easy. But she kept As we went inside the going. Now she is in col- classroom, the students lege, driving a nice car and stared as we sat down. Af- playing soccer. Other UM ter we got our groups sorted partners said they have to out, the first question was, keep working hard to play “What did you do to enter football. the (MYA) program”? During our second class, I felt subconscious when we talked about juvenile they asked that question. delinquency. We explained But as we progressed, the how a lot of teenagers can conversation got better. end up making the wrong They spoke about how col- choices, which then lead lege is and how much fun it them into the justice system. can be. We had a good conversa- They also spoke about tion about how peer pressure how the dorm was set up, can lead to trouble because with a television and their Photo courtesy of Titan Tribune students don’t want to look own bathroom. That is way UM students sitting down with MYA participants bad in front of friends or different than our dorm at gang members. MYA. We have a small room Miami is so much better nile justice system. I talked them. kids to think those behaviors Overall, we found the UM with no bathroom or televi- than where they’re from be- about peer pressure. When We talked a lot about how are OK. MYA student A. D. students caring and open to sion in it. cause of the beaches, people we discussed the issue in the peer pressure can contrib- discusses college life with hearing our stories. They The three college students and summer parties. next class, the UM students ute to juvenile delinquency. the UM students in his class. were very polite. in our group came from dif- After we left the session, gave me some good advice I told them that some kids One UM student said this Also, we had a good time ferent places: Orlando, New we had to do a written as- about staying away from in the neighborhood can could lead to crime becom- getting out of our facility and Jersey, and Tennessee. Two signment about the reasons negative peers. I started to commit a crime and not get ing more normalized in a doing something productive. of the girls explained how for us ending up in the juve- feel really comfortable with caught. So that leads other neighborhood.

Me and Only Me What I learned at Miami Youth Academy Excerpts of rap lyrics by Q. M. program after charges ent situations. I want every eStaff food-handling cer- They wasn’t outchea for me when I was on my down fall of burglary and grand newcomer here to under- tificate used in commercial theft. I was doing crimes stand that rebelling in this cooking. The only hurdle I They wasn’t vouchin’ for me when I couldn’t stand tall to make money because program will never help have not yet overcome is re- I dropped to my knees, I prayed the lord take ‘em all I didn’t have any. I your situation. It will make lapse prevention. I will not didn’t want to rely on it worse. know if everything is going See they laughed at me and thought that I was dumb. . . other people, and there You can take two differ- to go well on that issue until Switch it up see, they thought I was dumb were not many people to ent paths in this program. I get back into the world, to I got my GED, despite where I came from rely on. One is easier than the other. my city, and do what I know I came into this pro- You can be a follower or a I should be doing -- instead I know it’s not much but look what I have done gram hoping to get of going back to what I did leader. The follower watches I got some younguns lurkin’ to put down dat gun my GED and then get kids who they believe are before. I believe this is going home, as soon as pos- cool and then tries to be like to be the hardest thing to ac- Survivin’ in dis jungle, it’s hard to shake sum sible. Although I have them. The leader does what complish, because it’s easier You don’t like to look stupid, so you play dumb had bumps in the road is best for himself in any to go back to what I knew throughout my stay, I situation, because he came before I came here. My father looked me in my eyes and have learned a lot of dif- in by himself and he’s going But what I have realized is said you need to change son Photo courtesy of Titan Tribune ferent things. They in- to leave by himself. that I can conquer anything I I been despised so many times, but dat don’t change nun Q.M. clude how to walk away That does not mean you put my mind to. It just takes from distractions that cannot have friends, but it’s effort and hard work, so I This the reason I slang iron, but I pray change come By Q. M. could jeopardize my free- important to surround your- will strive to do better, not Momma I hope you proud of your son you made some dom or get me into trouble. self with the right friends. If just for my family but for I am 17-years-old, from This program has helped you do, you’ll be fine. myself. They say change gon’ come Fort Myers. me mature and become “the As of now, I have my high Q.M. has graduated and is I bet I be the one to change some I was brought to this bigger person” in differ- school diploma and a Saf- back at home. September/October 2020 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 9 Father Greg writes the human story of gangs lage, which at that time was late for school and missing get this. He gets to the end Father G”doesn’t Book Review considered the gang capital class. “I hear you’ve been with a big finish. “Because offer steps or solu- of Los Angeles. late for school a lot,” Father Father Greg and Homeboy tions to the wide- By Heriberto Arredondo Father G uses “dichos” G tells him. He cries im- Industries believed in me, I spread problems of Staff Writer (Spanish sayings) and homie mediately, “I don’t got that decided to believe in myself. gangs. He states: street slang, which is hilari- much clothes.” He had so And the best way I can think “My book will not Father Gregory Boyle ous and at other times very internalized the fact that he of payin’ ’em back is by be a ‘How to deal is a Catholic priest who touching. He quotes several didn’t have clean clothes (or changing my life. And that’s with gangs’ book. has made significant steps poets and theologians and enough of them) that it in- exactly what I’d decided to It will not lay out a in helping gang members uses parables throughout fected his very sense of self. do. Thank you.” comprehensive plan turn their lives around, and his narrative. His book is He goes on to say later The audience erupts in for a city to prevent helped the public to under- incredibly heartwarming in the same chapter: author applause. They truly go and intervene in their stand what led them into and tragic. It is full of hope, and psychiatrist James Gil- nuts. They are on their feet burgeoning gang sit- criminal lifestyles. compassion and empathy. ligan writes that the self and people are crying and uation.” In his book “Tattoos on For those who are mar- cannot survive without love, shouting. Instead his hopes the Heart,” Father Boyle ginalized from society. Fa- and the self, starved of love, Elias doesn’t even under- are that, in finding a (also known as “G” to the ther G is able to understand dies. The absence of self- stand that they are clapping home for these sto- gang members he helps) and talk about the core is- love is shame, “Just as cold for him and not Father G un- ries in this modest ef- writes stories about gang sues and beliefs that gang is the absence of warmth.” til someone tells him. And fort, “I hope likewise members who are usually members internalize, like There are moments in the so, an entire room of total to tattoo those men- demonized and portrays how author John Bradshaw book when homies will find strangers hands Elias back tioned here on our them as human beings who claims that shame is the and understand their self- to himself in no uncertain collective heart.” have suffered incredible root of all addictions. “This worth. terms. The book does not traumas throughout their would certainly seem to be He writes about how he Father G talks of the vio- concern itself with solving bers as human beings, hav- lives. true with the gang addic- sends homies to give speech- lence and its effect on the the gang problem. It aspires ing empathy without judg- The Jesuit priest is the tion. In the fact of all this, es and accept awards for community and ultimately to broaden the parameters ment. When you develop founder of Homeboy Indus- the call is to allow the pain- him (which he gives them), on those he loves—the gang of our kinship. It hopes to that “kinship” you can share tries, an intervention pro- ful shame of others to have a like Elias: He’s trembling members themselves. You put a human face on the your love with someone who gram for gang members. He purchase on our lives. Not to as he holds the yellow lined will find yourself reading a gang members and to rec- has been deprived of it and began his career in 1984 as fix the problem, but to feel paper on which he’s written story of someone you begin ognize our own wounds in help begin the healing pro- an associate pastor, and then it.” his speech. It’s not much of to enjoy and root for and it the broken lives and daunt- cess. pastor, at Dolores Mission. You won’t be able to help a speech, really—there is no will leave you heartbroken ing struggles of the men and It does not matter what It’s located in the Boyle but feel compassion for the poetry, only the unmistak- when their life is tragically women in these parables. your beliefs or religion may Heights area of East Los children in Father G’s book. able testimony of this kid taken. When this happened, That in itself is the first be. When you read “Tattoos Angeles and stands between He tells the story of a standing there, transformed I would continue reading, step toward fixing the gang on the Heart” you will find a two public housing projects, little project kid in his of- and astonishing. hoping that the next person problem anywhere in the higher power in the love for Pico Gardens and Aliso Vil- fice who had regularly been The audience seems to would make it. world—seeing gang mem- your fellow man. Reform Alliance donating 100,000 masks to prisons to combat COVID By Harry C. Goodall Jr. protective equipment. musicians Shawn “Jay-Z” of Third Point. This group cerated people and there are leased” follows Kevin Carr Journalism Guild Writer “We partnered with Shaka Carter and Meek Mills. Meek helps as advocates for grant- at least 200 documented cas- and Sam Johnson, who were Senghor — who spent 19 was once arrested on drug ing clemency and reforming es of COVID-19. both paroled from San Quen- Reform Alliance has a goal years in prison and wrote a charges. penal codes and probation. Senghor is a consulting tin. The show illustrates how of donating 100,000 masks to memoir about his life — who Another member is Van Of the purchased masks, producer for the Oprah Win- they are transitioning into prisons to aid in combating was able to find us an anony- Jones, who served in Presi- 40,000 were delivered to the frey Network program titled society. the COVID-19 virus. mous donor who donated dent Obama’s administration. Tennessee Department of “Released.” Senghor had spent 19 years Shaka Senghor of $100,000 to buy masks,” said Jones helped pass the First Corrections and 5,000 were He visited San Quentin in in a Michigan prison. Reform Alliance received Jackson. Step Act. Other members of delivered to Mississippi State November 2017, where he Both Senghor and the at- an anonymous $100,000 Reform Alliance was the group are notables such Penitentiary. said he wanted to collaborate torney/author of The New Jim donation, said Jessica founded in 2019 by celebri- as Robert Kraft, owner of New York’s Rikers Island with men in prison, accord- Crow, Michelle Alexander, Jackson, chief advocacy ties and business leaders, the New England Patriots; will receive 50,000 masks. ing to a San Quentin News have spoken at the Ella Baker officer. The organization used according to CNBC on April Robert Smith, CEO of Vista Rikers Island usually houses article. Center in Oakland. Senghor this money to buy personal 3. Among its members are Equity, and Dan Loeb, CEO around 5,000 to 6,000 incar- The documentary “Re- also met President Obama.

My friend died in San Quentin due to COVID-19. His death was entirely preventable. Incompetence and inaction by California’s leaders are driving illness and death inside the state’s prison system. By Adnan Khan This piece is a commentary, part of The Appeal’s collection of opinion and analysis.

I just found out my friend died. He contracted COVID-19 in San Quentin State Prison after a botched transfer of positive cases there. As I write this in my grief, I cannot imagine the devastation his family is experiencing with the loss. I knew him well. I was incarcerated with him in San Quentin where I was serving a life sentence. We spent a lot of time together on the yard, in self-help groups and educational classes. I also know San Quentin, the prison, really well. I spent my previous four years there, completing a total of sixteen. His death was preventable and his safety should’ve been prioritized. He tested negative on June 25 and then died on July 25. He was mixed with positive cases after he tested negative. San Quentin doesn’t have anything under control. All it would’ve taken was political courage to reduce the prison population significantly. Tragically, given what he was left with–trapped in a tight box with COVID-19–survival was out of his control and death was inescapable for him. Sadly, most people won’t care about my friend’s passing. His incarceration gave the state legitimacy to deny him his humanity. As a society, we accept punishment and torture as the only exchange for breaking a law, not redemption. Inhumane treatment becomes acceptable–so as we enter incarceration, the human being gets extracted from the body. Our dignity is confiscated along with the personal, material belongings during the initial strip search. All of this is made possible by society’s narrow focus on solely the crime. Subsequently, the narrative is shaped as a permanent boogeyman-esque identity for that person. We hardly ever factor in the next decade or two of that human being’s journey to make that assessment whole and accurate. What the public fatally lacks is something we as incarcerated people have an abundance of in prison. Proximity. In prison, we get to know each other extremely well. As the years crawl and the hours get slower, we fill each challenging second by dissecting each other’s lives. We become each other’s test studies and learn the anatomy of the proverbial heart. We spend hours upon hours crammed in tight spaces calculating the psychology behind each other’s thoughts. Trust and safety are destinations in prison. If found, a sudden ability to go into the depths of each other’s innermost shame, pain, trauma, remorse and the thorough details of a person’s accountability for the harm they’ve caused are unlocked. Oftentimes for the incarcerated, this level of intimacy can gain a more profound understanding than one’s own family. We carry each other’s stories with us wherever we go. The heart-wrenching, often gruesome experiences shared with us do not get left behind upon our release either. It’s not that I remember, it’s that I know. I know who was molested by their father, who was beaten with closed fists by their foster parent at 8 years old, and whose friend was shot and died in his arms at the age of 14. For larger society, these stories don’t match the face tattoos or visible scars. These stories don’t match the warm smiles or laugh lines we see on the prison yard daily. It’s like a deception of senses where I’m staring at the body and face of a grown adult yet hearing the sounds of a child’s shriek. Furthermore, I know why they committed their crimes. Not to make an excuse for the crime but to understand why. Why they committed robbery, assault or murder. But society is deprived of such a narrative. They’re deprived of the level of accountability and the depths of remorse my fellow incarcerated people have for their victims. I wish they could see how many good people exist inside. I wish they could observe how much of our lives are spent trying to make amends, somehow, some way. Instead, their identity is forever trapped in a time capsule that society and politics has forced them into. As an activist who has been impacted by incarceration, I don’t have a work life that is separate from a personal life. Detaching the two feels immoral to me. I can’t clock out of caring about someone. Getting to know people comes with a burden. Especially in prison. Especially when leaving them behind upon your release. Proximity comes with a set of responsibilities of which you become the project manager of. Survivor’s guilt places deadlines on you that you have to reach. And as in the case of my friend, “deadline” in relation to advocacy is a horrifically accurate term. Our organization’s slogan is “from proximity to policy.” I feel safe around the people you might fear the most. It is my proximity that gives me access to empathy. Society and political leaders are tragically uninformed about people in prison, yet, make deadly decisions based on their fears. Our obligation should be to know people in their totality, and only then can we create safe policies which address the needs of everyone. Instead, the public’s ignorance has incarcerated our loved ones’ identities and has handcuffed their humanity to their crimes. Everyone should have the privilege, like I did, to get to know a person as a whole. Society saw my friend as someone who was not deserving of dignity. They believe the person who did the crime deserved to die of COVID-19. But if they truly knew who my friend was, he would’ve been released to his family. Rather, they saw him as an enemy of the state. They chose not to acknowledge his humanity. My friend was neglected and he is one of millions of examples of other incarcerated people identical to him. People we incarcerate are not our enemies. They are victims of societal failures and their crime does not negate their restoration. They are brothers and sisters, daughters and sons and they are someone’s really good friend. My really good friend. As much as we can argue about who the enemy is, one thing that is inarguable is that humanity’s enemy is neglect. Page 10 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com September/October 2020

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Edited by Jan Perry Crossword 14 15 16 Theme: 2 N 1 Across Down 17 18 19 Snippets 1. Strew 1. Government seizure 20 21 22 5. Below average grades 2. Actress Hathaway ay Kroc was a 9. Stunt 3. Liquor container 23 24 Rmilkshake-mixer 14. Moving along 4. Type of bag salesman and in 1954 15. Cheerios spelling 5. Jason ______25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 asks the McDonalds’ 16. Legendary folk hero in Romania 6. USS destroyer brothers to let him 17. Individual thing 7. Money 34 35 36 37 18. Exodus writer Leon Russell 8. In Greek mythology, an alias of Demeter franchise McDonald’s 19. Pretender 9. Distinct period 38 39 40 restaurants outside 20. Italian sparkling drink 10. Type of music 41 42 43 California and Arizona. 22. American and British TV show 11. Alternative name for the 23. A village in Latvia Guilds of Florence 44 45 46 avs are used for 24. Body of water 12. John Mayer song Uthe shipment of 25. Actress Kebbel of Lincoln Rhyme: 13. ____ for Kids 47 47 48 49 live-saving medical Hunt for the Bone Collector 21. Alita’s name equipment and 29.___cute 24. Jazz musician Getz 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 medication where 31. Type of gene 25. Type of frog human transport would 34. James of Psych 26. Flowers 59 60 61 35. Wif of Tyndareus king of Sparta 27. Best possible be too time consuming 62 63 64 in Africa. 36. Buck 28. A person in prison is one 38. ____-friendly 29. Smooth 65 66 67 urning down the $11 39. King of Phthia, ancestor of all true Greek 30. Perfect place 40. A town in Norway 32. _____ and Trude million dollar role T 41. Ready to eat ____ 33. A style of Jamaican folk music By Jonathan Chiu for “Speed 2” resulted 42. Japanese noodle 35. ____ Pizza- US restaurant chain A T A P S H U L A A D A M in Keanu Reeves being 43. Instagram or Facebook announcements 37. Metal tool Last issue’s answer B A C H L I N E N M I R A blacklisted by 20th 44. Cunning 39. Actress Helen C I T I A LL A M E R I C A N Century Fox for 10 45. Popular music album 43. City in Austria L U M A N A E K E 46. Hotel attendant 46. Will Smith movie years. N A A C P V A N E D 47. Decay 48. Newspaper pieces alf a millennium 49. Airport abbr. 49. Actresses Faris and Kendrick O R S O N W E LL S I B S Hbefore Christopher 50. Follows Sunset or Vegas 50. Marking N I A LL O N E M O R A L S Columbus “discovered” 53. What college students pull 51. Chemistry term denoting replacement D E N I M A Y B E U T A H America, Viking 59. Pursue of oxygen by sulfur in a compound A L A N N A O U T C O R A 60. Asian surname 52. National park in the Himalayas chief Leif Eriksson S S I C O LL A T E R A L 61. Mail 53. Actor Sandler of Greenland landed 62. Broadcasted 54. Domesticated animal C A R P S S W I S S on the Island of 63. Indian nursemaid 55. Hong Kong bank A Y A E R E G A I Newfoundland in the 64. Pipe cleaner 56. Actress Reid R O LL E R D E R B Y LL O Y D year 1,000 AD. 65. Shouts 57. Actor Morales C L O P O P I U M I D E O 66. Type of cell 58. Wrench violently H O T S R Y A N S S E N T 67. Ancient Irish sport

Sudoku Last Issue’s Brain Teasers Sudoku Quick! Count the number of times that the Corner Solutions letter F appears in the following sentence:

8 6 1 5 2 7 3 9 4 “Finished files are the result of 2 7 4 3 9 6 8 1 5 years of scientific study combined 8 2 5 7 3 3 9 5 1 4 8 6 2 7 5 3 2 9 8 4 1 7 6 with the experience of years.” 5 3 9 6 1 8 9 7 6 3 4 5 2 6 4 7 2 1 5 9 3 8 How many did you find? 4 8 2 9 5 6 8 7 1 2 4 3 4 2 3 6 5 9 7 8 1 9 3 2 7 1 8 4 3 2 5 6 9 Please pick the piece that’s missing from the diagram on the left. 4 8 9 2 7 4 8 9 2 3 1 6 5 3 9 5 6 4 1 2 7 8 4 6 9 1 6 2 8 5 7 4 9 3 5 7 4 3 8 2 6 1 9 8 1 9 7 6 4 3 5 2 7 1 9 2 3 6 5 1 9 7 8 4 6 2 1 4 9 8 5 3 7 3 2 4 7 9 5 3 2 7 6 8 4 1 6 9 7 5 4 4 8 7 1 3 5 9 2 6

3 8 1 7 Mental Stimulation

7 Here you have a few quick brain teasers to exercise your attention and your working memory–the ability to keep information in your mind while manipulating multiple units of information at the same 1 6 4 3 5 time. Given them a try … they are not as easy as they may seem 5 9 3 2 1. Say the days of the week backwards, then in alphabetical order. (Speak other languages? Try doing the same in Spanish, French, Mandarin…) 9 5 2 1 2. Say the months of the year in alphabetical order. Easy? Well, why don’t you try doing so backwards, in reverse alphabetical order. 2 3 5 4 7 3. Find the sum of your date of birth, mm/dd/yyyy. Want a tougher mind teaser? Do the same 1 with your spouse’s or best friend’s date of birth (without looking it up…) 4 2 8 3 4. Name two objects for every letter in your first name. Work up to five objects, trying to use different items each time. September/October 2020 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com Page 11 RESOURCES The Walls to Bridges Project is Free and open to all incarcerated persons

Parents, Grandparents, Godparents, Siblings, Uncles & Aunts Whatever your relationship, we’re here to help you stay connected to your family during this time. We’ll mail the child (any age up to 18) an age- appropriate book with a note that says it is from you. There is no limit per person. If there is more than one child, each of them will get a book. This program is operates while supplies are available. There are two options to sign up: Send a letter to us, including your name, relationship to the child, and the contact information for the guardian or caregiver of the child (phone number and/or email address). Do NOT send us their mailing address. We will reach out to them and facilitate mailing the book. In your letter, let us know what kind of book you think the child will like or any other thoughts you have. OR Ask the guardian or caregiver of the child send us an email at [email protected]

WALLS TO BRIDGES PROGRAM C/O CRC OF SANTA CRUZ 614 OCEAN STREET SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060

DON’T WANT TO OR CAN’T PARTICIPATE? SEND US A LETTER ANYWAY! LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT FAMILY MEANS TO YOU Setting up to welcome Pacific Islands back

By John Lam but I felt compelled by my “I know the power of pro- “We want the API broth- SQ News Alumnus passion to provide a platform viding a social safety net that ers and sisters who are sitting for people coming home. So I offers returning citizens a behind bars serving 5, 10, 15 A nonprofit organization can relate on a very personal place to feel like home … a years or even longer to know in Los Angeles is pioneer- level to the cultural shame place to reconnect, to build we are here for them. If you ing ways to help formerly around individuals who were camaraderie and to celebrate need support letters, jobs and incarcerated Asian Pacific incarcerated.” life. My brother is a living other resources before parol- Islanders (APIs) resettle and The passion to provide testament to the power and ing, write to us,” said Ta. reconnect back to their com- social support for system- success of API RISE. munities. impacted APIs is what draws “My brother paroled in “There’s a taboo for APIs community supporters, advo- 2018 after serving 21 years. who were and are incarcer- cates and the formerly incar- He is now working as a li- “You don’t ated,” said Duc Ta, formerly cerated to the organization. censed electrician and volun- Are you paroling to Southern California and in need incarcerated youth offender, “My brother was incarcer- teering his time to give back have to go of resources, assistance, support letters and job professional chef and co- ated in the late ’90s, and his to API RISE, so others who referrals? Contact our organization, API RISE, we founder of API RISE. incarceration inspired me to are following behind him can through this are a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles “My own parents didn’t pursue a law degree,” said be given the same opportu- understand the work that I Paul Jung, a lawyer and co- nities for success that he has alone, or feel founded by formerly incarcerated individuals with the was doing with API RISE, founder of API RISE. enjoyed.” support of community members. API RISE was founded in stigmatized; 2015 by community mem- Write to us: bers Paul Jung, Traci Isihigo we are here and two formerly incarcer- ated APIs, Duc Ta and David for you” API RISE Kupihea. P.O. Box 53664, Los Angeles, CA 90053 Before Covid-19, the orga- nization held monthly meet- “You don’t have to go ings in a church located south through this alone, or feel Connect with us: of downtown Los Angeles. stigmatized; we are here for [email protected] / facebook: API RISE Los Ange- “A big part of our group you.” les / Instagram: api_rise is to socialize, host healing API RISE currently offers circles discussing forgive- the following services: ness, and things members • Member Care (support Our goal is to build an actively engaged and involved are struggling with,” said Ta. groups, linkages to re-entry Asian Pacific Islanders (API) community of API “We also host cooking class- programs, mutual aid peer inmates, formerly incarcerated individuals, at-risk es, guest speakers and other support) fun events for our members.” • Prison In-Reach (letter youth, families, allies, and supporters. To educate Since Covid-19, API RISE writing, parole preparation our community around issues of how the criminal, continues its work by hosting assistance, family support) legal and prison systems impact APIs and to bi-weekly meetings on Zoom • Policy Advocacy (local, organize around the needs of currently and formerly to check in with members state and federal), especially Photo courtesy of Duc Ta and come up with ideas to as it relates to immigration incarcerated community members. Duc Ta and Paul Jung provide mutual aid. and criminal justice reforms Page 12 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com September/October 2020

RESOURCES Correspondence reading guide by mail

Point Global Outreach provides a free 29-page 8. Providence Books through Bars 17. National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms Resource Directory for Prisoners. This directory provides 42 Lenox Avenue P.O. Box 66301 correspondence courses for many religions and spiritual Providence, RI 02907-1910 Washington, DC 20035 traditions, legal support, pen pals and more. Most organizations in the directory offer their services, books and literature free • Since the number one requested book is a dictionary, PBB • Write directly to NCPCF to request a pen pal volunteer. of charge to prisoners. To request a copy, write to: tries to send out as many as they can as well as thesauruses and reference books; provide requests for as many types of Naljor Prison Dharma PO Box 628 Mount Shasta, CA books as possible. MEDITATION RESOURCES 96067 9. Women’s Prison Book Project (Serves all US states GUIDELINES: except: CT, FL, IL, IN, MA, MI, MS, OH, OR, PA) c/o 18. The Human Kindness Foundation / The Prison Boneshaker Books Ashram Project 2002 23rd Ave S PO Box 61619 • Let these organizations know the book restrictions in the Minneapolis MN 55404 Durham, NC 27715 prison where you are incarcerated: maximum amount of books they allow to be received at one time? Does the prison accept • Provides women and transgender persons in prison with • Provides free books mostly written by one of its founders, used books or new only? Paperbacks only? free reading materials covering a wide range of topics from Bo Lozoff, offering spiritual guidance and support. The most • List only the subjects or types of books of interest. Books law and education (dictionaries, GED, etc.) to fiction, politics, well-known of these books are: We’re All Doing Time and are often donated and change every week. Distributors do their history, and women’s health. Deep and Simple. Offers a free newsletter sent three times a best to send something close to what you ask for. Requests by year called “A Little Good News” providing spiritual support title or author are often challenging to fulfill. RELIGIOUS RESOURCES for the incarcerated. • Please write clearly — especially your name, ID number, and address. Include all this info on both the envelope and in 10. Bible Truth Publishers 19. Prison Mindfulness Institute your letter. 59 Industrial Road 11 S. Angell St. #303 Addison, IL 60101 Providence, RI 02906 1. Beehive Books Behind Bars (Serves WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, AZ, UT, MT, WY, CO, NM prisons only) • Supplies free Bibles in English and Spanish to prisoners • Organizes a pen pal program between prisoners and Weller Book Works meditation volunteer. 607 Trolley Square 11. Chapel Library Salt Lake City, UT 84102 2603 West Wright Street 20. Prison Mindfulness Institute and Prison Dharma Pensacola, Florida 32505 Network • BBB matches book requests from prisoners to books that 11 S. Angell St. #303 have been donated to them. • Offers free Christian literature including study courses Providence, RI 02906 and Bibles. Available in tracts, booklets, paperbacks and 2. The Prison Library Project c/o The Claremont Forum audio tapes • PMI provides books and resources on Mindfulness and 915-C W. Foothill Blvd, PMB 128 Meditation through their “Books Behind Bars” program. Claremont, CA 91711 12. Prison Fellowship PDN offers a support network in the practice of contemplative 44180 Riverside Parkway, disciplines, with an emphasis on sitting meditation practice. • The Prison Library Project mails over 15,000 packages of Lansdowne, VA 20176 Offers the principles and practices of Buddhist teachings. books each year to inmates as well as boxes of books to prison librarians, educators and chaplains. • Publishes Inside Journal® a quarterly publication of 21. Buddhist Peace Fellowship Prison Fellowship that is distributed inside corrections PO Box 3470 3. Prisoners Literature Project (PLP) (Serves all of the facilities. Written specifically for incarcerated men and Berkeley, CA 94703 US except Texas prisons c/o Bound Together Bookstore women, in both English and Spanish. 1369 Haight Street • BPF’s programs, publications, and practice groups San Francisco, CA 94117 link Buddhist teachings of wisdom and compassion with PEN PAL PROGRAMS progressive social change. Offers free meditation information • Limit requests to once a year; Takes 2-4 months to respond and a newsletter. to requests. PLP does not have the following kinds of books: law books and legal guides; romances; horror; Bibles and 13. Human Rights Pen Pals 22. Siddha Yoga Meditation Prison Project Christian literature 1301 Clay Street P.O.Box 99140 P.O. Box 71378 Emeryville, CA 94622 4. Bellingham Books To Prisoners (BBTP) Oakland, CA 94612 PO Box 1254 Provides the Siddha Yoga Home Study Course to inmates Bellingham, WA 98227 • Provides educational and supportive correspondence upon request. Lessons are received monthly and are available between people in solitary confinement and supporters outside in Spanish translation. A free newsletter, study course and • BBTP are partnered with Seattle Books To Prisoners. Last the prison walls. resource guide are also provided. year over 7,000 books were sent to prisoners. 14. Lifelines to Solitary 23. Mindfulness Peace Project | Solitary Confinement 5. DC Books to Prisons c/o Solitary Watch 6800 N. 79th St, Ste. 200 PO Box 34190 PO Box 11374 Niwot, CO 80503 Washington, DC 20043-4190 Washington, DC 20008 You might pass this on to a chaplain or psychologist: • Provides free books to prisoners in 35 states and supports • Solitary Watch provides support to people in prisons living prison libraries. You may mail requests to us every five in isolation, through its Lifelines to Solitary project. Through • A mindfulness program broadcasted into isolation units (in months. You may request titles or authors, but since all our personalized letters and quarterly newsletters, they keep in the CO DOC). Provides channels for education and spiritual books are donated, prioritized genres or areas of interest are touch with more than 3,000 people in solitary confinement instruction as well. more likely to be filled. We don’t send legal books. Please list across the country. Write to Solitary Watch to request a pen prison restrictions if known. If required by your prison, please pal and newsletter. SOLITARY TOP LEVEL include a pre-approval form. Please do not send requests from more than one inmate per envelope. We do not send to 15. Unitarian Universalist Association county or city jails, or to prisons in Connecticut, Florida, CLF Letter Writing Prison Ministry 24. Liberation Prison Project Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, 25 Beacon Street PO Box 33036 New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Boston, MA 02108 Raleigh, NC 27636 Vermont, Washington State or Wisconsin. However, we will send to inmates from Washington DC in any federal prison. It • Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF), a part of the • Offers spiritual advice and teachings through letters, can take us up to three months to respond to requests. Unitarian Universalists, provides ministry and correspondence books and various materials to people in prison interested in to those who are isolated. The CLF Letter Writing Ministry exploring, studying and practicing Buddhism. 6. LGBT Books to Prisoners (Serves LGBTQ prisoners matches prisoner members with non-incarcerated Unitarian in all states except TX) Universalist’s for an exchange of friendly letters on topics 25. Ratna Prison Initiative 426 W. Gilman Street of mutual interest. All letter writers (prisoners and “ free- 1507 Pine St. Madison, WI 53703 world”) agree to the same guidelines, which emphasize Boulder, Co 80302 that our program is not intended for romantic, legal-aid or • Sends books and other educational materials to LGBTQ- financial/gift interactions. Contact the address above to • Provides mindfulness meditation instruction through identified prisoners across the U.S. Each package contains request a pen pal. correspondence relationships. Provides free books on 3-5 books, educational materials, and LGBTQ resources. Buddhism to inmates. 25,000 books have been sent to people in prison for each of 16. FFUP (Forum for Understanding Prisons) the last two years. 29631 Wild Rose Drive 26. Prison Contemplative Fellowship Blue River, WI 53518 Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. 7. NYC Books through Bars (Serves all US states except: 10 Park Place, 2nd Floor, Suite B AL, FL, LA, MA, MI, c/o Bluestockings Bookstore MS, • Write directly to FFUP Pen Pals to request a pen pal Butler, New Jersey 07405 NC, OH, PA with a priority to NY prisons) volunteer. Provide some information on your background and 172 Allen Street the areas of interest for which you would like to correspond. • Teaches Centering Prayer, a receptive method of silent New York, NY 10002 prayer. It is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Programs offer varying degrees of instruction, guided practice • They match requests from prisoners to the books they have and study. Christian orientation, however can used by anyone. available. Correspondence self-help guide by mail

NA Behind the Walls Criminon Fair Chance Project (Mentorship Program) PO Box 1605 PO Box 9091 9103 SO Western Avenue San Diego, CA 92176 Glendale, CA 91226 Los Angeles, CA 90047 Paths include Road to Happiness, Lifeskills, Overcoming Addiction Getting Out by Going In (GOGI) Sponsorship Behind the Walls Prison Letters 4 Our Struggling Youth PO Box 88969 1935 South Myrtle Ave 603 B East University Drive, #219 Los Angeles, California, USA 90009 Monrovia, CA 91016 Carson, CA 90746