Formerly incarcerated students return to school

Last year in June, East Bay-resident Dieudonné Brou graduated from UCLA in African American studies. During his commencement speech, he revealed himself as formerly incarcerated. Even though higher education offers chance to break the cycle of recidivsm, barriers like financial difficulties and social stigma are high for former incarcerated people.

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San Quentin conmemora Día de los Veteranos

El lunes, la Prisión San Quentin celebró el Día de los Veteranos. El ambiente en la yarda era solemne mientras reclusos se pararon en un pequeño entarimado para recitar los nombres de los caídos. Pero, la atmósfera también se sintió festiva; para muchos de estos hombres, la ocasión fue un descanso a la rutina de la vida del penal y una oportunidad para enmiscluirse y socializar con invitados de afuera de las paredes de la prisión.

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San Quentin commemorates Veterans Day

Monday was the second annual Veterans Day remembrance celebration at San Quentin initiated by a prison group called Veterans Healing Veterans. This program offers some hope that insight from imprisoned veterans can help those struggling to recover from combat outside the walls.

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Video by San Quentin prisoners shown in Richmond

Dozens of local residents gathered at Richmond’s Civic Center Plaza on Friday night to watch a short documentary produced by San Quentin prisoners to promote nonviolence among youngsters. The 10-minute video, made by San Quentin prisoners who call Richmond their home, is part of the Richmond Project, which prisoners initiated to stay connected with the Richmond community.

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Prison’s revolving door

Three months after being imprisoned for missing parole appointments and failing drug tests, a corrections bus scooped him up from San Quentin State Prison and dumped him a few blocks from his mother’s home just off Cutting Boulevard.

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Race behind walls

Race behind walls

Racial politics behind California’s prison walls may impact Richmond as much as any city, given the high proportion of residents who have had contact with the penal system. Former inmates and volunteers gave poignant video testimonials last month at Nevin Park.

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