OpenLine > Sixteen by Charlie Spence Prison University Project
Sixteen by Charlie Spence
"...the sheriff's van traveled at what felt like the speed of light, never allowing
me to collect my thought before arriving at my next destination: life in an adult institution at the age of sixteen. In the year 2000, the people of California voted and passed Proposition 21. This allowed for juveniles as young as fourteen who are accused of a serious crime to be tried as adults at the discretion of the District Attorney trying the case. Prior to Proposition 21, juveniles accused of such crimes were given what is called a "707(b) hearing" in front of judge, to determine if they met the criteria to be tried as an adult. Before the 707(b) hearing was introduced, only in rare and extreme cases of violence were juvenile tried as adults..."
Posted using ShareThis
Sunday, May 16, 2010
"The Other Wes Moore" by Wes Moore (Part I)
I remember watching this episode of Oprah where she featured this guest by the name of Wes Moore who authored a book entitled the "The Other Wes Moore." The author of the self entitled book was clean cut educated brother who went to explain how he really had to real intentions of becoming a book writer in life. The determining factor for him I am assuming, came primarily from a chain of events that took place in a crime in his neighborhood which result in a a police officer being shot and killed. Subsequently the police launched an all out manhunt for a guy name none other than Wes Moore. So from the outset the story grabs the attention of the listener and demands undivided attention.
Well, I am no writer by a long shot...but I know enough about marketing and the way of the consumer world to recognize a selling point when I see one. The uniqueness of a real yet twisted fate two...
Angela Davis is my idol man what can else can I say? She is all that I read while I was incarcerated and it is personal educational goal of mine to sit in on one of her Black philosophy classes.
In the here a now I am reading the book now and it is a recommended text to all that are caught of in the struggle and well as those that have cut ties...."Do it in Remembrance of Me." LOL Church going folk know what that phrase means...the rest are bound for hell any how....J/K
It services as both a tool of motivation and inspriation for those that are considering achieving beyond the status quo inspite of what lies ahead, and a reminder of what can happen when we do not fully consider the implications of my actions.
Prison University Project
The College Program at San Quentin is the central project of the Prison University Project. It provides approximately 12 college courses each semester in the humanities, social sciences, math and science, as well as intensive college preparatory courses in math and English, to approximately 200 men at San Quentin. All faculty in the Program work as volunteers.
College classes at San Quentin run in the evening; all meet at least two nights per week. During the day all students hold full-time jobs inside the prison, for which they earn approximately $25/month. On average students take two classes per semester. At this rate, most students take approximately 3 1/2 years to complete the Associate of Arts degree.
California has no state or federal funding available for prison higher education. The program is supported entirely by the Prison University Project through donations from individuals and foundation. Students in the Program pay no fees or tuition. All textbooks and school supplies are provided by the Prison University Project; the bulk of all textbooks are donated by the publishers.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
A federal judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ended on April 16, 2010 a long-standing lawsuit, Gilmore v. State of California, relating to inmate access to law libraries and legal documents at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The Gilmore case began in 1966, when inmates from San Quentin State Prison filed an action concerning their access to law books and the courts. In 1972, the court ordered an injunction requiring California to maintain a specified list of legal literature in its prisons to help inmates access the courts.
In December 2009, CDCR implemented revised regulations that provided additional rights for inmates to access the law library. CDCR's new regulations require that all inmates, regardless of their classification or housing status be entitled to physical law library that is sufficient to provide meaningful access to the courts. The new regulations require CDCR to maintain, at a minimum, the complete and updated material required at each prison that were set forth in the Gilmore Injunction.
A federal judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ended on April 16, 2010 a long-standing lawsuit, Gilmore v. State of California, relating to inmate access to law libraries and legal documents at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The Gilmore case began in 1966, when inmates from San Quentin State Prison filed an action concerning their access to law books and the courts. In 1972, the court ordered an injunction requiring California to maintain a specified list of legal literature in its prisons to help inmates access the courts.
In December 2009, CDCR implemented revised regulations that provided additional rights for inmates to access the law library. CDCR's new regulations require that all inmates, regardless of their classification or housing status be entitled to physical law library that is sufficient to provide meaningful access to the courts. The new regulations require CDCR to maintain, at a minimum, the complete and updated material required at each prison that were set forth in the Gilmore Injunction.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)