COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS working toward criminal justice reform met recently with incarcerated individuals at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center for a critical conversation about the future of transformative programming and second chance opportunities in prison.
The event held Sept. 16 was hosted by Kevin McCracken and Caroline Norton from The Last Mile, which offers computer coding and other technical programs to incarcerated people.
“We’re here today to talk about the possibilities and to provide opportunities,” said McCracken, the organization’s executive director. “I have a felony record from 26 years ago. It’s still hard for me today. But I know education and employment can help reduce recidivism.”
San Quentin warden Chance Andes acknowledged the necessity and innovation of organizations like TLM as he addressed the crowd.
“There was a time when the only jobs in prison were taking out the trash and washing dishes. Now incarcerated people are coding,” said Andes. “It’s about partnerships. We’re partnering with many organizations and we got a new building coming, where we’re excited about providing more opportunities.”
Michele Kane is a former network TV news journalist who became the chief of external affairs for the California Prison Industry Authority, which provides work assignments for about 5,800 people incarcerated in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities. Kane acknowledged the success of investing and partnering with TLM since her job began.
“Coding is now happening in prisons nationwide. We are getting incarcerated people hired by second chance employers before they’re even released from prison,” she said. “We’re making sure they have Gmail accounts set up upon their return to society. I am here because I believe in this work.”
Not going back
TLM graduates have a recidivism rate of under 5%, well below the national rate of 61% within 10 years of release, according to the organization. More than 900 TLM alumni have returned to society and never returned to prison.
Since Proposition 57, which allows prisoners to earn rehabilitative credits, passed under former Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration in 2016, California has been on the trajectory of enhancing the availability of programming and second chance opportunities upon reentry to society.
“Coding is now happening in prisons nationwide. We are getting incarcerated people hired by second chance employers before they’re even released from prison. … I am here because I believe in this work.”
Michele Kane, former TV journalist
Gov. Gavin Newsom has furthered the progress by signing Assembly Bill 292, which limits disruptions to a prisoner’s programming, by dismantling death row, passing historic Racial Justice Act legislation and announcing the transformation of San Quentin and the prison system to create a new California model, a Scandinavian-inspired “approach to normalcy in corrections and rehabilitation,” according to the CDCR.
However, since last year’s passing of Proposition 36, which increases penalties for misdemeanor crimes, and the election of President Donald Trump, many believe the movement toward a better criminal justice system that works is stalling.
McCracken opened the event by leading a panel discussion with formerly incarcerated and incarcerated leaders in the criminal justice reform movement to address the progress and the challenges now faced. Among them was Ken Hartman, the executive director of Transformative Programming Works, a coalition of formerly incarcerated people and more than 100 community-based organizations dedicated to healing and restorative justice programs in California prisons.
“There is a different wind blowing now, we have to be careful what we do,” said Hartman, who served 38 years in prison for a murder he committed at age 19. “We have to be at the forefront of the California model. We have to prove everyday that it works.”
Former Gov. Brown commuted Hartman’s sentence in 2017. Once released, Hartman became a grant writer. He then went on to lead TPW.
“My organization helped sponsor Assembly Bill 1104, which changes the focus of corrections from punishment to rehabilitation. I helped establish an honor yard at (California State Prison, Los Angeles County), to demonstrate rehabilitation works.”
‘I would have probably died in prison’
Michael Mendoza is the national criminal justice director for LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a New York-based national civil rights organization whose mission is combating discrimination through litigation and advocacy. He was incarcerated for murder at age 14.
“I had no hope until the youth offender bill SB 260 passed in 2014. Had it not been for that bill, I would have probably died in prison. When I got out there was a wave of support. The movement has changed. They want to incarcerate 14- to 15-year-old kids in prison again,” said Mendoza.
“Having rehabilitative programming and opportunities for parole provide people with hope,” said Tam Steve Nguyen, an incarcerated panelist and student of TLM. “AB 1104 provides the necessary direction for that hope, by requiring prisons to provide programming.”
Nguyen is also a member of the incarcerated advocacy group called The People In Blue. The group assisted Newsom and his advisory team in creating the “Reimagining San Quentin” report released in January 2024.
After serving 24 years in prison, Nguyen said he appreciates the privileges afforded to him by TLM. He is using all his lived experiences to create more curriculums for incarcerated individuals to find healing.
“I created a Family Communication Workshop to help people develop better relationships with their families. I learned that poor family connections can often be the reason why people return to prison,” he said.
Nguyen’s curriculum was recently used as a prerequisite for incarcerated individuals at San Quentin to participate in a first-ever Parenting Prom, an event where incarcerated fathers got to dance with their daughters while wearing tuxedos. The event took place in April.
“It was a hugely impactful event. It energized the fathers. Hope energizes people to be productive, to get educated, rehabilitated and change their lives.”
Stories of hope fuel second chances
After the main panel discussion, the entire audience broke up into 10 groups of 10 to continue the discussion.
During these smaller group discussions, formerly incarcerated individuals and those still incarcerated expressed the desire for more emotional support to prepare for society. Some expressed a desire to improve technology skills, financial literacy skills and to find employment before being released from prison. But others were concerned that their window of opportunity for release could evaporate under the new tougher political climate.
Hartman addressed this particular subject.
“The people who push against criminal justice reform can tell good stories,” he said. “We have to become better storytellers. Your stories can transform how people see you and they are important to demonstrating the success of transformative programs.”
He told the incarcerated crowd, “We have to show that the California model works.”
Steve Brooks is a California Local News Fellow with Bay City News Foundation, reporting from inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. His perspective gives readers insight into issues and news from inside the prison. See more of his work at Inside/Out on Local News Matters.
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