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Page 6 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.comFebruary 2015EDITORIALBy Arnulfo T. GarciaEditor-in-ChiefWhen the Safe and ResponsibleDriver Act (AB 60)took effect on Jan. 1, Californiadriver’s licenses becameavailable to all California residents,regardless of immigrationstatus. However, did youknow up until 1994 driver’s licenseapplicants’ immigrationstatus didn’t matter?For the period between 1994and 2015, people who livedand worked in California, butwere excluded from legallydriving in the state, just didn’tstop driving.Parents still needed to gettheir children to school. Workersstill needed to get to work.The hardship created by excludingthem from getting adriver’s license merely createda new industry when theircars were confiscated, andthey were fined.Accordingly, going backto pre-1994 rules allowingresidents to apply for driver’slicenses regardless of immigrationstatus was commonsense. The law change endeda burden placed upon otherwiselaw-abiding Californiaresidents.Here are some answers tosome of the most frequentlyasked questions about the newlaw:Before going to the Departmentof Motor Vehicles(DMV), pay any outstandingtraffic tickets and study forthe driver’s test. There is plentyof helpful material online.http://driveca.org/apply/.It would best to set an appointmentwith DMV beforegoing there to minimize waitingtime.You’ll have to complete anapplication form and pay a feeImmigrants Gain AccessibilityTo California Driver’s Licenseof $33.Make sure you have documentsthat prove your identityand California residency, suchas a consular identificationcard or passport, utility bill orlease agreement, medical records,tax return, record of afinancial institution or schoolrecords.You may use documents undera spouse’s name as proofof residency but no othersin shared residences. If yourdocuments have expired, theymust be renewed.You must pass an eye exam.You will have three chances topass a written test that coverstraffic laws.Next, you will have to makea driving test appointment.You must have proof of financialresponsibility and insurancefor the car. You willhave three chances to pass thedriving test. The DMV websiteoutlines the driving maneuversthat will be tested.Your thumb print and picturewill be taken for the license.You must be able to respondto driving instructions in English,including pointing tosafety features of your vehicleand performing driving maneuvers.DMV examiners have experienceadministering tests toapplicants who have limitedEnglish proficiency. However,applicants should practice respondingto driving instructionsin English to pass thetest.The new law allows for applicationsfor all non-commercialdriver’s licenses offeredthrough the DMV, includingClass C (most cars), Class MI/M2 (motorcycles), NoncommercialClass A or B (traveltrailers, some RVs).The new licenses are fordriving. However, they may beused as identification to policeofficers.It is unlawful for businesses,landlords, government agenciesor an entity that receivesstate funds to discriminateagainst you based on the typeof license you have.The new licenses do not givetheir holders a right to vote.The documents provided tothe DMV to prove identity,name, residency and age arenot public records, and theDMV may not disclose thisinformation, except when requestedby a law enforcementagency as part of an investigation.Inmigrantes Obtienen Accesibilidad A Licencias de ConducirTraducción Miguel QuezadaCuando el Acto de ConductoresResponsables y Seguros(AB 60) fué implementado elprimero de Enero, las licenciasde manejo de Californiase hicieron disponibles paratodos los residentes de Californiasin importar su estadolegal de inmigración. Sin Embargo,¿sabía usted que antesde 1994 el estado legal de inmigracióndel solicitante delicencia de manejo no importaba?Entre el periodo de 1994y 1995, la gente que vivió ytrabajo en California, perofueron excluidos de manejarlegalmente en el estado, perosimplemente no dejaron demanejar.Los padres de familia todavíanecesitaban llevar a sushijos a la escuela. Los trabajadorestodavía necesitabanir al trabajo. La carga creadaal excluirlos de una licenciade manejar simplemente creouna nueva industria al confiscarsus automóviles y habersido multados.Por consiguiente, regresandoa 1994 cuando lasreglas permitían a residentesaplicar por una licencia demanejo sin importar el estadode inmigración, era sentidocomún. El cambio de ley terminouna carga impuesta sobreciudadanos y residentesde California que cumplíancon la ley.Aquí hay unas respuestas apreguntas frecuentemente solicitadassobre la nueva ley:Antes de ir al Departamentode Vehículos Motorizados(DMV), pague cualquiermulta de tráfico pendientey estudie para el examen demanejo. Hay suficiente informaciónútil en la página deinternet. http://driveca.org/apply/.Sería mejor arreglar unacita con el DMV antes de irpara reducir el tiempo de espera.Necesitaras que completaruna forma de aplicación ypagar un pago de $33.Asegúrese tener los documentosque comprueban suidentidad y residencia de California,como una identificaciónconsular o pasaporte,una factura de utilidades, uncontrato de renta, un registromédico, su declaración deimpuestos, un registro de unainstitución financiera, o unregistro escolar.Usted puede usar documentosbajo el nombre de uncónyuge como prueba de residenciapero no otros en residenciascompartidas. Si susdocumentos se han vencidose deben renovar.Deberá pasar un examen devista. Usted tendrá tres oportunidadespara pasar un examenescrito que cubre leyesde tráfico.Posteriormente, necesitarashacer una cita para el examende manejar.Deberá tener prueba de responsabilidadfinanciera yaseguransa para el auto. Ustedtendrá tres oportunidadespara pasar el examen demanejo. El sitió de internetdel DMV describe las maniobrasde manejo que serán examinadas.Su huella del dedo pulgary foto será tomada para la licencia.Deberá ser capaz de respondera instrucciones demanejo en ingles, incluyendolas que son dirigidas a las característicasde seguridad devehiculo y su desempeño enmaniobras de manejo.Los evaluadores del DMVtienen experiencia administrandopruebas a solicitantesquienes tienen habilidadlimitada en el ingles. Sinembargo, los solicitantes debenpracticar para responderinstrucciones en Ingles parapasar el examen.La nueva ley permite lassolicitudes para licencias nocomércialesofrecidas por elLETTER TO THE EDITORDear Editor,I read with interest the C/Osaving an inmate’s life. Whatwould have happened if thesituation was reversed? Wouldthe inmate be required underthe inmate’s code to letDMV, incluyendo la clase C(la mayoría de carros), ClaseMI/M2 (motocicletas), ClaseNo-comercial A o B (automóvilde remolque, algunosRVs).Las nuevas licencias sonpara conducir. Sin embargo,pueden ser utilizadas comoidentificación para los oficialesde policía.Es contra la ley para negocios,propietarios, agenciasgubernamentales, o actividadque reciba fondos del estadopara discriminarlo basado enel tipo de licencia que ustedtenga.El poseer licencia de manejarno le da el derecho a votar.Los documentos proporcionadosal DMV para averiguarsu identidad, nombre, residencia,y edad no son registrospúblicos y el DMV notiene permitido revelar estainformación, excepto cuandoson requeridas por una agenciapolicial como parte de unainvestigación.Report: Authority Refusing to Place Holds on Immigrants for FedsMore Than 225 Law Enforcement Agencies Nationwide Have Adopted PoliciesBy Wesley R. EisimingerJournalism Guild WriterMany county and city jailsacross the country are refusingto hold inmates for federalimmigration authorities, anewspaper reports.The local holds are designedto give immigration officialstime to deport prisoners.Currently more than 225law enforcement agencies nationwidehave adopted policiesto completely ignore requestsby Immigration and CustomsEnforcement (ICE) to holdinmates for an additional 48hours after they are scheduledfor release from jail, the LosAngeles Times reported Oct. 4.ICE holds created a pipelinefor deportation of thousandsof people from the UnitedStates in the last decade, thenewspaper said. “Now that enforcementtool is crumbling.”“In California, a state lawimplemented in January —the Trust Act — stipulates thatlaw enforcement agencies canonly honor immigration holdsif the inmate who is suspectedof being in the country illegallyhas been charged with,or convicted of, a serious offense,”the Times said.ICE holds createda pipeline fordeportation ofthousands ofpeople from theUnited StatesIn Bernalillo County,New Mexico, CommissionerWayne A. Johnson said, “Noteveryone crossing the borderis here just looking for a betterlife for their family. Wedon’t know who else is comingacross the border.”County official are fearfulof exposing themselvesto expensive litigation, andthe Department of HomelandSecurity did not reimburselocalities for housing the inmatesduring the extendedstay, said Grace Philips, generalcounsel for the New MexicoAssociation of Counties.In March 2014, the 3 rd U.S.Circuit Court of Appealsin Pennsylvania ruled that“states and local law enforcementagencies had no obligationto comply with immigrationhold requests because therequests did not amount tothe probable cause requiredby the Constitution to keepsomeone in jail,” the Timesreported.ICE spokeswoman LeticiaZamarripa said the agencywill work with local agencies“to enforce its prioritiesthrough the identificationand removal of convictedcriminals and other publicthreats.”him die? And if help were tobe rendered, what would havehappened to the inmate (bythe other inmates)? I’m a subscriber,a contributor, and aretired emergency physician. Ienjoy the paper.–David S.CORRECTIONS:In January’s Edition, Kara Urion’s name wasmisspelled and her position is Program Director.Duane Holt’s name was also misspelled in theSQUIRES story and Anouthinh Pangthong’sname was mislabeled as David Chow in a sportsstory. We apologize for those mistakes.
February 2015SAN QUENTIN NEWSKid C.A.T. Speakswww.sanquentinnews.com Page 7Addressing the Importance of Hygiene DrivesBy Emile DeWeaverStaff WriterBy Kris HimmelbergerContributing WriterIncarceration of youth declinedsteeply after a two-decadesurge, reports the NationalCouncil on Crime & Delinquency(NCCD).The 2014 NCCD report citesdata from the U.S. Justice Department,which reveals therate of juvenile “confinementdropped 41 percent between2001 and 2011.”By asking stakeholders in juvenilejustice to describe themethod by which they reducedjuvenile confinement in theirjurisdictions, the authors list:• Increased local control thatmoves supervision responsibilitiesfor some youth from thestates to county agencies.• Provide funding streamsand incentives to pay for theseshifts in responsibility.• Make categories of crimessuch as misdemeanors and statusoffenses ineligible for incarcerationin state facilities.• Require juvenile justice systemsto employ the best practicesidentified by research.• Require placement of youthin the least restrictive environments.For the third time, Kid CATmembers collected hygienedonations from San Quentininmates for distribution toneedy kids in San Franciscoand Marin.Their efforts are part ofthe bi-annual hygiene drive,a movement started by KidCAT member Mike Nelson.The aim is to provide homelesschildren with essentialhygiene products.Men from the yard trickle into the ARC Trailer to donateeverything from shower shoesto shampoo. Kid CAT membersthanked each man for hisgenerosity.The donations go into aZiploc hygiene kit filled with10 items: a toothbrush, toothpaste,deodorant, face toweland other essentials.“It’s all about giving back,”said Philip Mendez, presidentof Kid CAT’s Public RelationsDepartment. “Some peoplewrite us off because we’re inmateswho’ve done horriblethings, but I’m watching theseguys come in from the yard togive their canteen (purchases)to kids, and I love it. Some ofthese guys make $10 a monthat their prison jobs. Somedon’t even have jobs; they’redrawing birthday cards (to sellto other prisoners) to hustleup some toothpaste.”“It’s not just about doing mytime,” said Nelson, the HygieneDrive coordinator. “Ihave work to do. I’m accountablefor hurting the communitywhen I was a kid. I thinkeveryone here making kits, everyonedonating, we all wantto do what we can to restorethe community.”Nelson said he learned hissense of responsibility fromhis grandmother without realizinghe was learning fromher. When Amber alerts werefirst airing on TV, Nelson’sgrandmother spearheaded amovement to fingerprint thechildren in Canyon Lake. Accordingto Nelson, the collectedfingerprints were stored ina database to help track missingchildren.“I’m accountablefor hurting thecommunity whenI was a kid. Ithink everyonehere makingkits, everyonedonating, we allwant to do whatwe can to restorethe community”Dolan Beaird has been a KidCAT volunteer for more thanthree years. Beaird will loadhis truck with hygiene kitsafter the collection and drivethem to the agencies that willdistribute the kits: LarkinStreet, Compass Family Services,Homeless Alliance anda Marin County agency that isyet to be determined.“The goal is to collectenough products to have aHowever, the stakeholders believedthat further improvementcould be made. Some of theirrecommendations:• Increasing federal fundingfor juvenile justice. The report’sauthors note, “Public opinionresearch has shown supportfor paying more in taxes for rehabilitativeservices for youngpeople, especially when comparedto youth incarceration.”• Develop legislation thatreallocates funds from closedfacilities to youth in the community.• Support community-basedorganizations with innovationfunds.• Use performance measuresthat fit the context of community-basedorganizations.• Include community-basedorganizations, families andyouth.According to the report,“when young people are incarcerated,they lose critical connectionsto their families, becomingmore likely to commitnew crimes and less likely toreconnect to school and work.”• Review and reduce the numberof out-of-home placements.“Juvenile departments shouldtry to support and strengthenDonation of collected cosmetics from inmates in S.Q. for the Hygiene Driveone-for-one exchange, so thekids can come back everyweek to get more hygiene,”Beaird said.One obstacle to establishinga one-for-one exchange, accordingto Hygiene Drive assistantcoordinator Ke Lam,is finding agencies willing tostore and distribute the productkits year-round. Beaird,however, said the biggest problemis collecting enough products.Beaird collected more than300 kits with Kid CAT last July,but the numbers drasticallydropped for the Decembercollection. He said Kid CAThopes to improve collectionsthis year.On this collection day, theARC trailer is filled with optimismfor the future and menbegin to talk about the momentsthat have inspired themsince the first Hygiene Driverelationships between youthand their families, makingout-of-home placement the exceptionrather than the rule...Alternatives include placementwith extended family membersthat can help transition youthback to their primary familiesas soon as possible,” notes thereport.• Build a local placement continuum.The authors believe“systems should fund networksof local nonprofit placementsfor youth in their home communities;make a reduction in stateplacements a benchmark forsuccess in provider contracts;target the treatment needs ofyouth who might otherwisebe locked up, and use halfwayhouses, treatment centers andlocal facilities as alternatives toplacements far from home.”• Reduce lengths of stay at variouspoints in the system. Stakeholdersare beginning to recognizethat mandatory minimumsentences that “keep youngpeople incarcerated longer thannecessary” are not effective.One Northeastern stakeholderdemands that his state “ask thequestion every day, why is thiskid still there and what the hellare we doing about it?”Photo by Sam Hearnesin 2013. Here are some of thethings supporters appreciate:-- “For me, it’s just the collaborationbetween us andour volunteers,” said Mendez.“Seeing where the stuff goes,the impact on kids’ lives. It’ssuch a beautiful thing.”-- “When John Lam andVinny started going cell to cellto collect donations,” Nelsonsaid, describing Kid CAT’searly efforts to build supportfor the Hygiene Drive.-- “The photo of all ourproducts being assembled bythe outside community,” Lamsaid. “Volunteers picking upproducts and organizing. Guyson the yard being proud ofwhat we’re doing.” Lam lookstoward the door where an inmatelingers outside the doorway,rocking from foot to foot.The newcomer smiles, holds upa deodorant, and asks if he isin the right place to donate hygiene.He is.-- “Seeing the faces of theyouth last year, knowing theywere going to get a hygienebag,” Beaird said. “Seeing thestaff at Outreach. The lookson their faces, knowing theywere going to have product tohand out on Haight Street, theTenderloin, Golden Gate Park.Seeing my truck overflowingwith product – I had to tie anet over it all. Seeing theseguys carrying product fromthe yard. One guy came in withenough items for a full kit. Anotherguy brought a bottle becausethat’s all he had.”Lam said Kid CAT’s longtermgoal is for the hygienedrive to expand out of S.F. toother cities like Los Angeles.Readers interested in moreinformation about the hygienedrive should contact Kid CATSpeaks at the San QuentinNews.Study Reveals: Youth Incarceration Declines• Develop stronger partnershipswith families and serviceproviders.• Reduce supervision foryouth who do not need it. “Usingrisk assessments, departmentscan identify those youthwho are at high, moderate andlow risk of committing new offenses... Lowest-risk youth canbe diverted from the systementirely or placed on case loadsthat require very few contacthours with probation officers.”• Reduce revocations that leadto re-incarceration by using responsegrids. “When a violationhas occurred only once and isminor, supervision staff mighthave the youth write a letter ofapology rather than return tocourt for a formal punishment.”• Work and engage with familiesand communities in a restorativemanner. The reportstates, “Systems and governmentshould create paid advocate positionsto bridge the gap betweenmarginalized families and thejuvenile justice system.”• Build capacity for reformand fund communities most impacted.This would help eliminatethe racial and ethnic disparitiesthat the author reports“have grown considerably.” Outof-homeplacements of youth ofcolor grew from 10 percent ofdispositions to 14 percent whilethe rate of White youth fell from2.6 percent to 1.1 percent.White youth also benefitedwhen it came to probation. Therate fell from 24.1 percent to 11percent. When it came to securefacilities, that rate grew to 3 percentwhereas youth of color sentencedto probation remainedthe same, and sentencing tosecure facilities doubled to 22.4percent.When it came to gender differences,girls faired better thanboys. The number of girls held inplacement remained the same,and those sentenced to secureconfinement grew from 1.9 percentto 4.5 percent, while thepercentage of boys in confinementgrew from 15.7 percent to23.7 percent.California has made an enormousstride in juvenile justice.A decade ago it housed 10,000youth. Today it houses 800.“This is not the time for supportersof juvenile justice reformto become complacent.Rather, it is time to learn fromthe most promising jurisdictionsand deepen reforms,” concludedthe authors.
Page 1 and 2: San Quentin NewsVOL.2015 NO. 2 Febr
Page 3 and 4: February 2015By Charles David Henry
Page 5: February 2015Five Men Graduate From
Page 9 and 10: February 2015By Juan HainesManaging
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