The “California Model” Will Change Incarceration in America
I am proud to be appointed by Governor Newsom to help lead this project
California Governor Gavin Newsom, alongside state legislators, survivors of crime, victim advocates, and civil rights leaders, recently announced that San Quentin State Prison, the oldest and most notorious California prison and home to the largest “death row” in the United States, will be transformed from a maximum-security prison into a one-of-a-kind facility focused on improving public safety through rehabilitation and education. The facility, which will be renamed “San Quentin Rehabilitation Center,” will be transformed in part under the direction of an advisory group, composed of state and world-renowned rehabilitation and public safety experts. The historic effort at San Quentin, never pursued at this scale in the United States, will serve as a nationwide evidence-backed model to advance a more effective justice system that builds safer communities.[1]
“California is transforming San Quentin, the state’s most notorious prison with a dark past, into the nation’s most innovative rehabilitation facility focused on building a brighter and safer future,” said Governor Newsom. “Today, we take the next step in our pursuit of true rehabilitation, justice, and safer communities through this evidenced-backed investment, creating a new model for safety and justice, the “California Model” that will lead the nation.”
I am excited and honored to be selected as a member of Governor Newsom’s Advisory Council, tasked to guide the transformation of this notorious prison into an exemplary model of effective rehabilitation and reentry that can be replicated within California and across the country. The advisory committee includes experienced professionals within education, corrections, healthcare, and reentry to assist in the formulation of the new model.
“In order to transform San Quentin into the nation’s most innovative rehabilitation facility focused on building a brighter and safer future, we need a deep and diverse bench of expertise. That’s exactly what the members of this Advisory Council deliver. Through their time and talent, these leaders will help us build a scalable model across California that will advance justice, safer communities, and true rehabilitation.” ~ Governor Gavin Newsom
In addition, we will access external resources from all sectors to help guide this committee to the best outcome possible. The goal is to complete the assessments and provide recommendations by year end 2023 then begin implementation of these recommendations in 2024. The Governor’s intention to complete the project plan by 2025 is aggressive, but doable, if we work efficiently without bureaucratic and self-interest constraints. Minor modifications, incremental adjustments, and status quo are not acceptable. We will develop a robust vision and meaningful recommendations that include expanded educational programming and restorative justice for those residents who are leaving the system and reentering society. Our goal is to bring meaningful cultural and physical change to San Quentin and help guide the creation of the “California Model” that can be scaled in other prisons across the state.
This is an opportunity to take a leadership role in changing the construct of mass incarceration in America. California and specifically Silicon Valley embodies the essence of innovation. We can leverage our expertise and demonstrate how public/private collaboration can lead to significant changes in our criminal justice system. I encourage and welcome insights and feedback. I will be reaching out to executives in the technology community to participate in this exciting and game changing project. From my years of experience advancing opportunities for incarcerated men and women in our country, I can honestly say that lives have changed, including mine.
Stay tuned.
Chris Redlitz
Co-Founder and Executive Director
chris@thelastmile.org
#PavingTheRoad
