THE EVOLUTION OF Arms Down, a self-help program at San Quentin Rehabilitation Middle that addresses firearm habit, culminated within the October commencement of its first cohort of males.
In current months, the 26-week program has additionally captured the eye and assist of prosecutors, the state Division of Justice, community-based organizations, California Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation officers and lawmakers.
“The concept of Arms Down is outstanding,” mentioned San Quentin warden Probability Andes. “Sometimes we think everything is thought of, but this is huge. We owe it to our (prison) population to provide them resources.”
“This is San Quentin’s first firearm awareness group,” mentioned Lt. Guim’Mara Berry, the jail’s public info officer. “I hope it spreads to all 32 CDCR institutions.”
Within the final six months, Arms Down individuals have engaged in dialogue with one another to look at topics akin to their first traumatic expertise and their first involvement with a firearm.
“I’m blown away by what’s happening here,” mentioned state Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael. He attended an Arms Down assembly in Could. “I’m really impressed that San Quentin is taking the lead by creating a program for those who’ve used a gun — to better understand why they used guns, and the impacts. And just as importantly, how to impact society, and particularly the youth in breaking the cycle.”
Arms Down focuses on the minds of those that used firearms to commit violent crimes, and the hurt accomplished to victims. It additionally provides options to scale back gun violence.
A handgun is displayed subsequent to a backpack confiscated by Santa Rosa police throughout a site visitors cease in August 2024. A self-help program at San Quentin Rehabilitation Middle known as “Arms Down” focuses on the minds of those that used firearms to commit violent crimes, and the hurt accomplished to their victims. It additionally provides options to scale back gun violence. (Illustration by Glenn Gehlke/Native Information Issues. Santa Rosa Police Division through Bay Metropolis Information)
“This is something that’s needed across America,” mentioned Jemain Hunter, Arms Down founder and chairperson.
He mentioned the group was began as a result of different self-help applications didn’t assist him, and to assist others perceive why they carried weapons within the first place.
Trying inside for the solutions
To strategy firearms as an habit, Hunter constructed Arms Down much like Alcoholics Nameless and Narcotics Nameless. As a result of everybody carried weapons for various causes, he usually “shut down” in different self-help applications as a result of he wished to grasp his causes for carrying a firearm.
This system’s curriculum offered every participant with insightful questions so they’ll look inside themselves to ask, “What made it alright for you to carry a concealed weapon?” and “When having a firearm in your possession, did you feel complete?”
“My gun was part of my survival,” mentioned Sammie Nichols. At Arms Down, he discovered to problem his perception system, and what it means to be a person. “We’ve got to start retraining ourselves. We’ve got to be part of the solution.”
“One night I decided to carry a gun,” mentioned Damon Lewis, who emceed the commencement. “It was normal.” He mentioned it was a part of what he discovered from his father, and that inter-generational normalization might have led to his daughter’s incarceration.
Crosses erected in entrance of St. Columba Catholic Church stand in silent reminiscence of Oakland murder victims. Dec. 30, 2021. The church holds the vigil yearly on New Yr’s Eve, throughout which the victims’ names are learn aloud. (Illustration by Glenn Gehlke/Native Information Issues. Picture by Harika Maddala/Bay Metropolis Information)
Different points of the Arms Down curriculum, developed by group members, study male false-belief techniques about manhood, carrying a gun for “protection,” pulling the set off, options to firearms, and classes that educate self love, respect, the worth of life, and how one can forgive.
“I wanted to highlight why Arms Down is different,” mentioned Muhammad Fasih, who spoke at an earlier assembly. He’s the group’s sponsor and San Quentin’s Muslim chaplain. “What we want to create is a group that addresses people who went to guns to resolve their issues.”
“We are not against the Second Amendment,” Fasih mentioned on the Arms Down commencement. He agreed with the group’s premise and mentioned, “There is a gun addiction in this country.”
In Could, public officers and community-based organizations attended one other Arms Down gathering.
“This is a societal issue,” Connelly mentioned. “Why do people decide to use a gun?” Jessie Milo defined, “Many of us have become apathetic after becoming victims.” He witnessed his first gun offense at age 6. For him, the commencement was concerning the males going ahead in communities to make modifications, together with working with legislation enforcement.
“We are not against the Second Amendment. There is a gun addiction in this country.”
Muhammad Fasih, San Quentin’s Muslim chaplain
“I’ve been working on gun violence for 10 years now,” mentioned Michael Redding, who attended an Arms Down assembly in Could with two of his colleagues from the California Division of Justice.
Phil Melendez is previously incarcerated and now works for the prison justice advocacy group Good Justice California. He attended the Could assembly to “help people get a better understanding of the root causes of violence in the community,” he mentioned. “Arms Down is innovative. It wasn’t here when I was here.”
Altering the dialog
Attendees on the Could assembly acknowledged security from gun violence as being a critical challenge. Emily Harris from the Ella Baker Middle for Human Rights mentioned she has labored to get rid of sentencing enhancements, however with a lot violence portrayed within the media, modifications on the state Legislature have grow to be more and more tough.
Tiffany Sutton scouted the Could assembly with one in every of her colleagues. She oversees particular applications and tasks for prison justice reform for the San Francisco District Lawyer’s Workplace.
“A part of public safety is that when (the incarcerated) come home, you’ll be able to get a job,” she mentioned. “That’s what brings me here, and also looking at ways we can support.”
“From a strategy perspective, Ella Baker Center can’t change the legislative process,” Harris mentioned. “I think the answers are here.”
Mourners attend a candlelight vigil for victims of a mass capturing in Half Moon Bay that claimed seven lives. Jan. 23, 2023. Gun violence and tragedy have grow to be a ubiquitous a part of American tradition. (Illustration by Glenn Gehlke/Native Information Issues. Picture through Mavericks Group Basis)
Connolly noticed carefully, listened to the lads and mentioned, “You’re talking about the right things.” In Could, as with different Arms Down conferences, incarcerated individuals sat in circles with visitors from the surface. The boys spoke candidly about their life circumstances and the trajectory that led to their offenses and imprisonment.
“After hearing your stories, I realize I need some healing,” mentioned Tong Thao, who got here to the Could assembly from the state DOJ with colleagues. “I’m thankful to be here.”
Michael Redding got here from the California DOJ’s Workplace of the Lawyer Normal’s Group Consciousness Response and Engagement. He mentioned he appreciated the framing of “gun addiction” and referred to the lads as an “untapped resource” and “credible messengers.” Then he requested the lads a seemingly rhetorical query: “What did you need 20 years ago?”
In Arms Down, every session builds on its curriculum, earlier conferences, introspection, and affirmation from visitors and audio system.
At a July gathering, Fasih opened with a speech and launched the Arms Down facilitators. Then he launched and welcomed Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco’s district lawyer.
“It’s time to learn from all of you what might work,” Jenkins mentioned. She talked about younger males who’ve mentioned they don’t really feel protected and not using a gun and supplied ideas, together with one to the leisure business. “Change our music to not tell our men that’s the way they have to be.”
Like her two deputies who attended earlier Arms Down conferences, Jenkins listened and famous what she heard. Earlier than she left, she advised the lads, “I’m here and I’m going to continue to support you all.”
There are various graduations that happen at San Quentin Rehabilitation Middle annually. However Arms Down might be the primary to show males to mirror on their previous use of firearms as an answer to a nationwide epidemic.
Or as Connolly said, “They’re talking about the right things.”
