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My first holiday free, alone, and away from my prison family

By Jonathan Chiu on January 12, 2021

This year, I’m spending my first Christmas in 16 years as a free man, but because of the pandemic, I am again separated from my family. I feel the same loneliness I felt inside, but it’s by choice.

The final days of Jerkle, the wild turkey of the Berkeley hills

By Ace Backwords on December 2, 2020

Commentary First-person Opinion

I had a poignant moment at my campsite this morning. Involving those goddamn wild turkeys, believe it or not. My hated enemies. But as much of a nemesis and a pain in the ass they can be, I realized there was a bond there.

Late night on the Berkeley campus in the time of COVID-19

By Ace Backwords on September 1, 2020

First-person Opinion

When the Berkeley campus first went into lockdown, it was great for me. Because I had the whole campus to myself. But gradually, more and more people realized there was this big expanse of unoccupied green space right in the middle of the city. So more and more people are hanging out here every day.

A strange young woman appears on the Arcata street scene

By Ace Backwords on September 1, 2020

First-person Opinion

The street scene is like watching a movie. Except you only get the middle act of the movie. You don’t get the first act or the third act. You don’t know their life story—what led up to them being the people that they are. And you almost never find out how their lives turned out.

We were locked in our rooms due to COVID-19

By Gary Child on September 1, 2020

First-person Opinion

We were locked in our rooms due to COVID-19 but allowed to use the restroom with, at times, 10 to 15 inmates. We line up for meds four times a day at least 10 to 20 deep. If you ask the correctional officer (CO) to wear gloves, they’ll refuse your meds.

Why would anyone want to live on the street?

By Timothy Busby on August 1, 2020

Commentary First-person Opinion

Only after I accepted the fact that the person I was before was never coming back…could I begin to accept another life.

I am incarcerated at San Quentin. I have COVID-19.

By Thanh Tran on July 17, 2020

First-person Opinion

I write this after 3 days of being curled into a fetal position, fighting off COVID-19. I was sick and bedridden when I received my test results that read, "COVID Negative." This is what it looks like to test someone and then try to transfer them.

Right side of history

By Steve Brooks on July 17, 2020

Commentary First-person Opinion

When future generations look back on the devastation caused by this coronavirus pandemic, they are likely going to say that what happened to incarcerated populations in America’s prisons is tantamount to crimes against humanity.

Everyone deserves to shelter in place, including homeless people

By TJ Johnston on May 22, 2020

First-person Opinion YSA youth contributions

“Sheltering in place” is a privilege that over 9,000 unhoused San Franciscans do not enjoy. Yet, shelters are congregate environments where people sleep barely more than two feet away from one another, head to foot or top to bottom in bunks.

Lost mothers

By Mavin Carter-Griffin on May 12, 2020

First-person Opinion

An ode to those celebrating Mother's Day on the street.

The pandemic resembles one of my psychotic episodes

By Jack Bragen on April 1, 2020

First-person Opinion YSA youth contributions

The current pandemic makes it seem as though the world has gone insane. This time, I'm not crazy, but neither are other people. Reality has taken a surreal turn.

The day I lost my campsite

By Ace Backwords on March 1, 2020

First-person Opinion

Everything is in a state of chaos and complete upheaval at my campsite in the Berkeley hills. They’re doing a

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