Local Crime Victims' Services Receive Funds from San Quentin Inmates

San Quentin State Prison officials presented a $38,232 check Monday to seven Bay Area agencies that provide services to crime victims.

The money represents 20 percent of the wages earned by 30 prison inmates who assemble medical devices, San Quentin State Prison spokesman Sgt. Gabe Walters said.

Each of the seven agencies will receive $5,400.

San Quentin State Prison Warden Mike Martel formed a committee to select the nonprofit agencies that will receive the share of the inmates' wages, Walters said.

The Marin County recipients are Citizens Against Homicide, , Community Violence Solutions, Center for Domestic Peace and the Sunny Hills Children's Center.

Bay Area Women Against Rape in Alameda County and East Oakland Youth Development Center also received a share of the money.

Under Proposition 139, the Inmate Labor Initiative, which passed in November 1990, inmates who work for private companies and earn comparable wages donate 20 percent of their net wages after taxes, room and board and
family support to compensate crime victims.

The San Quentin inmates make medical devices for Labcon North America in Petaluma.

Jim Happ, the company's president, said the prison inmate labor program is a good one, but he declined to comment on it further.

Walters said the seven Marin and Alameda county agencies represent one of the largest groups to receive the inmate labor funds.

Several of the inmates were present during the check presentation Monday in the prison's industrial area where the devices are made, Walters
said.

Bay City News Service