A second group of incarcerated men at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center will graduate from a 16-month, comprehensive Transformative Justice Mediation Training program on May 1. The program is designed to empower them with the tools to help resolve conflicts peacefully within the prison.
This program, which is sponsored by 2024 Giving Marin grant recipient Transformative Justice Institute, not only equips participants with essential skills for conflict resolution but also fosters personal growth, emotional intelligence and leadership qualities that organizers say will have a lasting impact inside and outside of prison walls.
By learning the art of mediation, facilitation and restorative justice circle keeping, the graduates will not only contribute to the peace and safety of their community but are also positioning themselves as leaders who will advocate for restorative justice practices and peaceful conflict resolution long after their time at San Quentin, according to Rochelle Edwards, executive director of the Transformative Justice Institute.
“We believe that rehabilitation goes beyond punishment; it’s about preparing individuals for a second chance and the opportunity to discover who they really are,” Edwards said. “Studies have shown that these programs can reduce recidivism rates by helping prisoners resolve conflicts non-violently and equipping them with the skills to communicate and collaborate once released.”
The graduation ceremony will be held in the Catholic Chapel at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. Graduates will have their families present to witness their accomplishments and receive a certificate of completion. Program participants will have the opportunity to continue their education to become certified mediators with the State of California once they are released.
For more information on the Transformative Mediation program, email rochelle@tjinstitute.org.
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