This presentation will describe the unique approach of the San Quentin Transformation Advisory Council, a multidisciplinary group of leaders with different professional and experiential backgrounds, including prison staff and union leaders, formerly incarcerated people, survivors of crime, prison culture change thought leaders, public heath academics, and architects with a focus on creating safe and healthy spaces who were appointed to collect recommendations and guide the dramatic transformation of San Quentin prison into a rehabilitation center. We will describe (1) the leading themes that emerged in the Advisory Councils report to optimize well-being among prison staff and residents; (2) the council’s approach to eliciting input from multiple stakeholders including community leaders and prison residents; (3) the power of a multidisciplinary approach to generating solutions to improving prison culture and (4) lessons learned that might assist others seeking to engage in a similar process.

 

Moderated by Bernie Warner, Secretary of Corrections, Washington (retired), United States