San Quentin State Prison Class Descriptions
IPP serves an average of 250+ men per month by offering 20+ weekly classes inside San Quentin State Prison. These classes cover topics from victim-offender education, to violence prevention, to emotional literacy, to mind/body health.
VICTIM OFFENDER EDUCATION GROUP (VOEG)
VOEG (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit) (5 groups at present)
Each group is facilitated by an IPP staff member or highly trained volunteer facilitator and an Inside (peer) facilitator. VOEG is an intensive 18 month training for individuals who wish to understand themselves better, how their life experiences and decisions led them to prison and how their crimes have impacted their victim(s). The purpose of the training is to help the responsible parties understand and take responsibility for the impact of the crime(s) they have committed. The class ends with participants meeting a panel of victims for a healing dialogue.
VOEG, Next Step (Northblock/Westblock)
This group is for individuals who have graduated from the initial intensive VOEG program, who wish to continue the work of implementing and practicing the tools they have learned and apply them to their every day lives with each other, family and friends. Participants make a one year commitment to this program and are often called on to participate in dialogues and trainings with victims, victims rights groups, universities and other individuals and institutions wanting to learn about the VOEG process and restorative justice in corrections. Those who complete this year long commitment step up to become Stewards of VOEG. This program also invites the participants to give something back to their community in one way or another.
EMOTIONAL LITERACY AND MIND/BODY INTEGRATION
The Work (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit)
This is a cognitive restructuring class wherein students learn to employ critical thinking to become aware of “self-talk” and to re-frame thinking errors that impact one’s emotional well-being and behavior. Based on the work of Bryon Katie and the notion that much of one’s thinking if left unexamined can be distorted or faulty, and what causes anger, upset or depression is most often how a person views and interprets circumstances. Click here for more information about The Work.
Brothers’ Keepers - Crisis Intervention Training (Northblock/Westblock)
Brothers’ Keepers is a peer education initiative and inmate response team professionally trained and certified in crisis intervention. Members serve as intermediaries for inmates who are suicidal or experiencing mental health crises that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Artistic Ensemble (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit)
Men Creating Peace (H-Unit)
Managing Anger, Practicing Peace - MAPP (H-Unit)
Acting with Compassion and Truth - ACT (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit)
VICTIM OFFENDER EDUCATION GROUP (VOEG)
VOEG (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit) (5 groups at present)
Each group is facilitated by an IPP staff member or highly trained volunteer facilitator and an Inside (peer) facilitator. VOEG is an intensive 18 month training for individuals who wish to understand themselves better, how their life experiences and decisions led them to prison and how their crimes have impacted their victim(s). The purpose of the training is to help the responsible parties understand and take responsibility for the impact of the crime(s) they have committed. The class ends with participants meeting a panel of victims for a healing dialogue.
VOEG, Next Step (Northblock/Westblock)
This group is for individuals who have graduated from the initial intensive VOEG program, who wish to continue the work of implementing and practicing the tools they have learned and apply them to their every day lives with each other, family and friends. Participants make a one year commitment to this program and are often called on to participate in dialogues and trainings with victims, victims rights groups, universities and other individuals and institutions wanting to learn about the VOEG process and restorative justice in corrections. Those who complete this year long commitment step up to become Stewards of VOEG. This program also invites the participants to give something back to their community in one way or another.
EMOTIONAL LITERACY AND MIND/BODY INTEGRATION
The Work (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit)
This is a cognitive restructuring class wherein students learn to employ critical thinking to become aware of “self-talk” and to re-frame thinking errors that impact one’s emotional well-being and behavior. Based on the work of Bryon Katie and the notion that much of one’s thinking if left unexamined can be distorted or faulty, and what causes anger, upset or depression is most often how a person views and interprets circumstances. Click here for more information about The Work.
Brothers’ Keepers - Crisis Intervention Training (Northblock/Westblock)
Brothers’ Keepers is a peer education initiative and inmate response team professionally trained and certified in crisis intervention. Members serve as intermediaries for inmates who are suicidal or experiencing mental health crises that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Artistic Ensemble (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit)
Men Creating Peace (H-Unit)
Managing Anger, Practicing Peace - MAPP (H-Unit)
Acting with Compassion and Truth - ACT (Northblock/Westblock and H-Unit)
