State‑of‑the‑Art Media Center Opens at New San Quentin Learning Center

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: CDCR announced today the opening of a state-of-the-art Media Center at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC). Joined by staff, program supporters, volunteers and the incarcerated population, CDCR showcased innovative programs that teach vital skills in podcasting, video production and print media.

BIGGER PICTURE: Following the opening of the San Quentin Learning Center in February, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is honored to launch the official hub of multimedia training and news - known as the Media Center. Housed within the multi-level state-of-the-art Learning Center, the Media Center will serve media-focused programming at the Central California Women's Facility, California Institution for Women, Mule Creek State Prison, California Correctional Institution, and California State Prison, Solano.

"While I was incarcerated, I couldn't grasp the bigger picture of corrections and rehabilitation until I read San Quentin News. It brought clarity about the programs, policy changes and opportunities available to help me make better decisions. That is why this historic moment - and its potential - is impactful. It's a tangible investment."

Jesse Vasquez, Executive Director, Pollen Initiative

The Learning Center is San Quentin's centerpiece project as the institution moves to transform into a rehabilitation center, allowing for the expansion of award-winning programs and the ability for more incarcerated participants to obtain employable skills as they prepare for re-entry. The Learning Center is designed to improve the lives of and working conditions for employees and incarcerated people, supporting the creation of a more effective justice system that builds safer communities.

WHAT'S IN THE MEDIA CENTER: The Media Center houses "Uncuffed," the first radio podcast operated by incarcerated people in California. Residents work towards a certificate in video and audio engineering weekly classes taught by professional journalists. Participants learn audio storytelling and use donated state-of-the-art audio equipment, software and computers. The program has been replicated at California State Prison, Solano and California Institution for Women.

The second floor features a television studio for music and video production. Participants will record and replicate lesson-based self-help group programming to distribute through the Division of Rehabilitative Programming (DRP). These productions will increase the rehabilitative programming available to incarcerated individuals statewide. Additionally, participants look forward to producing community service content for youth diversion programs, gang awareness, suicide awareness, peer-to-peer mentorship, substance abuse, and violence prevention. Content created in the television studio will be available in both English and Spanish, bridging language barriers and becoming more accessible to viewers.

The third floor hosts San Quentin News, a newspaper produced by the institution's journalism staff. Pollen Initiative, formed to build leadership, audiovisual and journalism skills in correctional systems, works closely with CDCR staff and members of San Quentin News to create national standards. Computer equipment, software, audio and visual equipment was donated to make this center possible.

THE CALIFORNIA MODEL

An initiative spearheaded by Governor Newsom, the California Model is an evidence-based approach inspired by international best practices that prioritizes dynamic security, dignity, staff wellness, and meaningful programming.

The San Quentin Learning Center symbolizes a shift away from an outdated system that focused solely on punishment and toward a model that recognizes rehabilitation as a core public safety strategy.

The transformation of San Quentin builds on Governor Newsom's earlier actions to reform California's justice system - including placing a moratorium on executions in 2019.

Governor Newsom's approach to public safety is all-encompassing - California has invested $2.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve overall public safety.

On top of the investments to provide incarcerated residents with the tools to rehabilitate while serving their time, the Governor recently announced the awarding of $107 million in grant funding to help Californians avoid violence so that they never step foot inside a prison. Since 2019, the state has provided $350 million in violence intervention funding to stop more than 30,000 violent incidents from even happening.

National research shows that people who participate in correctional education programs are 43% less likely to return to prison. For every $1 invested in rehabilitation, taxpayers save more than $4 in reduced reincarceration costs.

California's transformation of San Quentin comes as crime continues to decline statewide. According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), in California's major cities:

• Violent crime dropped 12% in 2025 compared to 2024
• Homicides declined 18%
• Robberies declined 19%

Compared to 2019 (the last pre-pandemic year), violent crime across the same large California city police departments tracked in the MCCA year-end surveys is down about 12% in 2025 - driven by robberies down about 29% and homicides down about 12%.

This progress reflects a balanced approach - accountability alongside prevention.

Crime victims and survivors benefit from the increased accountability that results from effective rehabilitation programs. By nearly 3 to 1, crime survivor groups prefer sentences that hold individuals accountable while including programming that prevents recidivism. CDCR's investment in rehabilitation increases public safety and breaks cycles of recidivism, which means fewer families are harmed by crime and safer communities.

SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS

Crime victims and survivors can learn more about the ways the San Quentin Learning Center increases accountability and decreases recidivism by contacting CDCR's Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS). OVSRS helps people impacted by crime to enforce their rights and access services that foster a sense of healing, accountability, and justice. OVSRS works to ensure that crime victims, survivors, and their families are treated with respect and receive information about and timely notice of their rights, including opportunities to participate and be heard. OVSRS also helps crime victims with restitution and other services. CDCR encourages victims and survivors to contact OVSRS for support and to register, which is a confidential process.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

San Quentin Learning Center b-roll

San Quentin Learning Center photos

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center facility page

San Quentin Learning Center page