He made such an impression on his boss, San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey, that in 1993 Hennessey overruled the objections of his own deputies and promoted Marcum to a top job. Now, the two men are overseeing one of the nation's most ambitious and innovative efforts at jailhouse reform. Instead of passing their time staring at their cell walls, the inmates mostly stay in open dormitories and spend up to 12 hours each day in some of over 50 separate treatment, counseling, training, and education programs. Prisoners can join such counseling groups as Tools for Healing, Drama Therapy, and Gay Life Skills. The jail's education center offers courses in ethnic studies, women's cultural studies, and film theory, as well as basic skills.
Prisoners can take a yoga and meditation class twice a week.
As a member of the Roads to Recovery drug treatment program, Woods has a busy schedule. He plans to participate in a post-release work program when he gets out. The philosophy behind the program facilities is to break the cycle of violence by transforming the typical jailhouse culture of humiliation and violence into one of dignity and healing. Hennessey and Marcum say their approach is not only more humane, but also contributes more to public safety. We need to be able to cry.