Opinion ID: 2624500
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Adjustment to Prison Life

Text: James Park, former associate warden of San Quentin State Prison, reviewed defendant's prison records and gave his opinion that if the jury returned a verdict of life without the possibility of parole, prison officials would house defendant in a maximum security prison and defendant would not pose an escape risk or a risk to the safety of other inmates or correctional officers. An artist who worked as a teacher and art facilitator at San Quentin State Prison testified defendant was a dedicated and serious art student who was ambitious, talented and had a particular style. Defendant had painted portraits on commission. Another art teacher who worked at San Quentin State Prison testified that art programs in prisons had positive effects on inmates, and a sentence of life without the possibility of parole served at a maximum security prison would allow defendant to continue to paint and to help other inmates learn to paint.