{"id":79404,"date":"2026-02-22T11:19:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T19:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=79404"},"modified":"2026-02-22T11:19:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T19:19:22","slug":"governor-newsom-transforms-san-quentin-opens-nation-leading-learning-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=79404","title":{"rendered":"Governor Newsom transforms San Quentin, opens nation-leading learning center"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
State\u2019s once most notorious prison now a national model for rehabilitation and successful reentry\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
What you need to know:\u00a0<\/strong>Governor Gavin Newsom opens the new Learning Center at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

SAN QUENTIN February 20, 2026\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Marking a historic milestone in California\u2019s public safety transformation, today Governor Gavin Newsom announced the opening of the new San Quentin Learning Center \u2013 the main pillar of the state\u2019s effort to remake the former notorious prison into a place built on education, rehabilitation, and earned second chances.<\/p>\n

As the fastest state project in history \u2013 in just 18 months, experts from around the world designed and built the Learning Center as the first in a series of updates to implement a new model of criminal justice focused on accountability, education, rehabilitation, and reentry. Once home to California\u2019s death chamber and a symbol of an outdated, cruel system, the three buildings at the learning center are the physical embodiment of the California Model.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

\u201cThree years ago, I stood here and promised to turn this symbol of the old system into the crown jewel of a new one. Today, with the opening of this Learning Center, we are proving that rehabilitation and public safety go hand in hand \u2014 and that hope is a powerful tool for safer communities.\u201d<\/h4>\n
Governor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

Returning to San Quentin<\/h2>\n

In March 2023,\u00a0Governor Newsom stood at San Quentin<\/a>\u00a0and announced a bold vision: to transform California\u2019s most notorious prison into the nation\u2019s most innovative rehabilitation facility. Joined by legislators, survivors of crime, victim advocates, civil rights leaders, and correctional staff, the Governor unveiled a plan to reimagine the institution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis historic initiative is aimed at making communities safer by creating change, using data-backed, proven measures to break cycles of crime for the incarcerated population, while improving workplace conditions for institution staff,\u201d\u00a0said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That announcement launched a historic transformation never pursued at this scale in the United States. An advisory council composed of state and world-renowned experts in rehabilitation, public health, public safety, victim advocacy, and corrections was formed to guide the transition.<\/p>\n

What began as a vision in 2023 is now becoming a reality.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Governor for your willingness once again to act with boldness and clarity. Today\u2019s historic opening is a testament to your insistence that accountability, compassion, and smart policy must go together,\u201d\u00a0said San Quentin Advisory Council Lead Advisor Darrell Steinberg<\/strong>. \u201cThe San Quentin Rehabilitation Center will help define justice and hope in California. People who serve their time deserve a second chance to work, contribute, and come home safely to their families. This center must be a model for our state and nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new 81,000-square-foot Learning Center nearly triples available classroom and programming space at SQRC and establishes a campus-style environment dedicated to education, workforce training, media, and reentry preparation.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n

The three interconnected buildings include:<\/p>\n

Building A \u2013 Technology and Media Center<\/strong><\/p>\n