Changing Prison From the Inside Out
Prisons Weren’t Built for Innovation. We’re Changing That.
Learn how incarcerated innovators at San Quentin are designing real-world reforms —and proving they work.
Justice reform isn’t happening where most people expect. It’s not confined to think tanks, academic research, or public policy discussions. It’s being designed, tested, and proven by us — inside the system itself.
We are incarcerated innovators, strategists, and creators. We built San Quentin SkunkWorks because we know the system’s failures firsthand—and we’re proving that incarcerated leadership isn’t just possible; it’s essential to real reform.
We’ve transformed one of the world’s most well-known prisons into an innovation lab for justice reform—where we collaborate with top experts to develop, test, and scale solutions that challenge the status quo.
We don’t just imagine change — we build and scale it.
What’s a Skunk Works? ?
A SkunkWorks is a small, focused team working on a world-changing project. Ours was built inside San Quentin—because the boldest ideas for justice reform are coming from the people living it.
San Quentin SkunkWorks is where those ideas take shape
Our Model
Our goal is simple: build solutions that transform prison culture and create models for system-wide change. The challenges inside prisons are complex, and no single solution will fix them all.
That’s why we take an innovation lab approach—running multiple experiments in parallel, testing bold ideas, and proving what works. Some projects refine existing policies, others disrupt and rebuild from the ground up, but every initiative is designed with one purpose: to create real, lasting change that extends far beyond San Quentin.
Step 1: Define & Disrupt
We start by identifying systemic barriers that hold people back—from policies that strip dignity to outdated structures that prevent real rehabilitation. Our projects focus on solutions that transform daily life in prison and create models for reform statewide.
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- We pinpoint critical issues—whether it’s restrictive policies like prison uniforms, the lack of educational access, or racial segregation in daily life.
- We define what success looks like—how the system should function differently and what measurable outcomes will prove real change.
- We set clear, actionable goals—ensuring every idea has a path from concept to implementation.
Step 2: Design & Experiment
Building and testing solutions inside the system itself.
Once we define the problem, we develop real-world pilots—testing ideas directly inside San Quentin through human-centered design, data science, and policy innovation.
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- Live Testing → Every initiative runs under real conditions, from Transformative Gaming breaking racial divisions to RighteousReview using AI to expose bias in sentencing.
- Iteration & Adaptation → When something doesn’t work, we adjust quickly, refine relentlessly, and keep pushing until it does.
- Hands-on Collaboration → We work directly with CDCR, researchers, and policy leaders to ensure solutions are both effective and scalable.
Step 3: Scale & Systematize
Proven solutions become models for reform beyond San Quentin.
Once we’ve tested and refined an idea, we turn pilots into blueprints for system-wide change.
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- Structured & Scalable → Our projects don’t stay experiments—they become fully designed models, backed by data and ready for expansion.
- From Prototype to Policy → We work with CDCR, reform organizations, and lawmakers to integrate innovations into permanent policy shifts.
- Beyond These Walls → Whether it’s expanding Normalized Clothing to other prisons or proving that gaming can drive cultural transformation, our best ideas don’t stay locked inside—they change the system at large.
Current Projects
? RighteousReview
We’re building a first-of-its-kind AI-powered tool to expose systemic bias in prison sentencing. We’ve partnered with UC Berkeley’s Data Science department to use data-driven analysis and deep research to uncover racial disparities in sentencing, trial transcripts, and court records—turning hidden injustices into undeniable evidence for reform.
? Transformative Gaming
We’re using play to do what the system won’t—break racial divisions, rebuild trust, and transform prison culture. Our gaming events bring together incarcerated people and staff in ways the system was designed to prevent, proving that connection can dismantle segregation and redefine what’s possible inside.
? Chiaroscuro: Light Within the Shadows
Through large-scale, collaborative art installations, we reclaim beauty, shift culture, and challenge perceptions of justice. Working alongside globally recognized artists, we prove that incarcerated people aren’t just rehabilitating—we’re redefining what’s possible. Changing how society sees justice and paving the way for reform beyond these walls.
? Policy Innovation & Research
Reform isn’t guesswork—it’s built on evidence and real-world testing. We research, design, and pilot policies that dismantle barriers, restore dignity, and create real pathways for success—inside and beyond prison walls. From Normalized Clothing to reentry reform, our work challenges outdated policies, builds agency, and reshapes a system that values punishment over human potential.
About Us
We are a bold community of changemaker and top-tier professionals, working from within the system to inspire growth, purpose, and transformation.
Our Mission
To transform the criminal justice system from within, combining the leadership and ingenuity of incarcerated people with the expertise of professionals to create a more just and vibrant society.
Our Vision
We envision a world where the courage, experience, and the leadership of incarcerated people reshape the justice system, inspiring transformative change on a global scale.
Our Approach
We believe that every person has an inherent potential waiting to be realized. Our programs offer incarcerated people the chance to embark on a transformative journey, moving beyond past mistakes and evolving into their best selves. Through a blend of mentorship, skill development, self-reflection, and trauma-informed support, we provide the tools and environment for profound self-discovery and growth. Our initiatives enable each person to reclaim agency, cultivate resilience, and make meaningful contributions, ultimately preparing them for a brighter future both inside and beyond the prison walls.
At SkunkWorks, it’s not just about reform; it’s about rediscovering identity, purpose, and potential.
Who Runs San Quentin SkunkWorks?
SkunkWorks operates through a dual-team structure. Our Impact Team, comprised of incarcerated people, is the heart of our organization. They are the pulse and primary force behind our programs and innovation. In tandem, the Operations Team, composed of formerly incarcerated people, top-tier professionals, and passionate people who want to change the world, run the day-to-day and ensures that all activities align with legal and organizational standards. They offer crucial guidance and infrastructure to bring the Impact Team’s vision to life.
Our Programs
SkunkWorks: A Leadership Foundry
Welcome to SkunkWorks, a groundbreaking initiative transforming the experience of incarceration into a journey of leadership and innovation. At SkunkWorks, we believe in the untapped potential of incarcerated volunteers to be leaders, change-makers, and pioneers in criminal justice reform.
Through our unique approach, volunteers don’t just participate; they lead. They identify challenges, devise solutions, and spearhead impactful projects within and beyond prison walls. This hands-on involvement ensures our initiatives resonate deeply and are grounded in real-world experiences.
Our mission extends beyond individual transformation. As volunteers evolve into role models, they inspire a culture of rehabilitation, empathy, and positive contribution, both inside and outside prison. This ripple effect redefines rehabilitation and justice, proving the power of trust and empowerment.
Join us in this transformative movement. Support San Quentin SkunkWorks as we forge a future where justice and rehabilitation are seamlessly intertwined, led by those who understand it best.
RighteousReview by San Quentin SkunkWorks: Redefining Justice with AI
Everyone regardless of skin color or national origin deserves to be treated fairly by our justice system. When racism is present in our court system it casts a long shadow of injustice, denying people of color the fundamental right to fair and unbiased legal proceedings. To address this we are creating an AI-powered tool that meticulously analyzes court transcripts to reveal and measure racial bias.
Key Features of RighteousReview
1. Advanced AI-Powered Analysis: Utilizes sophisticated algorithms to analyze court transcripts and records, identifying patterns of racial bias and discrepancies in sentencing with exceptional accuracy and efficiency.
2. Comprehensive Racial Bias and Sentencing Disparity Detection: Seamlessly combines racial bias detection with sentencing disparity analysis, offering a thorough assessment of judicial outcomes and highlighting areas where racial bias may have influenced decisions.
3. Data-Driven Support for Judicial Equity: Generates quantitative evidence to support Racial Justice Act claims and provides invaluable insights for legal professionals, aiding in fair trials, appeals, and informing systemic reform efforts.
Join us on this transformative path. RighteousReview isn’t just a tool; it’s a movement towards a legal system where every case is adjudicated with the integrity and impartiality.
PathLight Initiative
Crafted by those who’ve experienced the challenges of reentry, the PathLight Initiative offers genuine, firsthand support to others on the same journey. At its heart is a responsive digital community on the Discord app. A space that brings together system-impacted people, supportive organizations, and allies, forging a community where they collectively guide, mentor, and uplift one another.
The power of PathLight lies in its continuity. In a landscape where support can often feel fragmented, we ensure a cohesive connection, beginning with incarcerated individuals pre-release and enduring beyond their reentry. Through PathLight, members gain access to vital insights, essential resources, and mentorship from system-impaired people who’ve walked the same road.
PathLight is more than just a platform on an app; it’s a guiding light, offering timely assistance, valuable insights, and a sense of belonging. Your support can illuminate the path to a shared brighter future. Join us as we launch PathLight in January!
Transformative Gaming
Right now, we’re changing the racially segregated culture of prison by increasing access to tabletop games. While we chose this campaign because it has a narrow scope, is accomplishable quickly, and is ideal for building the organization, the campaign is meaningful.
Prisons in California are mostly racially segregated. However, there is an exception, a place where people of different races, gender identities, and affiliations congregate freely —the gamer table. It is both revolutionary and unremarkable because games bring people together.
We all experience the beauty in a brilliant move, the elation of a hard-won victory, and the sting of defeat equally.
To read about the first hand benefits of gameplay in carceral settings from I. Hamilton click here.
Read About Our Partnership with It’s Your Move
Click the following link to read about our partnership with It’s Your Move and how their generous donations have allowed SkunkWorks’ Transformative Gaming program to create an impact on those incarcerated at San Quentin.
Join Our Mission at San Quentin SkunkWorks
Your support and involvement are vital in driving our mission forward. Whether you’re inspired to volunteer, donate, or spread the word, your contribution makes a real difference. Join us at San Quentin SkunkWorks in our pursuit of transformative criminal justice reform. Together, we can create a future where rehabilitation, justice, and innovation thrive, led by those who understand it best.
Contact Us: sqsw@sanquentinskunkworks.org; 1(415)275-2058
San Quentin SkunkWorks is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax ID number 88-3852173) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.