Jail inmates learn critical life skills in chess class
Game strategies can help them make better choices, sergeant says
BY MARIA INES ZAMUDIO • The Salinas Californian • February 3, 2009
Winning a game of chess requires the same strategies used to be successful in life: Plan your approach and make the right moves.
About 20 inmates serving light sentences at the Monterey County Jail Rehabilitation Center in Salinas have been hearing that same message in a class every Monday for the past four weeks.
Alberto Murillo, a chess coach and substitute teacher in the Alisal Union School District, has led the strategic chess class, with the help of two volunteer instructors from the Alisal Center for the Fine Arts.
On Monday afternoon, the inmates faced off in a challenge tournament at the end of the four-week program.
Learning to play chess has made a big difference for many inmates, said Sgt. Fabian Hernandez, who is in charge of running the trial program at the rehabilitation center.
“The moves you make can make you fall backwards or help you move forward,” said Samuel Ruiz, 20, of Salinas, who is serving an 8-month sentence. “I’ve learned a lot about life and making good choices (by learning chess).”
Ruiz said thanks to the chess class, he realized he needs to think before reacting to any situation that might get him in trouble.
“We are giving them options,” said Hernandez.
He said since the program started inmates have shown more patience, objectivity, logic, planning, adaptability, intuition and caution, and even have become more sociable with other inmates.
“Let’s challenge them and make them think,” Hernandez said. “We are trying to stop the revolving door and stop the recidivism” of crime.
Michael Moore, 27, who also participated in the tournament, said he is going to use chess as a way to stay out of trouble once he is released from jail in May. Moore said he is taking GED and anger management classes and has been sober for a year.
“I want to be a better person,” he said. “Chess has taught me to be patient and use my brain. … There should be more programs like this. This is a good stepping stone to turn your life around.”
Source: http://www.thecalifornian.com
This is a great idea.