Client Sentenced As Juvenile Gives Back, Is Found Suitable For Parole

Gary “Malachi” Scott has been incarcerated his entire adult life.  Despite this, he has matured into a thoughtful, kind, and talented adult.  On December 27, 2012, the Board of Parole hearing found him suitable for parole.  Governor Brown will make his final decision May 2013.

Malachi was born in South Los Angeles to a single working mother and grew up in a chaotic home and a violent neighborhood.  At thirteen years old, Malachi became involved with the local gang because it was the one place where he believed he belonged. At fifteen, he agreed to help an older gang member commit a robbery. The robbery victim was shot and killed during a struggle over the gun, and Malachi was sentenced to state custody at age sixteen.

A couple of years into his incarceration, Malachi removed himself from the gang and has since dedicated his life to speaking to at-risk youth about the dangers of gangs and repeating his mistakes. He and a small group of fellow inmates founded “Kid C.A.T.” (Creating Awareness Together), a group for inmates convicted as juveniles committed to addressing the underlying issues leading to juvenile crime and incarceration through education, mentorship, and restorative practices.  The group has partnered directly with community leaders to develop a curriculum to educate people inside and outside of prison, and has participated extensively in community service projects. Malachi currently serves as Treasurer of the Executive Board and hopes to continue Kid C.A.T.’s mission by forming a similar non-profit organization outside of prison. In addition to Kid C.A.T., Malachi is a leader in a variety of self-help groups including the Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG), Narcotics Anonymous, and the San Quentin Utilization of Inmate Resources, Experiences and Studies (SQUIRES).

Malachi is the sports writer for The San Quentin News, the only prisoner-run newspaper in California. Recognizing his outstanding writing, The New York Times selected his piece about incarcerated juveniles for online publication. In the piece, he discusses the difficulty of rehabilitating juvenile offenders in dangerous prison settings.

Malachi is a remarkable man deserving of release. He has the support of numerous prison staff and volunteers.  He has firm parole plans, including a paid full-time job offer to work with at risk youth and a stable residence. Please join us in urging Governor Brown to allow Gary Scott’s grant of parole to stand.