Jonathan Chiu was released from San Quentin State Prison around 8 a.m. on May 1, 2020, in the middle of California’s shelter-in-place order during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 18 months had passed since his 50-years-to-life sentence had been commuted by then-Governor Jerry Brown. Chiu was 36 at the time and had served 15 years of his sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder in 2004. In prison, he had been a member of the 1,000 mile marathon club and had been managing editor of San Quentin News, where he was in charge of layout and crossword puzzles. In his spare time, he did standup comedy.

“I feel blessed to be out and wish I could’ve taken my friends with me,” he said.

The following are photos taken by his friend and San Quentin News alum Eddie Herena. The captions are based on his account of the day as told to Prison Journalism Project co-executive director Yukari Iwatani Kane.

Jonathan Chiu walked out of San Quentin’s main gate, carrying a plastic tub with his possessions including uneaten food items and cards, photos and letters from over the years.
Former San Quentin News staffer David Le was among those who greeted Chiu. Also waiting were formerly incarcerated friends, coaches from the 1,000 Mile Marathon Club and public information officer Lt. Sam Robinson, who enveloped him in a congratulatory hug.
Chiu wore a mask issued by the prison, but he was given no guidelines on how to stay safe beyond where to go if he felt sick.
“Walking out felt weird,” Chiu said. “Up until that day, I thought it was a dream.” After he finished greeting his well-wishers, a friend took him to a Walmart, so he could buy clothes and other necessities. They picked up food at a Thai restaurant and visited with other formerly incarcerated friends before Chiu checked in with his parole officer and went to the transitional house where he would be staying. He ended the day with former San Quentin News editor-in-chief Jesse Vasquez, who gave him a tour of San Francisco. “It felt foreign but not out of place,” Chiu said. “Being away for 16 (years) was not too much compared to others who have been in for 20 or more.”

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

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Eddie Herena

Eddie Herena is a former staff photographer for San Quentin News, the only prisoner-run newspaper in California. He now works as a freelance photographer. His work has been published in various publications including Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Next City, The Athletic and San Francisco Chronicle.