i'm swee vu. a kqed special. many inmates are doing time for crimes like murder and assault. most will be released back into our communities. once known for its violence today, san quentin has some of the most rehabilitative in the california prison system. we'll talk to a victims right advocate and what she learned through volunteering in prison. but first, let's go inside san quentin to hear from inmates who have been participating in a unique program. one that's helping them tell their stories in their own words. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> when a person decides to change, they want everyone to know they've changed. so it's important for them to get that out. television portrays prison as this negative place where people just are running around being violence, but san quentin is actually totally the opposite from that. these guys are going to college. every day, they go to self-help groups, religious services. everyone here is trying to get out of prison, not stay in prison. i got to san quentin in 1984 via l.a. county jail. >> since 2012, we've been working on a story telling project and re