Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#1

Post by syedkarim » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:11 PM UTC

I met this person when I was in high school. He made a huge mistake in his early twenties and has almost finished paying for it (bank robber). He gets out of prison next week. I've kept in touch with him through letters and have been telling him that his only chance of financial independence is through writing code.

He's very familiar with business logic, as he was the MS Access dba for the prison factory. And about six months ago I sent him a few conceptual programming books that you all suggested he read. He paid for his own master's degree (distance learning program in organizational dynamics), and even started a phd--though prison officials would not let him conduct the necessary research to complete it (and he ran out of money).

He's about 40, has no family, and virtually no friends (outside of prison). Army veteran, so he has health insurance covered. I think he has about $1000 saved. I'll be giving him a laptop, smartphone, and mobile hotspot. He won't be able to leave Indiana for a few years (terms of supervised release).

Would really appreciate everyone's thoughts and advice. I'll compile all of it and make a list for him. Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#2

Post by eduardordm » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:28 PM UTC

First, a rant: I always get shocked about how the US justice system works, where punishing (and revenge) is obviously more important than protecting humans. He should have been released as soon as he posed no threat to others. If the US keeps its current course there will be more people inside prisons than outside of them in the future.

He certainly has a lot of expectations. I can only imagine the pressure he is putting upon himself right now. My only advice is for him to find the first regular job he can. That will give him more time to learn programming (if he wants to do that) and release a bit of the pressure to succeed fast.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#3

Post by tesmar2 » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:30 PM UTC

First off, great job in being involved in this guy's life. He really needs people like you to help him get on his feet and recover.

I'd say introduce him to a recruiter who has a lot of connections and can get something going for him. If that doesn't pan out, perhaps some biz owner here on HN might hire him.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#4

Post by hvs » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:37 PM UTC

eduardordm wrote: post #2

First, a rant: I always get shocked about how the US justice system works, where punishing (and revenge) is obviously more important than protecting humans. He should have been released as soon as he posed no threat to others. If the US keeps its current course there will be more people inside prisons than outside of them in the future. He certainly has a lot of expectations. I can only imagine the pressure he is put…

I'm all for challenging the current US justice system, but I'm not sure why "posed no threat" is your only standard for who should be in prison. He did actually violate the property rights of other people. Prison, in mine and many others' opinions, is not just about rehabilitation.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#5

Post by testimoney » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:37 PM UTC

eduardordm wrote: post #2

First, a rant: I always get shocked about how the US justice system works, where punishing (and revenge) is obviously more important than protecting humans. He should have been released as soon as he posed no threat to others. If the US keeps its current course there will be more people inside prisons than outside of them in the future. He certainly has a lot of expectations. I can only imagine the pressure he is put…

Prisons is not only about threat to others, its also about punishment. Someone could maybe kill a whole family, then after a year in prison have an "enlightenment", become religious, have regrets about the killing, and knowing himself that he won't do it again, he still deserves his full prison sentence!

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#6

Post by kjackson2012 » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:40 PM UTC

eduardordm wrote: post #2

First, a rant: I always get shocked about how the US justice system works, where punishing (and revenge) is obviously more important than protecting humans. He should have been released as soon as he posed no threat to others. If the US keeps its current course there will be more people inside prisons than outside of them in the future. He certainly has a lot of expectations. I can only imagine the pressure he is put…

He shouldn't have committed the crime in the first place. End of story. If he knew that bank robbing was a crime and he committed it anyway, he deserves whatever punishment was meted out to him. People could (or may) have been killed over his greed for money.

That being said, I have no problems with the notion of helping ex-cons try to turn their lives around, after they've paid their debt to society. I am a supporter of Delancey Street organization in SF, which helps ex-cons reintegrate with society by giving them jobs in the moving industry, cooking, selling Christmas trees, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#7

Post by newbie12 » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:41 PM UTC

eduardordm wrote: post #2

First, a rant: I always get shocked about how the US justice system works, where punishing (and revenge) is obviously more important than protecting humans. He should have been released as soon as he posed no threat to others. If the US keeps its current course there will be more people inside prisons than outside of them in the future. He certainly has a lot of expectations. I can only imagine the pressure he is put…

You don't know the details of the crime. For a sentence that long, it likely involved a firearm or some type of physical violence. Protecting the public probably meant locking this guy up until he reached middle age.

Having said that, now that he's paid his debt, it does seem like the system should do more to help him return to productive society.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#8

Post by tworats » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:41 PM UTC

Unfortunately getting a "job" will be difficult with a prison record, but consulting could be a good path. If you can find someone to sub-contract jobs to him he can get started (he might have to take a low rate to start with), and once he establishes himself he'll be able to win new deals himself.

As he establishes himself it'll probably be worthwhile to create a company that he can build a reputation around - that way his personal background becomes less visible.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#9

Post by impostervt » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:42 PM UTC

Perhaps a freelancing site, such as oDesk? He can build up some basic references doing trivial technical work. He won't make much money as there will be a lot of competition, but many recruiters would rather hire from within the US if the cost made sense.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for someone getting out of prison after 18 years?

#10

Post by rdl » Thu, Jan 24, 2013, 6:42 PM UTC

He's going to have a lot of employment difficulties due to a felony record.

I'd probably suggest stuff like online task markets or contracting, particularly on low-sensitivity stuff. The other thing that might work would be creating software/services for sale directly.