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

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

#21

Post by Zimahl »

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'll agree with the first regular job. He's been socially isolated for 18 years and probably has very little ability to function in the real world. A job at Pizza Hut or Starbucks will put some money in his pocket, get him self-sufficient, and interacting with people. He'll be able to rent an apartment and then he can spend time coding and learning in his off hours.

While he's doing that he's going to have to hit the pavement and find someone willing to take a chance on him. That will be the tough part. He needs to build a resume. Contracting might be a good way to start.

Lots of luck to him. Have him start a blog so we can follow how it's going. I'd find the insights into the prison system and his work toward the future very interesting, if he's will to share.

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

#22

Post by eduardordm »

hvs wrote: post #4
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.

I think because I live in an extremely violent place it changed the way I think about prisons. I'm not saying that you or me are right or wrong, really.

Most criminals are already living in hell. You send them to a prison with this idea that you are punishing them with the clear intention of feeling good in some way (maybe closure?).

What people lack of understanding is that prisons are not real punishment for those who are actually there. Some of them might even like it. So, prisons are not efficient in punishment nor rehabilitation. What are those things?

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

#23

Post by outworlder »

hvs wrote: post #4
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.

What is it about then? I see only one reason for a person to be locked up:

1- He poses a threat to society and should be removed, as not to endanger others.

Prison it is not about education, it is not about rehabilitation. It is required to keep dangerous individuals from causing further harm (the other option would be the capital punishment).

Prisons are also used as punishment, but that's a side-effect. There are other ways of having a non-violent (or no longer violent) person repay his debt to society.

Putting people in prison for anything other than physical violence is ridiculous.

In this case, there was likely violence involved, but we do not have details, so I'll refrain from trying to apply the reasoning to this case.

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

#24

Post by oz »

Firstly, thank you for your humanity.

There's a guy on Quora named Michael Santos that spent 25 years in prison for drug dealing. He was released last August. While incarcerated, he got his degree, got married, and wrote a book. He has written extensively on the prison experience, and how one can come out on top. He's also quite willing to answer any questions:

http://www.quora.com/Michael-Santos-4

You may have to sign up to Quora to read his answers, but it's totally worth it, if just for his perspectives alone.

Once again, I salute you for what you're doing. I don't know if you've seen the movie 'The Shawshank Redemption', but there's something very "Andy Dufresne" about what you're doing. Through your humanity, you're giving this man dignity. Salaam.

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

#25

Post by retroafroman »

Just a thought I had, and maybe someone can help me, but if a convicted felon has a hard time getting an apartment, can they start an LLC (or any other business entity) and then have the business rent the apt? I'm assuming the management would still like to see see financial history, so probably an aged LLC or corp would be best?

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

#27

Post by newbie12 »

impostervt wrote: post #9

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.

Or, he might be able to use freelancing online to establish a working relationship with a company that would hire him directly. It is just tough, the money is terrible and I think this guy is going to need more structure than working from home will provide. Self-starting is hard for anyone and our friend has had every minute regulated for the past 18 years.

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

#28

Post by scarmig »

testimoney wrote: post #5
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!

That's moralizing. Punishment is something parents do to their kids or churches do to their congregants. I certainly understand why people strongly believe the prison system should be used to try to balance the grand metaphysical scales of justice, but I tend to think it should be used to make society safer and better.

Thinking that criminal justice should be about personal punishment, not social outcomes, is what leads to people being thrown in prison for selling sex or consuming drugs.

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

#29

Post by Irregardless »

pbj wrote: post #20

"and have been telling him that his only chance of financial independence is through writing code" There are tons of trade skills that he could learn quickly at a local community college. Plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, hvac repair, etc.. can make seriously good money and his felony would likely not be as big of a factor either. Especially if he went into business himself.

His felony wouldn't be a big deal for employers who would potentially be sending him into people's homes on a regular basis?

I have to strongly disagree with that one.

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

#30

Post by syedkarim »

Zimahl wrote: post #21
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'll agree with the first regular job. He's been socially isolated for 18 years and probably has very little ability to function in the real world. A job at Pizza Hut or Starbucks will put some money in his pocket, get him self-sufficient, and interacting with people. He'll be able to rent an apartment and then he can spend time coding and learning in his off hours. While he's doing that he's going to have to hit the…

I'll definitely suggest the blog to him. While researching his situation I came across someone on Quora who was just recently released after 25 years. He writes extensively on the subject you're curious about:

http://michaelsantos.com/

http://www.quora.com/Michael-Santos-4

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