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Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

arstechnica.com

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Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#11

Post by rndmize »

estsauver wrote: post #3

Does anyone here know the people who are working with code 7370? I'd love to help in some way. I don't know if they're looking for code reviews or tutoring, or what I could provide, but I'd love to be of help. It seems like providing the inmates access to something like http://kapeli.com/dash or mdn locally would be a godsend.

I know some of the people that were working on the program. I think the easiest way to start helping out would be to attend one of the related meetups: http://www.meetup.com/hackreactorx/events/218681201/

(I believe there's a meetup like this once a month or so.)

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#12

Post by stevenspasbo »

estsauver wrote: post #3

Does anyone here know the people who are working with code 7370? I'd love to help in some way. I don't know if they're looking for code reviews or tutoring, or what I could provide, but I'd love to be of help. It seems like providing the inmates access to something like http://kapeli.com/dash or mdn locally would be a godsend.

Same here, I'm only about 30 minutes away from the prison, I wonder if they would be open to book donations? I'm sure some O'Reilly and CS fundamentals books would help them out when they are out of class and don't have access to a computer.

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#13

Post by hardwaresofton »

GuiA wrote: post #6

> While the goal of Code 7370 is laudable, faced with competition from younger programmers, many of whom have handled computers since they were toddlers, will it make any meaningful difference for inmates? For now, it's too soon to tell. Of course it will make a meaningful difference for inmates (if only because in terms of all things one could do in jail, this is probably in the top 1% in terms of intellectual stimu…

There are tons of college grads that either didn't study computer science at all, or studied computer science and didn't do very well (and don't like it enough to do it outside of school) that are getting high-paying jobs (relative to general populace) at lots of big tech companies.

The tech industry fancies itself a meritocracy/progressive -- programs like this will show just how much of that perception is real.

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#14

Post by masklinn »

CoreSet wrote: post #9
GuiA wrote: post #6

> While the goal of Code 7370 is laudable, faced with competition from younger programmers, many of whom have handled computers since they were toddlers, will it make any meaningful difference for inmates? For now, it's too soon to tell. Of course it will make a meaningful difference for inmates (if only because in terms of all things one could do in jail, this is probably in the top 1% in terms of intellectual stimu…

I'd also like to add that even if you're not a professional webdev (which I'm not), coding can be an immensely rewarding hobby and recreational pursuit, in addition to providing you with greater general insight into how a lot of everyday technology works.

And either way, a deeper understanding of computers and the ability to script your way out of problem is a useful tool no matter what job you end up doing.

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#15

Post by morbius »

There are many prisons where inmates are encouraged to study business. This is a good, positive thing and if anything, it reflects the permeation of computer science down to even the most fundamental infrastructures of society.

We still have a lot of work to do, but this is a very, very good sign.

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#16

Post by lordnacho »

Perhaps they should be allowed to work remotely after graduating? You would think having a 60-100k job in sight would reduce recidivism. No idea what the stats are though.

Society gets to continue punishing them for whatever they did, and the inmates gets something meaningful and productive to do.

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#17

Post by Zelphyr »

I have an uncle that spent the better part of a decade in prison because of our idiotic drug laws. While he was in he learned coding (DBase if I recall--it was still popular at the time). He never used it after he got out. Why not? He has a marketable skill now, right? Sure. But nobody wants to hire an ex-con regardless of their skill.

I think projects like this are great but we also need to address the problem of being able to find a job for these guys after they get out.

Or, you know; get rid of the drug laws that put him there in the first place.

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#18

Post by Nicholas_C »

Zelphyr wrote: post #17

I have an uncle that spent the better part of a decade in prison because of our idiotic drug laws. While he was in he learned coding (DBase if I recall--it was still popular at the time). He never used it after he got out. Why not? He has a marketable skill now, right? Sure. But nobody wants to hire an ex-con regardless of their skill. I think projects like this are great but we also need to address the problem of be…

>I think projects like this are great but we also need to address the problem of being able to find a job for these guys after they get out.

Amen. This is a huge problem and probably a huge part of why recidivism rates are so high. If you can't get a job out of prison and you're low on money it's really easy to get your old drug/weed guy to front goods for you to sell. Instant cash, work on your own time, no background checks, work that is probably more exciting and interesting.

Huge sentencing reform is needed and I encourage everyone to get active or at least put your ear to the ground about it. A great source of info is the Sentencing Project[0]. They send out e-mails regarding the status of reform in different states and other general current events and information.

[0] http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/index.cfm

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#19

Post by slayed0 »

krishna_sh wrote: post #2

San Quentin prison seems to be doing a great job at engaging prisoners. The inmates write beautiful answers on Quora too.

I thought they weren't allowed internet access?

>Of course, as the class is taught inside a prison, it has an extra obstacle—inmates don't have access to the Internet at all, and their only time spent with a computer is inside the classroom.

Re: Inmates at California’s San Quentin prison learn to code

#20

Post by duaneb »

hardwaresofton wrote: post #13
GuiA wrote: post #6

> While the goal of Code 7370 is laudable, faced with competition from younger programmers, many of whom have handled computers since they were toddlers, will it make any meaningful difference for inmates? For now, it's too soon to tell. Of course it will make a meaningful difference for inmates (if only because in terms of all things one could do in jail, this is probably in the top 1% in terms of intellectual stimu…

There are tons of college grads that either didn't study computer science at all, or studied computer science and didn't do very well (and don't like it enough to do it outside of school) that are getting high-paying jobs (relative to general populace) at lots of big tech companies. The tech industry fancies itself a meritocracy/progressive -- programs like this will show just how much of that perception is real.

> There are tons of college grads that either didn't study computer science at all, or studied computer science and didn't do very well (and don't like it enough to do it outside of school) that are getting high-paying jobs (relative to general populace) at lots of big tech companies.

This also flips the other way: I've interviewed PhDs with little ability to operate in an engineering environment. The industry is definitely more meritocratic than, say, the banking, consulting, and business world.

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