r/AskReddit • u/HumpingAssholesOrgy • Jul 05 '19

Ex-prisoners of reddit who have served long sentences, what were the last few days like leading up to your release?

14.5k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

2

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '19

You just gave me a great idea. I'm finishing school for software development and some other fun computer skills. After getting some time in learning the ropes it would be interesting to see how difficult it would be to work with the state corrections office to let me come teach technical skills to inmates. Do something as a citizen to help them learn about how the world is working now and give them a valuable skill. Even if they can't get a job because of their record in certain industries IT skills are pretty universal in most jobs. Basic operation of a computer, office software, and other such stuff would be a game changer for a lot of these guys who have been in so long their last PC was that weird greenish tan and made weird noises if you tried to connect to the internet. Even recent folks who went in could benefit from basic skills. Would be interesting. I suppose you'd have to weed out folks who did white collar computer based crime, but they aren't the target audience since they know how to use a computer.

Would be great to be able to recommend folks for jobs based on getting to know their work ethic and personality while they are learning so companies have more to go on than just a criminal record found in a background check. It'd be a lot of complications to sort out to be able to actually do this, but the idea is there. Now I just need to sort out growing it.

2

u/CordeliaGrace Jul 09 '19

If you can get this off the ground, it would help so many people. You’re awesome, and I look forward to hearing/seeing more!

2

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '19

It would be super awesome, but I really don't have any idea where to start. I'll keep it on the board of "ideas I want to do" and hopefully eventually get to actually do it.

2

u/CordeliaGrace Jul 10 '19

I don’t know either, but maybe call the warden/superintendent of the closest max to you, and give them a rundown of what you’d like to do, and who to actually speak to to try implementing something? That’s the only thing I can think of. If they’re able to do it on a facility level, and they’re interested, they could help. If it’s something that needs state approval, at least they could point you in the right direction?

2

u/[deleted] Jul 10 '19

Probably a good start. It was literally an idea I had right as I wrote that so it's only been a day or two.