An American prisoner in the United States who is still serving his sentence writes code and works remotely in prison. He earns more than 996 every year and bought his own house before he was released from prison! Preston Thorpe is 32 years old and has been a computer nerd since childhood. At the age of 13, he was able to install computers and play with technology. He was originally a budding IT star. But as adolescence went astray, he became obsessed with drugs and started selling drugs.


At the age of 20, he was sentenced to more than ten years in prison for selling synthetic drugs. At first, he felt that his life was over and he would accomplish nothing after he was released from prison. After all, it’s difficult to find a job with a criminal record.

But fate sometimes gives you a chance to "reload."

In 2019, he was transferred to a prison in Maine, USA, where prisoners were allowed to use a laptop with limited Internet access to attend classes and study. For someone who is a technical geek, this is simply a blessing from heaven.

So he plunged headlong into the world of programming, learning code for 15 to 17 hours every day in a cell. He had no mobile phone or social media, only a computer and a desire to turn around. He said: "Prison gave me an advantage. I could study with super concentration."

A few years later, he not only completed all the courses the prison could provide, but also started working on his own projects and contributing open source code, and his technical level improved by leaps and bounds.


At this time, the state of Maine in the United States conducted a special experiment: allowing some prisoners with good behavior to work remotely in prison.

Yes, you heard it right, you can sit in a cell and work with a laptop to earn money, and you can even have video conferences with companies outside. Preston was one of the first participants.

He joined a start-up company as a software developer and was promoted to the head of the development team within a year. Not only that, he also contributed to open source projects in his spare time. His level was so high that the boss of a company was shocked and didn't realize that he was in jail!


Later, the technology company called Turso officially recruited him as a full-time remote senior engineer.

Preston's daily work is similar to that of the migrant workers you and I are familiar with: making an extra cup of instant coffee at 8 o'clock in the morning, turning on the computer to type code, and holding video meetings. A sign saying "Please be quiet during video conference" is posted on the door of the cell, and other prisoners will consciously slow down their steps to give him a "workplace atmosphere."

But his salary is even more impressive than that of us cattle and horses... The annual salary is about 100,000 US dollars, and more importantly, he doesn't spend any money...

Of course, not all of the money went into his pocket. He has to pay some fees first, such as compensation for victims and even prison food (if you earn more, you have to pay 10% as "board and lodging"). But even so, Preston still saved the first big savings in his life.


The most jaw-dropping thing is that he actually used the money to buy a house in his hometown of Michigan!

The house is across the street from his parents' house. He asked his family to help with the procedures and arrange his future residence in advance. Others were worried about food and accommodation after being released from prison, but he was ready to move in with his bags.

Think about it, this is something that many “normal people” don’t do. Preston used his wages in prison to achieve "early landing".

Behind Preston's story is actually a "turnaround" for the Maine State Prison. The goal of their "Work from Prison" project is to not let prisoners stay in vain, but to give them skills and the possibility of starting over.

Not everyone can participate in this program; only inmates who are well behaved, disciplined, and have completed educational courses are eligible to apply. Participants can work remotely through laptops, and their work includes customer service, data processing, program writing, etc.

The salary is the actual market price, and some people earn tens of thousands of dollars a month. Their money can be used to pay off debts, support their families, save, study, or even invest in starting a business. The prison said the program has reduced violence in prisons and effectively reduced recidivism rates.


Of course, there is also controversy outside. Some people feel that prisoners should not live such a "dignified" life, while others are worried about safety issues. But more people are beginning to realize that instead of letting them continue to sink, it is better to give them a chance to rehabilitate themselves so that they can really reintegrate into society after they are released from prison.

Preston has about a year left before completing his sentence.

After he was released from prison, he already had a stable remote job, his own house, piles of project experience, and connections accumulated in the open source community. Not only did he turn his life around, he also set an example for other inmates.

He said: "Prison gave me a second chance in life. Although I messed up, I didn't want to miss this chance."