Preston Thorpe is a software engineer at a San Francisco startup — he’s also serving his 11th year in prison

Preston Thorpe, a software engineer, is currently serving his 11th year in prison, yet his story transcends the typical narrative of incarceration. Despite the circumstances, Thorpe has been making waves in the tech world as a volunteer contributor to an open-source project associated with the database company Turso. His impressive contributions caught the attention of Turso’s CEO, Glauber Costa, who offered him a job after discovering Thorpe’s unique situation. Thorpe is part of a groundbreaking initiative within the Maine state prison system that allows inmates to work remotely while serving their sentences. This program is aimed at rehabilitation, and it has proven to be transformative for many. Thorpe’s journey began in a tumultuous adolescence that led him to sell drugs and ultimately land in prison at the age of 20. After a brief release, he found himself back behind bars just 14 months later, feeling hopeless and resigned to his fate. However, a change occurred when he was transferred to the Mountain View Correctional Facility in Maine just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolation of the pandemic provided an unexpected opportunity for introspection and growth. "When I came to Maine, everything changed for me," Thorpe reflected. He took this chance to enroll remotely at the University of Maine at Augusta and began to envision a different future for himself. Thorpe's story is not just about personal redemption; it also highlights a shift in the approach to rehabilitation within the prison system. Maine's Department of Corrections, led by Commissioner Randall Liberty, has embraced innovative programs that address issues such as substance use disorders and educational deficits. Liberty's experiences in Iraq reshaped his views on trauma and rehabilitation, leading to a more humane approach to corrections. In Maine, approximately 30 inmates, including Thorpe, are now engaged in remote jobs from a less restrictive facility designated for those with good behavior. This initiative allows them to contribute to society while serving their time, with a portion of their earnings going toward state restitution and support. The success of these programs is evident in Maine’s lower recidivism rates compared to the national average. While many states face return-to-custody rates around 60%, Maine's rates hover between 21% and 23% for men and 9% for women. The impact of educational opportunities is particularly striking; those who participate in college courses report a return rate of just 0.05%. Thorpe himself is a testament to the effectiveness of these progressive measures. He has taken full responsibility for his past actions, describing his transformation as waking from a dream. "It feels like it happened to someone else," he said, reflecting on his previous life. Over the past three years, he has dedicated himself to learning programming, driven by a newfound purpose and the desire to prove himself. In the open-source community, he found acceptance and respect as a developer, free from the stigma of his past. "Letting someone have a career gives you purpose," Thorpe stated, emphasizing the importance of identity beyond incarceration. His story exemplifies the potential for change and the powerful impact of second chances in the tech industry and beyond.