Preston Thorpe, 33, currently incarcerated at MountainView Correctional Facility in Maine, has achieved a full-time position as a software engineer for the database company Turso, highlighting the transformative impact of Maine's unique prison education initiatives. Thorpe, who has spent a third of his life in jail, including a quarter in solitary confinement, now works remotely while contributing 10% of his wages to the state. His journey underscores the success of programs that offer educational opportunities to incarcerated individuals.
Thorpe's path to software engineering began after a challenging past. At age 20, he was imprisoned for drug offenses, and after an initial release with limited options, he re-offended. A transfer to Maine proved pivotal, as it is the only state that permits inmates to pursue college studies while incarcerated. This opportunity allowed Thorpe to enroll remotely at the University of Maine Augusta, where he developed a passion for programming.
His dedication led him to become a volunteer contributor to an open-source project, which ultimately caught the attention of Turso, a company focused on building the next evolution of SQLite. Turso CEO Glauber Costa offered Thorpe a full-time position after discovering his impressive contributions and his incarcerated status via his GitHub profile. Thorpe had also previously worked for Unlocked Labs, an organization that hires incarcerated and formerly incarcerated engineers to develop educational software for prisons.
The success of Maine's approach is evident in its remarkable recidivism statistics. According to a tweet by Sheel Mohnot, "Those that take college courses while in jail in Maine have a recidivism rate of 0.5%, compared to ~68% nationwide (3 year recidivism rate)." This significantly lower rate, also supported by University of Maine at Augusta data showing under 5% or 3% for college graduates, demonstrates the effectiveness of education and vocational training in rehabilitation. Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner Randall Liberty has championed these programs, emphasizing their role in reducing re-offending and fostering safer communities.
Thorpe's story serves as a powerful testament to personal transformation and the potential for rehabilitation through education and meaningful employment. His work at Turso not only provides him with a career but also showcases a viable model for reintegrating incarcerated individuals into society, offering them a second chance and contributing to broader societal benefits.