11,000 people were released from federal prison during the pandemic and put on home confinement. 17 reoffended. That's a 0.15 percent recidivism rate. No typo. Now guess: How many of these folks didn't need to be in prison so long in the first place?

THREAD: I spent the long weekend in a house full of formerly incarcerated TikTokers Between us, we did ~70 years & have >5 million followers. A few years ago none of us would have thought this possible Here’s a 🧵w/some of the cool things my friends are doing with their freedom

We need a foundation of emotional intelligence or even a tower of intellectual excellence will fall when storms come. I’m glad that we focus on academics. I just hope we start focusing on the challenges of being human as well. #eq #sel #emotionalintelligence

Fellow Governor Ralph Northam pardon recipient Tony (and his lovely wife Linda) celebrating today, just minutes after being discharged from parole. Look forward to joining you soon! #SecondChanceMonth

So many great projects start as a random conversation. I thought that leaders were people locked in a room, focused on nothing but the next great step. Now I realize that the great ideas more often start over coffee or dinner. So, here's to coffee, conversation and possibility.

Boarding the plane to my home town. It’s funny how often I see someone I know and also how alien everyone can seem. We live in a small city - how do we not know each other?

Life is so much more out here than it ever was inside. That means richer; it also means easier to lose focus. People are what make my life meaningful. When I lose track of that I lose track of what’s important.

Great getting time in with Glenn E. Martin 🐐 and second_chancer. Learning so much from amazing people!

Meet Jonathan! Born in Virginia heroin dependent. Adopted. Then adopted mother died. In and out of the justice system as a teen and then in and out of jail in early adulthood. Someone gave him a shot, and now he’s on a full ride scholarship to Columbia University.

So often when I feel like I’m underperforming, irritable or scatter-brained I benefit from someone suggesting that I stop and eat something or close my eyes for 5 minutes. Being fixated on a goal or immersed in a project feels like a flow state but I often forget the basics.

Lowering the cost of prison phone calls helps families and society virginiamercury.com/2024/03/08/low… via The Virginia Mercury

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is believing love is finding the right person. Love is becoming the right person.

In 31 days, VADOC has closed 4 prisons, assumed control of the only private prison, and reduced its incarcerated population by over 3.5% in a single day. Shoutout to Chad Dotson and his staff and the advocates and legislators who helped make this happen!

Check out what Freedom Reads is doing. Just wow. First annual 'Inside Literary Prize' judged by incarcerated people ny1.com/nyc/all-boroug…

Interesting that you’re trying to ban TikTok US yet in two days you’re speaking at a TikTok sponsored event. Guess their dollars platforming your rhetoric is ok, though?? endexploitationsummit.org

Governor Younkin started the Stand Tall Reentry initiative and now has the chance to sign major probation reform HB 2252 and SB 936 in Virginia #virginia #probation #prison

We had an amazing event with Dr. Jetson Luis-Leder talking with Kids in the juvenile detention center, adults in the jail and these client partners of The Fountain Fund about financial literacy and best practices when starting and running a business

1/ Five years ago today, I walked out of prison — not just a free man, but one given a second chance through a pardon from Governor Ralph Northam Ralph Northam. I had no idea what the road ahead would look like. But I knew I wasn’t going back. 🧵