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Working on databases from prison

(turso.tech)
849 points dvektor | 19 comments | 16 Jun 25 12:32 UTC | HN request time: 0.582s | source | bottom
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mlissner ◴[16 Jun 25 14:28 UTC] No.44289885[source]▶
Maine's remote work program is an incredibly promising development to prevent recidivism. The amazing thing about it is that it gives real jobs to prisoners that they can seamlessly continue after they get out of prison. Normally when you get out, it's impossible to get a job, and the clock is ticking. This leads to desperation, which leads to bad behavior.

There is a real risk of exploitation, but if it's properly managed, remote work for prisoners is one of the most hopeful things I've heard about the prison system. It gives people purpose while there and an avenue to success once they're out.

replies(7): >>44290046 #>>44290150 #>>44291513 #>>44291690 #>>44293165 #>>44293193 #>>44293353 #
dfxm12 ◴[16 Jun 25 14:52 UTC] No.44290150[source]▶
Do participants get paid a real wage?
replies(1): >>44290225 #
glommer ◴[16 Jun 25 14:57 UTC] No.44290225[source]▶
Preston was free to negotiate his pay with us, and we pay him a full salary. Just no health care benefits.
replies(2): >>44290487 #>>44290988 #
dgacmu ◴[16 Jun 25 15:24 UTC] No.44290487[source]▶
Does he actually get the salary, or does the prison take huge overhead?
replies(2): >>44290547 #>>44290868 #
glommer ◴[16 Jun 25 15:31 UTC] No.44290547[source]▶
they take an (actually very reasonable) cut, but he is free to take his salary.
replies(2): >>44290606 #>>44292364 #
kgwxd ◴[16 Jun 25 15:37 UTC] No.44290606[source]▶
No cut is reasonable.
replies(6): >>44290689 #>>44290761 #>>44290790 #>>44290903 #>>44291361 #>>44291420 #
jjmarr ◴[16 Jun 25 15:45 UTC] No.44290689[source]▶
They need money to pay for oversight. Any time prisoners talk to someone on the outside, it's a potential conduit for contraband or organized crime.
replies(1): >>44290718 #
1. Balinares ◴[16 Jun 25 15:48 UTC] No.44290718[source]▶
The exact same is true of people working outside of prison.
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2. gbalduzzi ◴[16 Jun 25 16:05 UTC] No.44290865[source]▶
I think it's reasonable to assume an additional risk for people in prison.

Even though the enrolled people are completely trustworthy, doing this prevents untrustworthy people to simulate interest in the program just to be able to contact the external world for illegal activities.

3. Retric ◴[16 Jun 25 16:18 UTC] No.44290970[source]▶
Not really, contraband includes many things that are completely legal for non prisoners to have like currency, phones, knives, or alcohol. Sending that stuff to prisoners is illegal https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1791

List of prohibited items: https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840...

replies(1): >>44291974 #
4. newswasboring ◴[16 Jun 25 17:34 UTC] No.44291589[source]▶
People working outside pay rent. From a third to upto half their salary.
replies(1): >>44292148 #
5. snickerdoodle12 ◴[16 Jun 25 18:14 UTC] No.44291974[source]▶
You can send phones, knives or alcohol via email or slack?
replies(1): >>44292033 #
6. Retric ◴[16 Jun 25 18:20 UTC] No.44292033{3}[source]▶
You can agree to pay for them at a given prices via email or slack. It’s more or less guaranteed that contraband will get into prisons if someone is willing to pay for it. Thus the rules around no cash or phones for prisoners.

Inmates are treated very differently by the legal system than regular people. Thirteenth Amendment: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States”

replies(1): >>44292502 #
7. ◴[16 Jun 25 18:33 UTC] No.44292148[source]▶
8. snickerdoodle12 ◴[16 Jun 25 19:09 UTC] No.44292502{4}[source]▶
You can also do that via a butt phone, which are everywhere.
replies(2): >>44293077 #>>44297910 #
9. Retric ◴[16 Jun 25 20:25 UTC] No.44293077{5}[source]▶
That heavily depends on the facility. Phones aren’t that difficult to track down as a radio device, but such efforts are rare.
10. scott_w ◴[17 Jun 25 11:38 UTC] No.44297910{5}[source]▶
Good point, in that case, let’s open it up and let it be a free for all. May as well let them take the drugs in through the front door, while we’re at it.
replies(1): >>44298980 #
11. snickerdoodle12 ◴[17 Jun 25 13:30 UTC] No.44298980{6}[source]▶
Of all the things to be concerned about you picked drugs?
replies(1): >>44299688 #
12. scott_w ◴[17 Jun 25 14:29 UTC] No.44299688{7}[source]▶
I’m just using it to point out the stupidity of your argument. Don’t think too deeply about it, you might hurt yourself.
replies(1): >>44300154 #
13. snickerdoodle12 ◴[17 Jun 25 15:08 UTC] No.44300154{8}[source]▶
Shame this account doesn't have the flag button unlocked yet, because you deserve it. Maybe go read the HN guidelines?
replies(1): >>44302248 #
14. scott_w ◴[17 Jun 25 18:30 UTC] No.44302248{9}[source]▶
Maybe check them yourself? I see nothing but sealioning in your line of questions.
replies(2): >>44302257 #>>44302475 #
15. snickerdoodle12 ◴[17 Jun 25 18:30 UTC] No.44302257{10}[source]▶
I have no idea what you're talking about. Instead of waving around vague accusations how about you say what you mean?
replies(1): >>44302481 #
16. ◴[17 Jun 25 18:49 UTC] No.44302475{10}[source]▶
17. Retric ◴[17 Jun 25 18:49 UTC] No.44302481{11}[source]▶
“Sealioning is a form of online trolling where someone persistently asks insincere questions to provoke frustration, all while pretending to engage in a civil debate.“

That’s about as direct an accusation as it gets.

replies(1): >>44310770 #
18. snickerdoodle12 ◴[18 Jun 25 15:30 UTC] No.44310770{12}[source]▶
Sounds like you and the other commenter are trying to troll me into saying something inappropriate. Nice try, though.
replies(1): >>44310817 #
19. AnimalMuppet ◴[18 Jun 25 15:35 UTC] No.44310817{13}[source]▶
Not Retric, no. He just gave the definition, and noted that scott_w was essentially accusing you.