The facts around this assignment have changed. Rob was paroled in October 2018.

The facts around this assignment have changed. Rob was paroled in October 2018. However since his release he has asked that I still share this assignment with you all and seek pointers on how to be successful post release and any other scholarly insight you may have. He admits that life as a free man is alot harder than he thought it would be [update as of 10/20/2020 he recently welcomed his first child]. He is working as a truck driver, has an apartment, and a car and is looking to start his own trucking business with his cousin. Overall he is doing well. He struggles from time to time with managing time, being in large crowds, and generally trusting people. It is evident that the pains of imprisonment and prisonization have impacted his reentry process. 
Therefore answer this question based on NOW, but appreciate the facts about his story below and how those things will forever impact him as an African American felon living in the South. 
Because students have asked in the past – He completed High School and a few months before he actually wrote this letter he was taking college courses at a local community college via the Prison Program. He opted out of the college program so he could work in an “off campus (prison)” wood plant during the day. Then he was later transfered to another prison and lost access to those great opportunities. He was making $10 a day at the wood plant. In prison thats big money. 
Please reply in letter format as if you are writing Rob directly. 
Peace Everyone,
My name is Rob and it is a pleasure to be writing to you all. I hope you have enjoyed this class so far and realize how lucky you all are to have Natalie as your teacher [she’s good people]. Natalie and I grew up in nearby towns in middle Tennessee [we went to rival high schools].  She was one year ahead of me in high school though. I remember Natalie leaving for college and I was on my way to Auto Diesel School in Nashville. She stuck to her plan; my own was derailed and since 2009 I have been incarcerated on a drug charge. I wasn’t actually selling drugs at the time but the state had a case against me and needed to move before the indictment expired. Funny enough I was actually working a legit job getting my life back in order. I was done with the streets. But karma is a … The state moved forward with their case and nearly 9 years later here I am still in prison. It sucks to say the least. [Appreciate the fact that he is NOW released.]
I knew Natalie taught at some fancy school in NYC and she had reached out to me a couple years back to see if I wanted to participate in this class by writing to you all. I didn’t want to at first but then I realized I could probably learn a thing or two from you New Yorkers. So here is my story… 
I go up for Parole in May of 2018. Finally right? I know. But before then I have a meeting with my Internal Parole Officer – who is something like a social worker who will talk to me about my chances of winning the parole board. Well living in the south isn’t easy and being a man of color makes everything 10x more difficult, so the board I go up before doesn’t really take a liking to my kind. But im hopeful because I have been a “good boy” for the most part. I’m currently in a shit hole of a prison right now, which doesn’t offer real programing. But prior to coming here I was at another location in middle Tennessee and I was working full time at an off prison lumber yard and in school full time working on my bachelors degree. Before I got clearance to work in the lumber yard I was apart of the kitchen crew and I would cook breakfast for the whole prison. I was making 0.08 an hour – I was rich. But what the lumber job I was making minimum wage which was very helpful and allowed me to save for my exit.
Since moving to this new {CCA} prison [privatized prison], I have been down in the dumps because there arent programs, no work release, no education/college programs, and it really isn’t a safe place. As a matter of fact, a corrections officer was stabbed last week. Im not sure why they sent me here knowing I would benefit from real world work opportunities and a reentry program. But then again this whole system doesnt make sense most of the time and there’s nothing I can do to challenge the placement. Since you all are studying “criminal justice” answer me this: Does it make sense to allow folks to return to society with no social and professional skills? Make no sense to me but of course my opinion doesnt matter in that aspect
So as I mentioned above, I am going up for parole soon and its likely I could return home, with family and friends [it feels good to even write that out]. I understand it will be a major transition once I enter the free world but I am interested in know what you all think I should do when I get out. I want to work and go to school but I am not sure if I can handle all of that at once in addition to getting comfortable around people and just being free to walk outside. I am also excited about getting my name back and giving the prison their number back.
I have managed to ontain my drivers license which is a major plus. There are several factories within a 30 mile radius, but I dont have a clue what route to take for the long haul. I have so many goals and dreams but reaching them seems impossible at times. 
Important NEEDS before the parole can be accepted:
Home plan – I have this – with mom until I have enough to get my own apartment
Employment – I MIGHT have something lined up sooner than expected, im waiting until the new year to find out for use.
No write ups in 12 leading up to parole date – Im golden on this topic.
I am open to anything you have to offer… What something you couldnt live without currently.. I have a ton of new things to get use to. I.e. the new cell phones. 
Be easy, 
Rob