TheSylviaPlathEffect

I know this isn't a question but I just wanted to let you know that your fundraising page is showing an error. I'd like to donate, do you have a link that works?

I'm writing because one of my closest friends is incarcerated for a double murder he committed 22 years ago for a gang, when he was 14. He's in Washington and I'm in London, but we make it work with letters and video chats.

In our letters, he described his gang as a family, something he really needed. He said disrespecting them felt like a huge deal when he was 14 and willing to die for them. But mostly that it was a huge mistake that took seconds to make and a lifetime to atone for. He's very sorry.

He's hoping to be released soon: he has a 78 year sentence but Alabama vs Miller has been good for his case. Is there any thing available of the outside to help deinstitutionalise him when he doesn't have a family and I'm so far away? How can he be supported alone? I'm really concerned because he was a 14 year old in an adult prison and now he's a 37 year old that's never seen the real world.

He currently gives talks in prison etc on the importance of sexual consent and lead ls meditation classes so I'm certain he won't reoffend. He wants to help children in his situation though but doesn't know how to do it. I think this makes less coherent sense than it should but I know when I tell him about this AMA he's gonna be so proud of you guys and make me read it all to him.

You're doing good, fellas

Thank you! For some reason, it's still not working but I'm going to do a search and see if I can find you guys! Thanks for doing this AMA

Thank you! I was actually just re-reading this AMA and thinking that. Explaining what an AMA is in the first place is going to be strange, but I know he'll want to hear about it. He has email and sends me articles from online (but they're always from mid-90's) and such so he has basic knowledge but I feel like he needs the "just because it's on the Internet, doesn't make it true" talk ha. It's so eye opening speaking with someone who hasn't seen the outside world since 1994, we talk about what's changed a lot and he's always awestruck.

That's strange. I'm just getting an error but I'll grab my laptop. http://i.imgur.com/pwd9m2V.png