A Lesson in Compassion from a Guy Who Just Got Out of Prison
<p>2014 was another milestone year for me. I’d been out of prison 16 years and I just started my first technical writing contract at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) — the same system that incarcerated me.</p>
<p>The best part of 2014 was that I made one of the most impactful, transformative decisions of my life: I decided to start doing volunteer work to help currently and formerly incarcerated individuals.</p>
<p>My first volunteer event was a speaking engagement at the CDCR’s Oakland parole office, which is located in the San Francisco bay area.</p>
<h1><strong>An Amazing Act of Compassion</strong></h1>
<blockquote>
<p>“Do not judge by appearances. A rich heart may be under a poor coat.” — Scottish Proverb</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While I was waiting for a bus to take me to the Oakland parole office, I saw 2 men who were also going to the parole office. I could tell by the conversation they were having that both of them were recently released from prison.</p>
<p>One of the men said he didn’t have any money. Then I witnessed something incredibly compassionate.</p>
<p>The other man gave him $20.</p>
<p>This may not sound like a big deal until you have a better understanding of how the CDCR works. Each person released from prison gets $200. Whether you’ve served one year or 40 years, you get $200. California is one of the most expensive states to live in and $200 rarely lasts more than a few days.</p>
<p>$20 to someone who just got out of prison is a lot of money. It’s like me giving away 10% of my final paycheck after losing my job when I know I don’t have another job and I have no resources.</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/@charles_30927/a-lesson-in-compassion-from-a-guy-who-just-got-out-of-prison-906692d90817">Visit Now</a></p>