Recovering PCs, and Lives, behind Bars in Texas

A computer recovery program at two Texas prisons has produced not only 26,000 refurbished PCs donated to schools, but also numerous inmates seeking Microsoft training, even certification.

By Steve Birge

February 5, 2008

Cameron Watt (left) and Alton Hudson (right) present a Wynne Unit offender with his MCSA certification.

In an ideal world, people convicted of crimes would leave prison better people than when they entered, ready to contribute rather than take. At two Texas prisons, hands-on work with Microsoft products is putting many inmates on that very path.

The Wynne Prison Unit in Huntsville, north of Houston, and the Daniel Unit in Snyder, south of Lubbock, each have computer recovery programs in which inmates refurbish old PCs for donation to schools. Over nine years, some 26,000 computers – each loaded with a licensed copy of Windows made possible by Microsoft’s Fresh Start for Donated PCs program – have shipped from these facilities to Texas schools.

That’s a great story in itself. But the work has also inspired numerous inmates to go beyond just assembly, often including Microsoft certification. Many offenders have capitalized on Microsoft training to turn their lives around after release, said Bob Stoudt, facilities manager at Wynne, who oversees the computer recovery program at the Wynne unit.

“Here are just two success stories: One former offender is MCSE certified, discharged in April 2007,” Stoudt said. “He got a job in Houston as a systems engineer, working for a good company, making a good wage and an honest living, and loving every minute of it. Another former inmate went to San Antonio and started a company helping people doing small stuff with their PCs. He started doing real well, so he started a second business. Now he hires guys who’ve come through our facility after their release.”

Offenders at Wynne Unit painted a floor-to-ceiling mural showing a timeline that chronicles the prison’s recent history with that of computer technology, Microsoft in particular.

Cameron Watt, K-12 education manager in the East Region, visited the Wynne facility in November with Alton Hudson, the Texas account rep. He found a bustling, high-demand program with eager participants.

“I realized it was a much larger and more efficient operation than you would have expected,” Watt said. “They said they had people working on PCs, looking to be certified with Microsoft products as programmers and system administrators, and asked if we had any training materials. Our New England District said we have closets full of that stuff, and they sent cases of books to this prison. Then the holiday season rolls around, and I get about 50 letters from offenders thanking Microsoft and saying what an amazing job we’re doing for them.”

No matter that the books were not the newest editions – they were still swarmed over and devoured, Stoudt said.

“The biggest thing for these guys was when Microsoft sent those books. They could be Windows XP or Server 2003 books, it still would be Christmas all year for them,” Stoudt said. “Some of these guys have no money, period – not enough to buy books of their own. But when Microsoft sends them books, they then have their own they can take to the house to read. Pretty soon the books start looking worn because the guys are carrying them everywhere every day.”

Many of the inmates do more than just read. Three have already achieved Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) status and one recently released offender has his Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certificate. Following the visit from Watt and Hudson, Stoudt said the number of offenders wanting to be MCSA candidates went from one to eight. He also said a number of program participants want to pursue Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) accreditation.

David Hanna (left) and John Kelbley were part of the Microsoft New England District team that gathered reference and training books for a prison computer recovery program.

The issue there is the cost. The state currently will subsidize training only for CompTIA A+ or Network+ certification – international, vendor-neutral certifications recognized by major hardware and software vendors, distributors, and resellers. Most offenders cannot afford Microsoft certification. Stoudt is lobbying for scholarships. In the meantime, Watt remains amazed at the impact of some spare books from an office closet.

“I left the prison visit very impressed and wondered what we could do to help,” Watt said. “These guys are all the way off in a remote part of Texas, but the appreciation we got from a simple thing like sending the books was just incredible.”

That sentiment was shared in the letters Watt received. As one inmate wrote about his fellow inmates, “I can see the skills and knowledge [participants] are gaining in computer recovery. Microsoft’s donations will enable them to be a positive influence in their communities and work force upon their release from prison.”