From Prison Cells to Paychecks: How Inmates Are Landing Six-Figure Remote Tech Jobs

Remote Work Behind Bars: A New Path to Rehabilitation

At the Mountain View Correctional Facility in Maine, inmates are trading traditional prison assignments for laptops and remote jobs with companies across the country. This innovative program is transforming lives while connecting labor directly to justice.

Self-Taught Software Engineers Finding Purpose

Preston Thorp, a former drug dealer turned self-taught software engineer, now codes for a San Francisco-based tech company from inside the Maine state facility. "I have a purpose now," Thorp told NBC News. "Prior, I had nothing going for me."

Thorp is part of a group of approximately 40 inmates working remotely in various industries. While at least three other states—Kansas, Ohio, and California—also permit some remote work for inmates, Maine corrections officials say they've advanced the concept by integrating education and case planning into the program.

Rigorous Requirements for Participation

Maine's Department of Corrections has established strict benchmarks inmates must meet before being considered for remote work. Participants must complete higher education coursework and follow individualized case plans developed with social workers. Only after meeting these requirements are they granted carefully monitored internet access.

Lucrative Earnings with Accountability Built-In

The work can be remarkably profitable. According to NBC News, at least one inmate has reached a six-figure salary. However, Maine law ensures this income serves multiple purposes:

• After taxes, 25% of earnings go toward restitution for victims
• 10% is set aside for prison room and board

Maine DOC Commissioner Randall Liberty explained the philosophy behind this structure: "If people really care about victims and survivors of crime, that are owed money, the way that we do that is we provide meaningful work for individuals who are incarcerated so they can pay down those debts."

Life-Changing Outcomes

For Thorp, the remote tech job has done more than cover bills—he's earning enough to plan for a home purchase once he completes his sentence. "He's doing the work that people with 20 years of experience can't do," said TURSO CEO Glauber Costa.

Thorp is nearing the end of his sentence and expects to leave prison with both employment and savings. Another participant, Ryan, is only halfway through a 42-year sentence but is using the program to prepare for his eventual release. Ryan earned both a bachelor's and master's degree while incarcerated and now provides remote tech support, including building systems that use AI to create support tickets.

"I feel like I started my life in here," Ryan said. "The transition is going to be much softer."

Thorp's perspective on post-prison possibilities has fundamentally shifted. Where he once believed he would never have a family or normal career, he now says "all those things are within reach."