[jeremyarussell]

I commend you for doing the right things. The system inherently goes against it's only goal, by sending people out that are almost guaranteed to commit another crime and unleashing even more upset people onto the population. Instead of keeping us safe it makes progressively more savage criminals, people that have to hurt or kill in order to survive in prison don't generally come out better for it.

I think the fact that you are even doing all this will keep your friend on the right track, that he has a friend to talk to may be the thing that keeps him from a depression that will send him towards a life of crime.