I do what I can to keep him motivated and I tell him that I care. Most of the people back here are just like him. My point in all this is, that it is so important to have a friend, to have support and caring. I know, many of you will say that you didn't get convicted of murder, so you don't have to try to imagine this. But, I am also pretty sure that you have made a mistake that affected someone else, which you wish that you could take back.
People do learn from their mistakes and people do change.
Everybody needs somebody. Probably free from an institution, yet in a prison just the same. The pain would be deeper that being confined to a building. Think of yourself free and what you would do with no one to care or show interest. It would be hard, no doubt.