Life After Prison: High Hopes For an Uncertain Future

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Back in 1999, Aaron Glasscock was just 22-years-old and two months shy of graduating from college when he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for a non-violent drug offense. Nearly 20 years later, Aaron’s sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama.

The Takeaway is following Aaron's story to learn of the struggles and hardships Aaron and his family face as he readjusts to life outside of prison. In part I of our new series, "Commuted: Life After Prison," we met up with Agnes "Pigeon" Deep, Aaron's mother, as she made final preparations the night before his release from prison after 18 years.

Yesterday in part II, The Takeaway traveled two hours with Pigeon, Aaron's sister Jeanie Yokum, and Eddie Lanham, a close family friend, to Manchester Federal Correctional Institution in Kentucky — the place that Aaron's family met him for the first time as a free man.

Here in part III, we join Aaron for his first few hours of freedom, and hear how he will navigate his new life. He’s quickly learned that the outside world looks much different than he remembered it. He’s both worried and optimistic about the future.