The Legal Aid Society and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe announced the parole of Richard Rivera, who has been serving the last 39 years incarcerated for a conviction he committed in the 1980s at the age of 16, reports The Appeal. Over the past four decades, Mr. Rivera has worked to fully rehabilitate himself and to accept responsibility for an armed robbery of a restaurant in Queens, New York that he committed.

While he entered prison unable to read or write, Mr. Rivera today holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Syracuse University and a Master’s degree in Professional Studies from New York Theological Seminary. He has also completed 100 credits towards a second B.A. in Sociology through the Bard Prison Initiative Program (BRI). Studies show that people who obtain higher education degrees while in prison have dramatically lower recidivism rates.

Mr. Rivera has also participated in multiple programs while incarcerated including founding a new voluntary program called Fifty PLUS Organization, which helps to meet the physical and mental health needs for individuals in New York State Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) custody. Other programs include Prisoners AIDS Counseling and Education Program, which all exemplify his strong leadership and empathy for others. Mr. Rivera’s 2018 application for parole including multiple letters of support from organizations and individuals vouching for his rehabilitation

“Mr. Rivera’s road to recovery and rehabilitation is truly extraordinary. Parole is designed to afford people like Mr. Rivera—who accept responsibility for their actions and exhibit remorse—a second chance at life,” said Tina Luongo, Attorney-in-Charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society.