Sarah Koenig

But it is true that Adnan has always been fine in prison.

He's adaptable.

He pointed out to me that he'd never been independent anyway, first a word of his parents, then a word of the state.

He spent the initial part of his sentence at a prison in Jessup, about a 30-minute drive for his family.

It was a looser place than where he is now, at North Branch in Cumberland, a maximum security prison more than two hours away from Baltimore.

In Jessup especially, people got away with all kinds of craziness.

That prison's closed now.

Anand's only had one infraction his entire time, which a guy at the DOC told me was impressive for anyone.

After I asked about his prison record, Anand sent me a stack of copies, 21 different certificates and awards for completing this program or helping with that activity.

In 2005, he got one called the Distinguished Gentleman's Award for your consistent display of character, mannerism, self-control, and ability to manage adversity, signed by the warden.

Adnan's one infraction was for having a cell phone, which he had for five years.

Actually, he had a couple of different cell phones.

A new one he got, he couldn't figure out how to make it work.

At Jessup, Anand had a good job.

He was a clerk in the chaplain's office, which gave him access to a computer and to a printer and copier.

Being an entrepreneurial sort, he ran a couple of side businesses, printing stuff and making copies for people.

At North Branch, he's a cook.

He told me the only jobs at North Branch are either kitchen jobs or custodial jobs.

He's got a group of friends he's close with, guys who came into the system the same time he did.

They have a little breakfast club, which he's in charge of.