At the Past Lives maker space, a Portland artist who served time for homicide now helps ex-prisoners explore the tool shop as they try to reintegrate into society
Brandon Morlock was on LSD when he crashed his car in 2016, killing his friend and passenger Ryan Bowker. He served five years for vehicular manslaughter, during which he pledged to help released felons find employment. The Second Chance Act has highlighted how difficult it is for convicted felons to find housing and jobs upon their release into society, even when they are reformed and repentant. Morlock also believes prisoners are exploited for their labor inside prison. He says they are being paid as little as $30 a month to do such as work as building furniture, which is then sold under popular brands, without any recognition of who made it.
When he got out of prison in October 2020, Morlock worked at a small…
