Wrongfully Convicted Man Unites with Former Prison Guard to Open Barber College

• Juan Rivera was wrongfully convicted for crimes he did not commit, while Bobby Mattinson was one of the prison guards.
• The two started bonding at the prison’s barbershop, where they both dreamt of opening a barber school.
• So when Rivera was exonerated and awarded millions in a wrongful conviction settlement case, the two were able to fulfill their dream.

Juan Rivera and Bobby Mattinson seemed to be an unlikely pair of buddies. They met when the former was an inmate in Stateville Correctional Center, where the latter was a guard. Years later, they reunited to fulfill their dream of opening a barber school: the Legacy Barber College.

Rivera had been wrongfully convicted for offenses he did not commit, so he was battling for his freedom. According to Block Club Chicago, his bond with then prison guard Mattinson started when he got haircuts at the prison barbershop, where Mattinson was also a coordinator.

Mattinson even helped Rivera get his barber’s license! The pair then got talking about opening a barber school together.

Rivera was finally exonerated in 2012 in a historical overturning of a conviction. New evidence supported his innocence, so Rivera sued — and won a whopping $20 million settlement from Lake County, Illinois, and the City of Waukegan. It has become the largest wrongful conviction settlement in US history.

Rivera used the money to team up with Mattinson and fulfill their dream. They opened the Legacy Barber College with the aim to give a second chance at life for others caught up in the justice system.

Juan Rivera told Block Club Chicago, “This started, believe it or not, in prison. I saw a need. We want to help the less fortunate. Because once they get out, they usually have nothing to fall back on.”

The barbershop offers discounted haircuts to patrons while giving people the opportunity to be part of the industry and gain experience.

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Mattinson, who has worked in the criminal justice system for 30 years, expressed his hope for the potential impact of the barber college.

“We lock them up well, but what do we do to help them get back on their feet?” he said. “I see these guys coming in and out. I knew I wanted to do something to help them. I say to these guys, ‘Hair care is a $50 billion industry. If you give a great cut and service, no one is asking about your background.’”

Rivera and Mattinson not only achieved their dream but are also helping others get closer to theirs!

Source: Tank’s Good News