Hey Anne, First off, let me say that You're a Good Friend! I suggest taking a path that will provide not only a job opportunity but also an adult education program for a HS diploma or GED and job training. Career One Stop (http://www.careeronestop.org/ExOffender/index.aspx) is a national agency, funded the US government, that provides local one on one career training, education, and job search counseling. Refer your friend to this site and instruct him to search for the nearest office and call for an appointment. They can help him with resume building, continuing ed, and local job training information. Getting that first opportunity is usually the most challenging step but the most important because it will allow him to re-build a work history and references that lead to better opportunities. Refer him to this site so he can add his resume, network, and build a professional online presence/brand. Reach out to me if you or he need more info. Talk soon.