LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- The State of Kentucky released nearly 1,000 convicted felons early Tuesday in an effort to save $400 million over ten years.
But what happens to these ex-convicts when it comes to jobs and contributing to society?
Many of those ex-convicts will be relying on a program to help get them back into society and to stop a life of crime.
There’s a lot of stigma attached to ex-felons re-entering the workforce. Not many places want to hire them.
But it could be more costly to taxpayers if they don’t find a job or end up back in prison.
Many of these men and women served time for burglaries, kidnappings and armed robberies.
Released early from prison, they're jobless and some are homeless.
Torey Christian, an inmate released from prison on Tuesday, wants a new life.
"They ain't got no financial help on the outside. Some family members or somebody that's willing to help give them a job or something like that," Christian said.
Another inmate said he thinks the inmates should be given a new opportunity.
"I think they should start letting people out,” Decarlo Robeson, inmate released from prison, said. “Give people a second chance."
Christian and Robeson were two out of nearly 1,000 ex-felons released Tuesday.
One hundred and fifty returned by the busload to the Louisville Greyhound Terminal.
It costs roughly $60 a day to keep them locked up or tens of thousands of dollars a year to taxpayers if they don't find work because of health insurance, food stamps and indigent care.
But the job front looks bleak.
"Lots of the key employers in our region can't hire people with a serious criminal record. UPS isn't allowed to because of Federal rules at airports. Hospitals can't because of security,” Michael Gritton, KentuckianaWorks Executive director, said. “We really struggle because there's no designated Federal or State funding streams to try and help ex-offenders find a job."
With a jobless rate at 9 percent, businesses are less likely to take a risk and hire ex-felons.
They're competing against 60,000 already unemployed.
But Goodwill Industries in Kentucky has a program called Re-entry by Design.
"It gives people a second chance," Chris Parker, Workforce Development Specialist at Goodwill Industries, said.
Funded by KentuckianaWorks it is a two week certified class that helped 120 people last year.
Convicted felons must be on parole and have a letter from their officer.
The organization’s goals are re-integration, anger management, life skills and resume help.
Ex-felons must pass a 90 day work test.
"There's a workforce tax credit and a Federal bond that employers can get which I think is a huge insurance policy for them to be able to hire an ex-offender," Parker said.
Many end up working in the food service industry, warehouses and landscaping.
Walter Haggard served 13 years for robbery and burglary and was released last year.
A graduate of the program, he does production work at Independent Industries and spends time with his daughters.
Haggard told WHAS11 how he has adjusted to life outside of prison.
"Well, I'm paying taxes and I've never done that," Haggard said.
Goodwill expects nearly 150 ex-cons who arrived in Jefferson County to start applying to their program in coming weeks.
But they only accept those who are on parole at their Broadway location.
