There are more than 2.2 million people living behind bars in the U.S. today.
Carlos is one of them.

I grew up in foster care my whole life, never got adopted. So I grew up with the state. So I’ve always been state property...

25% of those who grew up in foster care will end up incarcerated.

Carlos doesn't have family or anyone he considers a friend.

If your family betrays you, gives you up the day you were born, what makes you think a stranger won't do it?

Carlos was first arrested for assault at 9 years old. He is currently serving a three-year sentence for second-degree assault and burglary.
He was a car thief — a good one, he says. But those are skills that — coupled with a felony conviction — do not make him appealing to possible employers.

"Re-entry is an art and a science. We have years of research that shows us what works and what does not. One of the factors that’s been identified is anti-social behavior. And that will increase the odds of you reoffending and coming back to jail."

—Alisa Smedley/Re-entry Employment Coordinator,
Montgomery County Correctional Facility

Carlos says the jobs program has been helpful.

They actually treat you like a human being. That’s a big difference... They show us how to word things differently. Even if we’re just doing the job in the jail. I work at the jail in like, four or five different jobs that I do... I use that on my resume... I use the jobs that I’ve had on the street. That helps out, too, because I put them all into perspective with the right wording, and it sounds like I had a history of jobs.

"I want people to get employed, because we realize, and the data tells us and the research tells us, that every day of employment we lose with that individual, that the opportunity for recidivism, returning to bad choices and bad behaviors is increased."

—Robert Green/Director,
Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation

I’m not gonna be struggling for long. That’s one thing I do know. I’m gonna do whatever I gotta do to survive... If I have to steal a car, then that’s what it's gonna be.

Watch the series to find out what happened to all three inmates after they were released.

Ashley's Story

Broken JusticeJordan's Story

Sources: The Pew Charitable Trusts

There are more than 2.2 million people living behind bars in the U.S. today.
Carlos is one of them.

I grew up in foster care my whole life, never got adopted. So I grew up with the state. So I’ve always been state property...

25% of those who grew up in foster care will end up incarcerated.

Carlos doesn't have family or anyone he considers a friend.

If your family betrays you, gives you up the day you were born, what makes you think a stranger won't do it?

Carlos was first arrested for assault at 9 years old. He is currently serving a three-year sentence for second-degree assault and burglary.
He was a car thief — a good one, he says. But those are skills that — coupled with a felony conviction — do not make him appealing to possible employers.

"Re-entry is an art and a science. We have years of research that shows us what works and what does not. One of the factors that’s been identified is anti-social behavior. And that will increase the odds of you reoffending and coming back to jail."

Carlos says the jobs program has been helpful.

"I want people to get employed, because we realize, and the data tells us and the research tells us, that every day of employment we lose with that individual, that the opportunity for recidivism, returning to bad choices and bad behaviors is increased."

I’m not gonna be struggling for long. That’s one thing I do know. I’m gonna do whatever I gotta do to survive... If I have to steal a car, then that’s what it's gonna be.

I grew up in foster care my whole life, never got adopted. So I grew up with the state. So I’ve always been state property...

25% of those who grew up in foster care will end up incarcerated.

Carlos doesn't have family or anyone he considers a friend.

If your family betrays you, gives you up the day you were born, what makes you think a stranger won't do it?

Carlos was first arrested for assault at 9 years old. He is currently serving a three-year sentence for second-degree assault and burglary. He was a car thief — a good one, he says. But those are skills that — coupled with a felony conviction — do not make him appealing to possible employers.

"Re-entry is an art and a science. We have years of research that shows us what works and what does not. One of the factors that’s been identified is anti-social behavior. And that will increase the odds of you reoffending and coming back to jail."

Carlos says the jobs program has been helpful.

"I want people to get employed, because we realize, and the data tells us and the research tells us, that every day of employment we lose with that individual, that the opportunity for recidivism, returning to bad choices and bad behaviors is increased."

I’m not gonna be struggling for long. That’s one thing I do know. I’m gonna do whatever I gotta do to survive... If I have to steal a car, then that’s what it's gonna be.

Carlos was first arrested for assault at 9 years old. He is currently serving a three-year sentence for second-degree assault and burglary.
He was a car thief — a good one, he says. But those are skills that — coupled with a felony conviction — do not make him appealing to possible employers.