Last week I met Frank, an inmate at Oakhill Correctional Institution. For the past decade, he's been serving time for various crimes, including drug offenses and burglaries. He'll be the first to tell you that he's done wrong in his past. Having spent the bulk of the last 10 years locked up, he's had plenty of time to reflect on his misdeeds and on his upcoming release.

In 45 days, Frank will be released from Oakhill, prompting him to ask, "What happens next?" With a criminal record and a 10-year employment gap on his resume, job prospects are top of mind. If he's not able to make a living wage quickly, will he be able to attain and maintain stable housing, afford transportation to and from work or job interviews, and buy groceries and new clothes for the first time in a decade?

Frank's story is similar to many other men and women who have served their time. Based on the latest report from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Wisconsin released 8,952 inmates from DOC institutions in 2016. Between 2015 and 2017, Oakhill alone released over 750 inmates.