MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — For some, sitting in a jail cell comes at a price -- one that’s too expensive to pay.
When inmates prepare for the end of their incarceration, one of the biggest questions is what's next for them.
That's why Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden says they're working to give inmates a head start while they're on the inside.
"It hits a lot of people," inmate Sergio Salazar, said. "Depression is in every dorm. Whether guys want to talk about it or not it’s always there."
Salazar said the pains of imprisonment can get even worse for inmates looking to reenter society, with fear that the lack of resources will land them right back in a cell.
"Everybody talks about recidivism, but nobody has a solution or ways to reduce the crime," Sheriff McFadden told WCNC Charlotte.
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McFadden said the detention center is offering inmates a way to restore opportunities, allowing them to become entrepreneurs while sitting in a jail cell.
"You have your own established license company when you leave. That’s rare," McFadden said. "You have a better credit score, mental health, and a legally authorized LLC."
Salazar is just one of the recent grads of “The Next Great 50,” a program that’s allowed him to dream beyond the four walls.
"I decided I want to go with a dog training business," Salazar said. "I broke down. I was like 'This is really happening.'"
To the system, he’s inmate 506136, but Salazar said his business letter proves he is more than just a number.
Salazar said he is looking forward to a new beginning and he's got his two boys watching.
"I want to show them that no matter what situation or position you’re in, whether negative or positive, you always have to look at the silver lining," Salazar said.
Two classes are currently in progress. Inmates in both are set to graduate in July.
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