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The US has the largest prison population in the world. Many of the inmates are incarcerated as a consequence of aggressive anti-crime legislation, and their prison sentences are often disproportionate to the crimes for which they have been convicted.

In struggling communities like North Lawndale in Chicago there is an at risk community of young African-American men who have either been in prison themselves or are close to someone who has. And once released these ex-convicts often remain "at risk" because there are few jobs for them and little support to help them stay out of prison.

In the North Lawndale region of Chicago there is one programme, Sweet Beginnings, that has provided a way forward for many ex-inmates. It is a programme that provides training, workforce support, and helps them navigate their way out of the recidivism pattern that many find so tempting.

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About Al Jazeera - Witness

Rageh Omaar presents Witness, a half-hour daily documentary series which features short, specially commissioned or acquired films gathered from independent filmmakers.
 
Each documentary reveals the unknown lives of ordinary people, following their lives, telling their stories and portraying the challenges that confront them. Our witnesses are people in a situation or those who have observed them first hand.
 
The films cover conflict, belief, the past and the future and as well as bringing new stories to light they showcase the talents of a new breed of multi-skilled, frontline journalist. In the studio, Rageh will further explore the issues raised in the films, with expert guests on the subject matter and the filmmakers themselves.