WAUPUN, Wis. — Hundreds of inmates in the Wisconsin state prison system are learning new job skills as part of a program aimed at setting them up for success once they re-enter society.

Don is an inmate at the John C. Burke Correctional Center in Waupun. He said he’s serving time for multiple OWI offenses.

Don said he didn’t want to waste time doing nothing, so he started working at the center. Soon after, an opportunity presented itself to work outside, off site, at the Waupun State Farm.

“At least I can do something productive, help people, help the calves instead of sitting in my cell doing nothing,” he said.

Don said he now helps with the calves, feeding them and cleaning their hutches. He said he also helps with calf births.

“This is my first experience on a farm,” he said.

Don is one of about 400 inmates classified as workers, said Wes Ray, Director of the Bureau of Correctional Enterprises for the state Department of Corrections.

BCE oversees the farms and other industries where inmates are working. Ray said workers who graduate from the program have a better chance at success after serving their sentence.

Ray said workers who graduate from the program have a better chance at success once they reenter society after serving their sentence.

“They achieve a 71% success rate in not returning to the department for any custody… and when they’re succeeding at home that means fewer crimes, fewer victims,” Ray said.

Don said he’s looking forward to enjoying similar success. He said he knows many inmates who deserve a second chance at life when they are released from prison.

“You’re still human, you know. We all make mistakes,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that we’re all bad people.”

“I’m paying my debt,” he said, looking forward to rejoining his family with new skills in hand.