DIXMOOR, Ill. (WLS) -- They've almost finished serving their time for non-violent crimes, now they're learning new skills at the Cook County Jail Boot Camp.
An apartment complex that stood empty for years was nothing but a crime magnet, Dixmoor officials said. But the village didn't have the money to tear it down. On Thursday, inmates at the Cook County Jail helped in the demolition, learning new skills as they prepare to re-enter society.
"General knowledge of power tools. How to handle them safely, being in an environment like this. It's beneficial," Deangelo Reed, boot camp graduate, said.
"Deconstruct a whole house from top to bottom. Basically take a roof down, floors, stuff like that," Luis Salgado, boot camp graduate, said.
This is part of a re-purposing of Cook County's Boot Camp program. The old theory was to knock some military discipline into the heads of young, non-violent offenders and they might see the light. The sheriff believes that idea by itself is not a terribly effective model. It becomes more valuable by adding a work detail.
"For literally nothing, towns and villages that could not afford to take buildings down are having it done by people who are serving time off a sentence," Sheriff Tom Dart said. "They're restoring a community, learning a valuable skill that can then be transferred into the real world to get real jobs."
Dixmoor is happy and 10 to 12 other southern suburbs burdened by housing blight are in line for the boot camp teams.
Reed will end serving his sentence with some new skills confidence.
"So if I can continue that route only success could come from it," he said.
"Hopefully I can get a job with construction, deconstruction. It teaches me a lot. Hopefully I can open up my own company," Salgado said.