Late last week, nearly one dozen Illinois inmates ventured outside their jail cells in order to give back to the community.  The Chicago suburbs have long dealt with burned down and abandoned homes, and in the upcoming weeks, Cook County detainees are helping to tear five of these eye-sores down.

Members of the sheriff's department are hoping to demo up to 100 area properties within the next 12 months through a new program that allows certain inmates to assist with these types of projects.  In order to be eligible, they must have been sentenced into the boot camp program.

As part of the boot camp, detainees reportedly live in a boot camp type setting for one year where they live, work and take classes.  After that, they will spend the next eight months being monitored via GPS tracking bracelets.   They'll still need to participate in drug testing and will be required to check in with staff members, but many feel this is a far better option to long-term incarceration.

At that point, if the inmate doesn't have employment or is not enrolled in school, they will be required to spend three days each week helping out with community projects.

The sheriff's department said the new program comes without any added cost to taxpayers.  Ultimately, it's a win for communities and  win for the corrections department.   This type of work, they said, helps provide offenders with life and trade skills which they can use to help get them back on track.

Most of those who are in the program were taken into custody on drug offenses, and they are now being granted a second chance.    One inmate said he's happy he's able to use his time to help out the community.