ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Local leaders aren't waiting around for any formal decisions from Springfield. They're moving forward with plans to help prisoners transition back into society. The move comes on the heels of a measure approved by the house and senate that aims to reduce prison crowding by releasing some inmates early.

The local program aimed at helping people get jobs and transition back to life on the outside will be a joint effort between local leaders and the state's attorney. The mayor hopes to pay for the initiative with money that's already in the budget. He says one of Rockford's biggest problems is that people get out of prison and go right back in because they don't know any other way to live.

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey said, "What happens routinely is that inmates get released into the Rockford community without a game plan. What we have in place currently is a lot of parts. What we don't necessarily have is a system that works well together."

Rockford only has one place where people can go for help when they get out of prison. It's called Spotlight Re-Entry.