INDIANAPOLIS -- A portion of stimulus money earmarked for public safety will be used to create job programs for ex-offenders in Marion County.

So far, the county has received $8.4 million in federal money for public safety, most being spent on traditional programs like a $1.4 million automated fingerprint system, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

But leaders are looking for input on how to use $950,000 to boost transitional jobs for former inmates to interrupt the crime cycle.

"It's a huge opportunity," said acting Public Safety Director Mark Renner. "(When they work for the city), they're out there fixing potholes, out there in the parks working to repair basketball courts or swimming pool leaks, and, at the end of the six months, there is now a funded position that is now open."

Companies like Workforce Inc., which employees 50 ex-offenders, are hopeful they'll also get stimulus money to keep their programs running.

"This program keeps me out of trouble. It keeps me off the streets," said 21-year-old ex-offender Tyrell Pool.

The recycling operation processes three million pounds of recycled computer parts and other items every year. President Gregg Keesling said his employees are truly being productive members of society.

"They have paid $16,000 in county-option income taxes. These are individuals who were not working prior," he said. "They were costing the taxpayer $25,000 a year to incarcerate them and they were costing double that in court time, police time and jail time."

There will be a meeting Thursday among city leaders to discuss ways to create more ex-offender job programs.