Bernie Sandoval had high hopes in the weeks before he got out of prison.
Just seven days after being paroled, he's disillusioned, frustrated and angry.Prior to his parole, he and other inmates, participated in a 10-day seminar offering advice on getting bank accounts, loans, housing and jobs. There were dozens of representatives from community support groups and local businesses.
"I thought this is great," Sandoval said. "All of these people were promising things. I thought we could get on our feet and put all of this behind us."
But since his release, he's struggling to deal with the bitter taste of reality.
Sandoval feels betrayed by what he calls "broken promises."
"After I got out, it was nothing of the sort," he said. "All of the leads they gave me from the prison were worthless."
Sandoval, who escaped from the Utah State Prison 13 years ago while serving a sentence for armed robbery, was captured and brought back to Utah last April.
He got out of prison March 14, with hopes of getting a job and starting anew with his wife and daughter, who didn't know his real identity until he was arrested in their Florida home.
Sandoval said he got leads on jobs before he even got out of prison. But when he went to fill out applications, he was told by several businesses that "they didn't hire ex-cons."
He got most of the job leads from the Exodus Program, which according to office manager Karen Belt, uses LDS Employment Services. In addition to dead-end job leads, Sandoval said they gave him a phone number to call for new job openings, but a recorded message instructed him to contact his bishop.
But Sandoval isn't a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Belt said the Exodus program has helped hundreds of inmates look for jobs, and she hasn't heard of another case where an applicant was turned down because he or she is on parole.
"We've never run into this problem," Belt said. "We've had many people look for jobs and get jobs (through Exodus)."
Sandoval's expectation of finding a job - even within a couple of days of his release - isn't being overly optimistic, Belt said.
"That's one of the things we advocate is getting out there and finding a job," she said. Sandoval said that's all he wants, and adds that because he doesn't have a job, he doesn't qualify for other types of assistance.
"I'm back to doing it on my own," Sandoval said. "I want a job. I'll do anything."
While Sandoval struggled to find a job, he decided to swallow his pride and apply for food stamps.
"I didn't want to do it," he said. "I'm proud. I want to work."
He applied for food stamps and money to help him get into an apartment. Sandoval said he was told he had to have a job before he could be helped.
"If I had a job, I wouldn't need the help," he said. "I have nothing. It's just like being born again."
Some of Sandoval's problems may be simple misunderstandings. Sandoval said that while in prison, he talked to a representative of the Community Action Program who told him they'd help him pay half the cost of relocating.
Ivanne Salazar, a housing advocate who works for CAP, said there are state funds available for relocating, but it doesn't come through CAP. She said they offer emergency money, one time each year, for tenants to apply for if they're facing eviction.
Sandoval said Zions Bank vice president Geoff Nielson told inmates about a loan program designed for convicts. Nielson said there is no such program but that the bank offered them advice on applying for loans.
"We try to accommodate and work with anybody," Nielson said, but parolees' applications are treated just like anyone else's.
Sandoval said the transition from prison to the street has been trying on his family. His wife, Elizabeth Sandoval, said she understands why there is a "revolving door" at the prison.
"I can see why they get disgusted and start drinking," she said. "You know, it's like, why bother? No wonder they get frustrated and do something stupid. They can't even help support their families."