CLEVELAND -- They made a mistake and they did their time.

However, statistics show ex-inmates have an unemployment rate double the national average.

NewsChannel5's Angie Lau reported how a particular job fair in Cleveland Thursday hoped to improve inmates' job opportunities.

They all came for a second chance because each ex-inmate knows that second chances don't come easily.

"The interview is going well, then you get to the part whether you've been convicted or not and then it's a big shutdown," said first-time offender Lisa Hagar.

At this job fair, being an ex-con is incidental. More than three dozen employers were prepared to look past a person's history.

Officials said that without a job, offenders often find themselves right back in the system.

"I have schooling, I have a good employment background and the felony just stops you in your tracks," said ex-inmate Karen Batkiewicz.

NewsChannel5 reported that more than 15,000 people in Cuyahoga County are on probation or on parole. Many experts don't deny that many will reoffend again.

However, if these people are given a second chance and a job, the likelihood of becoming a repeat offender could go down, according to experts.

"Sure, they're back," said Judge Kathleen Ann Keough. "'I can't get a job. Nobody will hire me,' that's all we hear every day. It's incredible."

Job fair organizers hope to create more success stories like Darryl Johnson.

"I just received my college degree and June 10, I took my LSAT to go to law school," said Johnson.

Johnson served time for drugs and was given a second chance after prison thanks to this program. He first worked as a Xerox employee.

"I call ourselves diamonds in the rough," said Johnson. "We're diamonds, we need to be shined and we need to be given that opportunity."

Employers can get a tax credit of up to $24,000 for a new hire, but the opportunity to find that diamond in the 4,500 job seekers today could be worth much more.