when you think about criminals serving time behind bars, you probably figure they're pumping iron or shooting hoops. >> and knitting is probably the last thing that comes to mind. two retirees are turning convicts into converts with yarn. here's abc's t.j. winick with more. >> reporter: barbed wire fences, watchman towers, and a group of men with felony convictions. >> i'm arrested for armed kidnapping. >> attempted murder. >> reporter: but listen closer, and you realize there's more here than meets the eye. >> i'm knitting a small hat for a kid. >> reporter: that softer side appears every thursday around dusk with two unusual visitors to the prerelease unit in jessup, maryland. meet lynn and sheila. you wanted to give knitting needles to hardened criminals? is that a good idea? >> for a man to pick up knitting needles and walk through that door, they've already shown themselves as being open people. >> reporter: there are going to