UPDATED: At least 40 federal prisoners slated for release in Colorado

Thousands of drug offenders are slated to be released from federal prisons across the United States, beginning at the end of October.

Ed Ross, with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, tells KRDO news that of the 6,000 inmates, 42 are from Colorado.

Ross says this number is developing and it could be change, but as of Friday there are 42 prisoners slated to be released in Colorado.

They are not considered a threat to society and a majority of them will be sent to halfway houses. Ross says many of them will be looking for a job and receive help from probation officers.

Each inmate is given a release plan and most of them will be returning to the state where their legal residency is.

In the United States, Texas will be releasing the largest amount of inmates at 578. Delaware is releasing the least amount at 4.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission ordered the Bureau of Prisons to release the offenders, citing overcrowding issues, last year.

The first wave of inmates will be released Oct. 30, followed by a second wave Nov. 2. Inmates are not allowed to be released over the weekend.