Reentry Simulation Training - Lenawee County

Course overview

Ninety-five percent of the over 1.5 million incarcerated individuals in the United States will eventually be released back into the community (West & Sabol, 2009; ACA, 2013). Of those, approximately 65% will reoffend and return to prison within 3 years of release (BOP, 2013). Communities all across the country are affected; as a victim, a tax-payer, a family member, or a community resource. While returning citizens are released to diverse communities with differing levels of support, experience suggests that they share many of the same challenges. This Reentry Simulation will illustrate the journey to self-sufficiency and the barriers that may contribute to feelings of helplessness and decreased self-efficacy. Participants will assume the identity of an ex-offender and perform tasks in four short rounds, with each round representing a week. By the end of this hour long activity, participants will have simulated a month in the life of someone who has been released from prison. Participants will encounter the same challenges faced by many ex-offenders as they try to complete their court-ordered obligations as well as maintain their day-to-day life. This simulation prompts participants to consider the relationship between resiliency and recidivism and the role they might play in a returning citizen's journey