Federal Probation Officer Steven Carmichael (standing) and Chester County Adult Probation Officers Erik Malmstrom (left) and Brian Hughes (middle) work at the Chance Station, one of fourteen that participants visited during the Reentry Simulation.
The Chester County Reentry Coalition hosted a Reentry Simulation – an exercise where participants walk in the shoes of someone recently released from prison – this week at West Chester University. The exercise was held in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and West Chester University. The simulation shed light on the challenges individuals face during the first month of returning to society after incarnation.
At the start of the simulation, participants were given a “wallet” containing information about their criminal offense and life circumstances. In addition, they received a “life card” listing weekly tasks they had to complete, including complying with the terms of their probation, finding a job, attending substance abuse or mental health treatment, managing family responsibilities, paying bills, buying food, and figuring out transportation.
Those tasks were completed within a set timeframe by going to stations that represented the Department of Motor Vehicles, their probation officer, an employer, social services, and other agencies and services a returning citizen must interact with.
Chester County Probation, Parole & Pretrial Services Chief Chris Pawlowski said, “The Chester County criminal justice system serves a broad range of individuals, including victims, the justice-involved, their families, and the community. To improve community safety and reduce recidivism, we need a network of support systems that promote long-term positive change – because the reality is that most of those who are incarcerated will return to our communities. The ability of reentrants to have a successful return to society dramatically increases when they have access to basic needs, such as housing, employment, family support, and substance use or mental health treatment.
Pawlowski continued, “Chester County is fortunate to have the support of the Courts, the District Attorney, the Commissioners, and many social service providers, ready, willing, and able to assist reentrants transition from prison back into the community.”
Jacqueline C. Romero, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, noted, “Our returning citizens’ reentry experience affects not just their personal trajectory but public safety and community stability. They’ve served their time. They’re our neighbors and our family, and we should want to set them up for success. Simulations like today’s can go a long way toward opening people’s eyes to the many challenges of reentry.”
David Garlock, a member of the Reentry Coalition’s Executive Committee who was formerly incarcerated, said, “It takes a village for someone who is justice-impacted to be successful. The community is part of that village. A reentry simulation is a perfect tool for the community to see the struggles and heartaches someone goes through when they come home. My hope is that this reentry simulation impacts everyone who participates and that reentry services continue to grow, with more people getting involved.”
The Chester County Reentry Coalition is made up of Chester County’s Departments of Probation, Parole & Pretrial Services, Human Services, Drug & Alcohol Services, Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Children, Youth & Families, Health, Aging Services, Emergency Services, Juvenile Probation, Veterans Affairs, Community Development, Workforce Development, Court Administration, Domestic Relations, and Family Court, the Chester County Commissioners, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, the Chester County Public Defender’s Office, the Chester County Youth Center, Chester County Prison, the Chester County Library, Chester County Court of Common Pleas, law enforcement, state agencies and elected officials, treatment centers, community organizations, non-profits, religious entities, returning citizens, and community members.
The Chester County Reentry Coalition reports to the Chester County Criminal Justice Advisory Board.
