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The Surprising Stresses of Returning from Prison: 50 People See How Hard It Is to Succeed

06/26/2019 02:26:39 PM

Jun26

By Mary Fulton and Jim Mackman, Co-Chairs, Urgency of Now Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System Action Team

On June 2, 2019, the Urgency of Now (UON) Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System Action Team hosted a Returning Prisoner Simulation. This eye-opening and immersive experience, developed by Madison Urban Ministry (MUM), was divided into three parts. In the first hour, MUM staff shared a description of the many programs that MUM provides to help those who are returning to the community from prison. During the second hour, the 50 attendees participated in the simulation, which was run by MUM staff and volunteers. The final hour included a debriefing with MUM staff and volunteers, including the perspectives of individuals who have been through the re-entry process themselves.

The powerful simulation provided a close-up view of what it is like to come home from prison. Each of the participants received a mock profile and took on the role of that person as they sought to complete fundamental tasks, such as finding housing, a job, food, clothing, and health care, while complying with the terms of their release. Some were “confined to their home” for part of the scenario to simulate being on electronic monitoring. Most struggled to get the necessary documents, including a Social Security card, birth certificate, and state identification or driver’s license. Some were required to obtain medical, psychological, and/or substance abuse treatment. Many were required to have regular contact with their parole officer and to complete a certain number of job applications in a given period. For most participants, money and travel vouchers were very limited, so they had to make difficult choices when setting their priorities. The simulation provided a terrifying glimpse of the challenges and frustrations that people experience when they return to the community.

TBE member and program participant Marcia Vandercook said of the experience: “I felt like I was in a scene from Catch-22. I couldn’t get an apartment until I had a job; I couldn’t get a job until I had a Social Security card; I couldn't get a Social Security card until I had bus fare. Every minute I spent in AA was time I couldn’t spend in the employment line; every dollar I spent on child support or medication got me further away from ever being able to pay rent. I realized that the multiple obligations we place on people returning from prison are almost impossible to fulfill."

TBE member Betsy Abramson was experiencing the simulation for the second time. She said, “This time through was as frightening, frustrating, and upsetting as the first. The added power to the experience was listening to the generous returning citizens share their stories: mistakes they had made early in their life landed them in prison for 10, 20, or more years, away from their children and support systems and then totally unprepared to return to a changed society with impossible expectations. It was heartbreaking to hear their stories. We must do better, and I am hopeful that our Temple’s action team can contribute to easing the re-entry for these citizens.”

Please keep your eyes open for more UON racial justice events coming up this fall. Any TBE members who are interested in taking a more active role with the UON racial justice team should contact Mary Fulton at mfulton49@hotmail.com or Jim Mackman at jimmackman18@gmail.com.

April 26, 2024 18 Nisan 5784