NORRISTOWN, PA—The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts, in collaboration with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Montgomery County Reentry Initiative, and hosted by the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety, is proud to announce a Reentry Simulation event.
The event will be held for registered participants on Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus, 1175 Conshohocken Rd., Conshohocken, PA 19428.
This event is part of the U.S. Attorney's Office's Reentry Simulation Initiative, for which they have designed simulation "kits" to share with their community partners. This unique initiative aims to shed light on the challenges faced by individuals reentering society after incarceration and deepen community understanding of the reentry process.
The simulation is a two-hour activity that prompts participants to walk in the shoes of an individual who has recently returned home from prison by providing them with tasks to complete within a certain amount of time. The exercise represents the first month in the life of someone returning home. The activity will be followed by a discussion about the criminal justice system and the complexities of reentry.
“Our hope, from the Clerk of Courts Office, is that this will help our client base to be treated with more empathy and understanding,” said Lori Schreiber, Clerk of Courts. “That, in turn, can help lower recidivism rates. In addition, we hope to highlight some of the problems in the re-entry systems, and that this awareness may lead to needed changes to help returning citizens with a smoother transition back to their home communities in the future.”
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Clerk of Courts to bring a Reentry Simulation to the community of Montgomery County,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero. “My office is committed to educating others about the challenges of reentry, and to supporting people with their transition home so that our community can be safer. Aiding people with their reentry process is part of our comprehensive strategy to help prevent recidivism, combat crime, and support our communities in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. I hope that this Simulation will open up many more eyes and inspire understanding. By working together, we can ensure that people have the tools and resources they need to succeed in their journey home from prison.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania facilitates Reentry Simulations across the nation with law enforcement, community members, non-profits, and people from all walks of life. For more information on how to host a Reentry Simulation, contact Cynthia Zuidema at Cynthia.zuidema@usdoj.gov.
Media Contact: Megan Alt, megan.alt@montgomerycountypa.gov
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