Albion Hosts Reentry Simulation for DOC Staff

On Nov. 4, the SCI Albion Reentry Service Office hosted a reentry simulation for DOC employees. Forty-two DOC staff members from SCI Albion, SCI Cambridge Springs, Erie CCC and the Erie District Parole Office participated in the simulation. The RSO was assisted by eight Mercyhurst University students who currently participate in the INSIDE/OUT program at SCI Albion, and 10 Albion inmates also assisted RSO staff members in running the simulation.

A reentry simulation is a program where participants simulate being a reentrant and must complete tasks each week, including find employment, housing and groceries, check in with parole, secure transportation and much more. All of this is done on a tight schedule and budget to mirror the experiences and challenges reentrants face in the community. Stations around the room represent the grocery store, medical center, identification card facility, bank, court and more; and participants have 15 minutes each round to complete all assigned tasks. Throughout the event, participants frantically searched for the right station and were frustrated by standing in line or not having the necessary paperwork to continue. Some were even sent back to jail for various offenses, including failed drug tests.