Jail Bird?
Takeaways from a Jail Release Simulation
By Becky Cain, Commongrounds’ Curator of Community
Picking up the clear plastic packet, I began to read about “Amber”, my persona for the morning. Amber spent 25 years in both state and federal prison for murder, felon in possession of a firearm and a past drug conviction.
Education: A high school diploma
Employment: $120 a week working part-time at a fast food restaurant
Housing situation: Living with significant other in rundown apartment
This life card also included a checklist of living expenses and court ordered appearances; Amber(I) was allotted $200, a few transportation tickets, 2 of 3 necessary ids, and four wild cards- one for each week of the simulation. Phew. What had I gotten myself into?
At the invitation of Kathy Sanders with BDAI (Before, During & After Incarceration), I agreed to be a part of a jail release simulation. Coordinated by Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium, the event was sponsored by Keys to Freedom and the State of Michigan OS Reentry Services along with BDAI. The goal of the simulation was “...for participants to gain understanding of the significant obstacles faced by individuals attempting to navigate the system upon their release from incarceration and returning home to their communities.To walk in the shoes of one who is returning home gives valuable insight for professionals who are tasked with helping those individuals achieve a successful reentry.” As the Curator of Community at Commongrounds, I felt that the experience would help me gain more insight about the re-entry process leading to greater compassion and understanding for those with lived experience.
While I sat with the Amber packet on my lap, I started looking around the room at the different stations: there was one for IDs, career counseling, social services, court, work, bank, food, parole, health care, treatment, church (for AA/NA, food bank and clothing), a pawn shop and chance. Chance? (If participants felt like they had no other option, they could choose to commit a crime- take a chance indeed!) These were the places and resources I would need during the simulation. Before being given instructions, I started to formulate my plan. And because I’m a planner, I created several options. After a few minutes I found that my anxiety had risen 1000% before the experience even started; how the heck was I going to get everything done?
The simulation was designed to be a four week period post release from incarceration; each week lasted 15 minutes. In our briefing we were told that if employed, we had to show up at work first thing each week. When the bell rang for the first week to start, I made a beeline for the “Work” table, finding myself behind about twelve folks in line. When I reached the “boss”, he told me that I couldn’t work, because I didn’t have three forms of identification. So I made my way across the room to the line for “ID”. This time I listened to what folks in front of me were told, and instead of waiting my turn, I went to the next table and filled out the form; then I was ready when it was my turn in line. I received my third ID, went back to work and this time found that I needed five transportation tickets in order to work- there were only three left in my pack; when I tried to tell the boss that I walked to work for two days, he threatened to call the police. I found my way to the table to purchase more transportation tickets and then the bell rang to end the first week. Because I needed to pay $400 for rent and didn’t have the funds, I wound up in the homeless shelter.
As week two began, I knew that I needed to make some money and that I had missed my meeting with my probation officer and I hadn’t eaten. Because the career center was close to the homeless shelter, I started there. As luck would have it, I was able to get a full time job! However, the line was pretty long at the “work” table, so I went to “church” thinking that at the very least I could get to an AA/NA meeting (that always looks good on paper) and get some food. At church I was kicked out of the meeting for being disruptive, and wasn’t able to get food because I had some money. On my way to work I stopped at “transportation” for more tickets. The line was super short at “work”, so I was able to start right away. “Work” involved waiting for seven minutes, so I decided to duck out while the boss wasn’t looking to get the drug test needed before meeting with my probation officer. I made it back to work in time to clock out, get paid and get to the bank. Then I was able to pay my rent to get out of the homeless shelter and buy food before the bell rang ending the week. I was feeling somewhat successful, but knew that I needed to see my probation officer first thing week three since I had missed the week one meeting and there could be a warrant out for my arrest.
I began week three as first in line to see the probation officer. I shared my story about long lines and not enough time, but also shared that I had gotten to work, paid my rent and went to an AA/NA meeting. She heard the positives and sent me on my way. I got to work, then quickly looked around to see what I could get done while “at work” that week. I ducked out to purchase transportation tickets and go to treatment and made it back just in time to clock out. The bell rang as the boss handed me my paycheck.
When I got to work first thing week four, the boss told me that my IDs were out of date. Yikes. Hoping to get some direction, I stopped at social services and then went to the ID line. The IDs were quickly updated and I got back to work. This time the boss told me that I needed an updated drug screen. Off I went to the clinic where I tested positive. I couldn’t work with a positive test, so I went to church to get to an AA/NA meeting. I then checked in with my probation officer and got a clean drug screen. Back to the transportation line to buy more tickets, then off to work. The bell rang before my shift was up, but the boss was feeling generous so I received a full week's pay.
I finished the month feeling fairly successful, however I had neglected to buy my father a birthday present, nor did I attend my daughter’s graduation or take my dog to the vet (three of the wild cards in my packet). I had been so busy taking care of basic necessities, that I didn’t have time or money for some of my social needs. Apparently this is a common experience for those coming out of incarceration.
Even more common is the fact that close to 30% of those coming out of incarceration are arrested again. In the group of almost fifty that I was a part of, only three of us were NOT jailed again during the simulation. When asked why I thought I had been successful, I honestly answered that I had both lied and cheated the system. After some time to reflect, I recalled a similar state system that I had been enmeshed in when as a single parent, I had four children at home and worked a low wage job. I had learned the importance of being patient, keeping my temper, highlighting the positives and downplaying the negatives.
My big takeaways of the simulation experience? While there is A LOT that I could write about the criminal “justice” system, I’ll keep my comments here focused on my personal learning:
With a college education, knowledge of similar social systems and strong support, I was able to feel successful. But imagine what the result may have been if I’d suffered from mental health issues? Or had less education or support?
Societally there isn’t a lot in place to help folks achieve success upon release from incarceration. The high level of recidivism is understandable.
The “rules” aren’t always good or valid; they are often made to benefit those in power.
People just want to be treated with respect and dignity. Sometimes we forget about the person behind the crime.
What can we do?
There is a lot of money in the Department of Corrections budget- approximately $15 billion in the State of Michigan. Perhaps some of the funds could be reallocated toward assistance in reentry navigation. Legislators are the folks that can enact change at the state level and we ALL vote for them. So VOTE!
Societally, we can be proactive with attempts to set folks up for success. Contributing funds to the following organizations would increase their impact:
Educate yourself and others by participating in a simulation when able and reading through the websites linked above. Become aware of the REAL stories of those who are leaving incarceration.