Incarcerated Individuals Run A Successful Reentry Simulation At Maury CI

HOOKERTON – Successful reentry back into the community for formerly incarcerated individuals has been a priority to Gov. Josh Stein and the Department of Adult Correction. Thanks to the Reentry 2030 initiative and the Division of Rehabilitation and Reentry, awareness has been presented not only to communities across the state but to offenders as well.

Reentry simulations show the trials, tribulations and successes that can take place within the first month an offender leaves a state prison. Think about the needs one would have – identification, transportation, healthcare, employment, income; participants are tasked to complete a host of objectives in 15-minute increments representing one week post-incarceration.

Simulations have been held by various community organizations like Local Reentry Councils, which assist and provide resources to the formerly incarcerated. Colleges and universities have held them to teach students who are interested in pursuing criminal justice or social service careers. 

NCDAC has held a series of simulations at its minimum custody reentry facilities led by Division of Rehabilitation and Reentry Special Projects Administrator Guy Buckner (photo above). Those included the first one for women at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women.

The latest innovative reentry simulation took place in June at Maury Correctional Institution, where for the first time medium custody offenders not only participated but also manned the volunteer tables for:

•    Identification/DMV
•    Rent
•    Social Services
•    Counseling and treatment
•    Banking
•    Discount medical care
•    Homeless Shelter
•    Food assistance
•    SSI/disability/Vocational Rehabilitation/family support
•    Probation
•    Courthouse/jail

“It could have not gone any better,” Buckner said. “The men had fun learning and interacting with each other.”

The event planning began last November, and the exercise was originally scheduled to take place in February. However, poor weather postponed it to June. 

There were 56 participants and 22 “volunteers” who worked the tables. Each participant had “life cards” that guided them through each week. A series of tasks needed to be completed in the “four-week” schedule, starting with having an ID. Some men had IDs in their packets and didn’t have to wait in the long lines – much like a real life experience at a DMV driver license office.

“This was a great experience. I’d like to see it happen again here,” said offender Joshua Worriax, who is scheduled to be released in September. “I have six kids and I know I have to do all of this to be prepared when I get out.”

Offenders who worked the tables received some training on their stations. There were also “peer support” personnel who assisted men who needed help maneuvering the system to receive services.

“I didn’t know anything, and I was kinda scared at first when I came into prison,” said Michael Massenburg, who was convicted of second degree murder in 2007 and is scheduled to be released in 2030. “It’s gotten easier and easier. I hope to be able to do this again. I want to talk to young folks when I get out. This is not a place for anybody.”

Maury Warden Stephen Waddell, who has worked at all security levels in North Carolina, said he was excited to see how this event went and would do it again if asked.

“For the first time having the department do this outside of minimum custody, this went very well,” Waddell said. “It was an honor to be able to do it here. The men were attentive and for them to run this was a great opportunity to learn what they have to look forward to.”
 

Maury’s Assistant Warden for Programs Antoine Ingram was involved in the preparation of the event, along with assistant wardens John Gray and Bradley Fields and their staffs. They had NCDAC staff from across the state and other institutions in attendance to view the event and see the great work done in the preparation.

Ingram said he credits his programs staff – and the offenders -- with how smoothly the event went.

“I had pains in the pit of my stomach before this,” Ingram said. “But the guys were terrific at the tables and warmed up to it as it went on. I have a great programs staff and I rely on them. A lot went into this and now the department has a blueprint to work off of.”

The men were appreciative of not only being able to participate on both sides of the tables but also hearing messages from representatives of Local Reentry Councils, NCDAC social workers and mental health staff from the Eastern Region, and the Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division. To a man, they agreed that they learned more than they thought they would and took the message and exercise seriously.

“This helped us learn there are certain things we have to do before we get out,” said Artemus Nicholson, who manned the very busy ID table. “We know it’s going to take a lot of work and patience.”