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U.S. Attorney’s Office simulation educates on prisoner re-entry

SIMULATION OF PRISONER RELEASE — Wheeling Jesuit criminal justice majors learned the difficulties prisoners face once they are released from behind bars. The students recently got a first-hand glimpse thanks to a simulation sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. -- Contributed

SIMULATION OF PRISONER RELEASE -- Wheeling Jesuit criminal justice majors learned the difficulties prisoners face once they are released from behind bars. The students recently got a first-hand glimpse thanks to a simulation sponsored by the U.S. Attorney's Office. -- Contributed

SIMULATION OF PRISONER RELEASE — Wheeling Jesuit criminal justice majors learned the difficulties prisoners face once they are released from behind bars. The students recently got a first-hand glimpse thanks to a simulation sponsored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. — Contributed

WHEELING — Wheeling Jesuit criminal justice majors got a glimpse of what prisoners go through once they are released from prison thanks to a simulation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

With stations set up around the gymnasium, the students, acting as prisoners recently released from jail, had to go through a process similar to what real prisoners undergo when they re-enter society.

“The simulation gave the students an idea of what it is like for released prisoners to ‘re-enter’ society. They got a first-hand look of some of the problems that exist. For the students, it helped make them aware of the issues they may deal with if they go to work in one of the agencies, such as probation or a social service office,” said Larry Driscoll, associate professor of criminal justice at WJU.

About 40 students played the part of recently released prisoners. They had to navigate through processes for getting an identification card, to finding housing and employment to checking in with their probation officer.

Michael Ames, a Wheeling Jesuit student who participated in the simulation, said the exercise challenged the students to manage weekly activities, like prisoners do, after they are released from prison.

“For me, the most difficult part of the simulation was finding a job. I learned that many people returning to society are trying to navigate the world without any help. Coming from jail already stacks the chips against them, but without help, it is almost impossible to make it. We take for granted how lucky we are to have people in our lives that help us, and how fortunate we are not to be in that situation,” Ames said.

William Ihlenfeld, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, was on hand for the simulation, explaining the re-entry exercise raises awareness with the public about the challenges prisoners face after they are incarcerated.

“The simulation helped the students better understand how difficult this process is for a prisoner,” Ihlenfeld said. “Ninety-five percent of people in jails and prisons come out and two thirds get re-arrested. The more we can do on the front end with housing, employment, etc., the less likely they are to re-offend and get arrested again.”

Terry Huffman of the U.S. Probation Office said to the students “sometimes we lose sight of why we got into this business — to help people. This simulation will show you the many obstacles that can get in (a prisoner’s) way, but also, it will give you an idea of what a prisoner needs to be successful once he or she leaves prison.”

Betsy Jividen, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, explained to the students that each would be given a packet with their identity. She walked them through the different stations, explaining that their actions had consequences.

“You can’t pay your rent, you go over there … to the homeless shelter,” she said pointing to a table designated as for the homeless shelter.

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