Simulation Provides First-hand Experience of Barriers Faced When Re-entering Society After Incarceration and/or Homelessness
Salt Lake County, UT—Policy makers, provider agencies, community members, and a variety of professionals will participate in a unique first-hand simulation experience to gain insight into the barriers that individuals face when attempting to re-enter society after incarceration and/or homelessness. Additionally, policymakers and providers will have the opportunity to identify service gaps and areas for improvement.
DATE: Thursday, November 21, 2024
TIME: 9 am-11 am
PLACE: Salt Lake County Government Center, South Building, 2001 South State Street, 1st floor/atrium
Participants are assigned roles/personas and must navigate the various community systems and legal requirements to reintegrate into housing, employment, health care, and other activities of daily living. The simulation reflects a six-week timeframe and participants have eight minutes to move through each week's expectations and stipulations.
"Salt Lake County's re-entry simulation is a transformative experience. It offers participants a first-hand opportunity to experience the challenges people encounter as they transition from incarceration or homelessness back into society." Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform Director Anndrea Wild shared. "What makes this experience so powerful is that is it built on the actual, lived experiences of those reentering society and the very challenging realities they face in reassembling their lives. It showcases how the many systems are often disjointed and can be very frustrating to navigate. Ultimately, this experience builds empathy and an awareness that we not only can but must build better, more connected systems."
At the end of the simulation, participants will share feedback about the process, as well as connect and strategize with other human services and criminal justice providers and policymakers. They will also plan for increased collaboration that is focused on evidence-based practices and improved outcomes. Equally important to behavioral change by those with justice involvement is a system that allows people to more easily navigate a path to success.
The re-entry simulation has been offered five times over the last year. More than 200 human services and criminal justice professionals from across Utah have participated. Professionals hail from Tooele, Bountiful, Heber, Layton, Farmington, and as far south as Hurricane.
Feedback from Previous Re-entry Simulation Participants:
"The re-entry simulation exercise has been instrumental to educating policymakers and service providers across the state. Many of the daily tasks that a lot of us take for granted can quickly become complicated and overwhelming because of the numerous and additional deadlines, stipulations, expectations, and hurdles that people exiting jail or experiencing homelessness encounter. Additionally, the experience highlights the complexities that individuals experience when navigating the multiple systems. My participation in the re-entry simulation continues to inform and guide my program and policy intentions, including the Salt Lake County Human Services, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Action Plan." — Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson
"Participating in the re-entry simulation gave me a glimpse of the challenges our incarcerated and/or homeless community members experience. For example, not having a driver license and trying to navigate getting one. We all know what a pain it is to lose our ID. Imagine being homeless and needing this essential item. The experience of my persona was made even more difficult because the individual was deaf and did not have someone to communicate on their behalf. I can attest that navigating our systems was not easy." — Salt Lake County Council Member Dea Theodore
"Those with firsthand experience rebuilding a life after homelessness or incarceration often describe the process as navigating a maze with walls that constantly shift, and this simulation captures just how overwhelming that journey can be. Experiencing these barriers firsthand shows us that real solutions start with understanding the complexities people face. We owe it to our community to make re-entry less of an obstacle course and more of a clear path toward stability and hope—not just survival." — Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall
"I believe the simulation was right on point. I have tried to navigate this system coming out of homelessness and addiction and failed many times because it was very overwhelming. You did a great job showing that." — Lived-experience volunteer
"As a former front-line worker, I felt like the simulation was an accurate representation of an experience of homelessness, or as close as you can get in a simulated situation." — Long-term volunteer
"I am reevaluating the constraints placed on clients to get set up with our services." — Outreach worker
"I'll push for better integration between the court and other organizations." — Court employee
"It helps me understand that I might be slowing down progress when I take police action against a person who is homeless." — Law enforcement professional
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