SIDEBAR Winter 2019-2020 - 32

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SIDEBAR FEATURE

Judges Take on the
Challenges of Reentry

O

n Wednesday, October 23rd, several of
our esteemed Common Pleas Judges
and Magisterial District Judges were
making questionable deals to secure enough
money to buy food. Others were scrambling
to secure proper ID. Some even landed in
jail. Thankfully, all of this happened only in
the context of an enlightening, challenging and
important simulation exercise which provided
snapshots of what occurs after a person is
released from prison and attempts to reintegrate
into society. The simulation was a part of a
two-hour CJE/CLE through which judges,
lawyers, law clerks and county leaders explored
the significant challenges of reentry. This
informative event was a part of the MBA's Pro
Bono Month activities, and grew from Judge
Carolyn Carluccio's participation in the reentry
simulation conducted at the Montgomery Bar
Foundation's Access to Justice Summit this past
spring. Judge Carluccio was so moved by the
simulation that she suggested the experience be
brought to her fellow judges; she shared the idea
with Judge Steven Tolliver, Lunch and Learn
Series Coordinating Judge, and this unique
learning opportunity grew from there. Judge
Carluccio explained, "Walking in the shoes of
those we sentence is incredibly impactful. We
know the system is in need of refinement, but
exercises like this help us to understand those challenges beyond
the anecdotal, which in turn, allows us to create real solutions."
Each participant assumed the identity of a formerly
incarcerated individual for four, approximately 15-minute
sessions, each representing a week in the life of a former
prisoner. Throughout each session, they were tasked with
completing their court-ordered obligations and maintaining

32 SIDEBAR

their day-to-day lives while trying to avoid
the ever-present possibility of reincarceration.
MBA Leadership Academy participants and
other volunteers manned tables representing the
various organizations returning citizens interact
with (Probation, Clerk of Courts, Housing,
Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Transportation,
etc.) and, as is often the case in the real-life
version of this situation, certainly didn't cut
many breaks. With each passing "week,"
frustration among the participants grew, and it
became clear that the current system is stacking
the odds against the individuals whose return to
society it should be supporting.
The simulation exercise was followed by a
rich discussion of key takeaways and potential
next steps to keep these important conversations
going. Judge Tolliver noted, "It was definitely
a worthwhile experience from a humanitarian
perspective as it enables us to move from being
sympathetic to empathetic both emotionally
and cognitively, to a certain extent. Let's show
some compassion by looking long and hard
for policies that are effective in addressing reentry issues that impact the total well-being of
society."
The topic of Reentry has received significant
focus through the MBA and MBF this year, with
the Access to Justice Summit, the Leadership Academy's Reentry
Day, and MBF grants supporting reentry-related initiatives.
The issue is also one receiving significant attention throughout
the County, and opportunities for meaningful collaborations
between the MBA, MBF, county agencies, and local nonprofits
are plentiful. Be on the lookout for more opportunities to learn
about and help address this important issue in the near future.
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SIDEBAR Winter 2019-2020

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