A groundbreaking program at the Arlington County Detention Facility aims to bridge the divide between incarcerated individuals and the wider community, marking a significant effort in Virginia’s criminal justice landscape.
Hosted by the Frederick Douglass Project for Justice, the recent event offered local residents a unique opportunity to tour the jail and engage directly with those in custody, providing a chance to recognize the shared humanity of incarcerated people.
Around 20 community members participated in the event, which featured an hour-long interaction with about a dozen inmates.
Marc Howard, the organization’s founder, emphasized the importance of empathy, stating, “This could be your son or daughter, your friend — you want them to be treated with the same respect they receive on the outside.”
Sheriff Jose Quiroz expressed a deep emotional response to the proceedings, reflecting on the shared experiences of detainees and community members alike.
“Whether you’re in or out [of incarceration], we’re humans and we feel,” Quiroz said.
The sheriff connected with Howard through a national forum, and the Arlington facility is now one of 25 across 17 states embracing this initiative.
Howard, who also serves as a lawyer and political-science professor at Georgetown University, hopes that the program will inspire greater empathy and concern for incarcerated individuals in Arlington and throughout Virginia.
Participants engaged in an ice-breaking session, fostering connections before delving into deeper discussions over pizza. Conversations ranged from shared interests in comedy and film to more significant topics, highlighting the commonalities that exist between individuals regardless of their circumstances.
One local visitor noted, “We talked about comedians that we knew and movies that we saw, [realizing] we laugh at the same things.”
The program concluded with a reflection session where both detainees and visitors shared their insights. A detainee remarked, “It was pretty interesting. It gave me more hope to get out of here. Change is possible; we can all make a difference.”
Conversely, a visitor shared, “We forget sometimes how easy connections can occur if you try.”
Participants acknowledged that mutual accountability and respect are crucial. One detainee expressed, “It’s going to make us more accountable. You have to task yourself, are you being your best? If you want that level of respect, you have to give it.”
A visitor reflected on the engaging nature of the event, saying, “The time went by so fast. Conversations just flowed. We learned a lot.”
Despite differences, detainees and visitors recognized their shared experiences, with one detainee noting, “Even with the generational gaps, we still had common things to discuss. We all had similar senses of humor.”
Another visitor mentioned their initial lack of specific goals, acknowledging the value of simply connecting with others. “Sometimes it is nice to just sit back … and get to know one another,” they said.
For the detainees, the interaction felt significant, as one noted, “It meant a lot for us. It made me feel like I was getting heard.”
Another voiced, “It definitely made me feel human again.”
Major Juan Gelabert, director of the corrections division at the Sheriff’s Office, affirmed the event’s impact, stating, “There was a lot of engagement. It was well worth it.”
The initiative’s choice to honor Frederick Douglass reflects a commitment to civil rights and dignity. Howard describes Douglass as a historical hero, who fought for freedom through education and is admired for his dignity.
The Arlington jail currently houses approximately 350 individuals, with half of its capacity utilized, comprising both pre-trial detainees and those serving sentences.
Gelabert highlighted the ongoing need for empathetic personnel, stating, “We look for people who are empathetic, who don’t kick people when they’re down. People who safeguard their dignity.”
image source from：arlnow
