On a recent Saturday, dozens of visitors convened at the historic Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania to partake in an immersive simulation designed to replicate the challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face upon their reentry into society.
Participants in the event were assigned fictional personas, each complete with criminal histories, housing and employment constraints, and a checklist of essential tasks they were meant to complete, such as securing a job, checking in with parole officers, obtaining transportation, and paying rent.
The simulation aimed to provide attendees with a realistic experience of navigating the obstacles inherent in reintegrating into society, with roughly one hour allotted to fulfill the structured tasks.
Robyn Kelso, a teacher visiting from Kansas, described the experience as both “overwhelming” and “powerful.”
“I wasn’t expecting it to be as difficult as I’m finding it,” she admitted, noting her frustration as she maneuvered through the various stations intended to simulate real-life barriers.
This simulation formed part of Eastern State Penitentiary’s Justice 101 series—an educational initiative that digs into the history of the American justice system from its inception to the present day, exploring its impacts on society.
The series covers a range of critical issues, including solitary confinement, capital punishment, and the broader prison industry.
The objective is to foster dialogue and understanding surrounding complex criminal justice matters.
Eastern State Penitentiary, operational from 1829 to 1971, was known as one of the most famous and costly prisons in the world.
It pioneered the modern concept of pentitentiary—designed not merely for punishment but to inspire penitence through solitary reflection.
Today, it serves as a nonprofit museum dedicated to educating the public on mass incarceration’s history and ongoing repercussions, employing its unique architecture to raise awareness of contemporary justice issues through exhibitions and public programs like Justice 101.
During the simulation, participants interacted with volunteers portraying landlords, employers, social workers, and parole officers, mirroring the cramped and chaotic conditions often experienced in these transitional environments.
Many attendees reported spending significant portions of their time waiting in lines, reflecting the bureaucratic hurdles that real individuals encounter during reentry.
“I want things to flow smoothly, which this is not, but I think that’s by design,” Kelso reflected, acknowledging that the scenario’s complexity was intentional.
In her role as “Laura”—a character with a background including 25 years for murder, drug convictions, and felony possession of a firearm—Kelso faced numerous challenges in her quest to complete her tasks.
With just a high school diploma and $200 in savings, Laura was depicted as living with her boyfriend and working in a fast food restaurant.
Kelso’s first move was to obtain her state ID, a crucial step given that most tasks required multiple forms of identification, including a birth certificate and a Social Security card.
However, when she discovered that Laura’s life card did not include all three IDs, she felt uncertain about her chances of completing the simulation successfully.
Managed to obtain her state ID on her second attempt, Kelso just about made it in time for “week one” to conclued.
Despite her efforts, Laura was deemed unsuccessful, accomplishing only one out of ten goals—failing to secure necessary food and reverting to a shelter after struggling with rent.
Following her ID acquisition, she made her way to the treatment center for drug check-ins, only to find that getting there was no easy feat.
“Got to make sure I’m clean and sober, I guess,” Kelso considered as she jostled through the station’s crowded lines.
Participants were handed “life cards” during the simulation, representing unforeseen life events that complicated their plans.
Kelso’s card mentioned it was Laura’s mother’s birthday, further complicating her obligations as she was expected to procure a gift amid her other responsibilities.
Despite completing a couple of tasks for the week, Kelso noted how difficult it was to keep everything in order.
As the simulation progressed to the second week, she found herself without transportation tickets for getting to the necessary appointments.
This left Kelso feeling flustered and overwhelmed as she navigated the challenges.
The simulation underscored the significant barriers those emerging from incarceration face, including lack of access to IDs, transportation, and housing—a stark reminder of the systemic nature of these issues.
As the simulation concluded after four weeks, Kelso reflected, “I’m beginning to understand why the recidivism rate is so high.
It should not be this complicated.
How are we expecting people to reintegrate successfully in the 21st century when the system feels purposely obstructive?”
In Pennsylvania, over 37,000 individuals are housed in state facilities, with thousands released annually into communities often unprepared to support them effectively.
Unfortunately, many find themselves falling back into patterns that lead to re-incarceration.
A 2023 report from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections revealed that over 60% of those released face rearrest within three years, positioning the state among the top ten nationally for recidivism.
This alarming trend reflects what experts describe as a failure to address the root causes of reentry challenges.
The stigma associated with former incarceration often hinders access to jobs and housing, exacerbating the transitional difficulties for many.
Following the simulation, participants engaged in a debriefing session where they discussed the emotional impact of what they had experienced.
No participants managed to complete all assigned tasks, highlighting the simulation’s purposeful design to illustrate the obstacles faced by real individuals.
One woman shared her frustration over her personal struggle to obtain an ID, having dealt with similar structural barriers that were present in the simulation.
“I’ve been to PennDOT three times.
I still don’t have anything,” she admitted, noting the impossibility of navigating the system with added obstacles.
Emotions ran high during the debriefing, with one young participant expressing sadness over the simulation’s implications, remarking, “How is this okay?
How is this a reality?”
Ryan Serrano-Hall, education manager at Eastern State Penitentiary, explained the simulation’s aim to illuminate the multifaceted challenges facing reintegration.
“People only hear about the system when individuals reoffend, and we rarely spotlight the success stories,” he pointed out.
The collective experience of the participants showed how they grappled with systemic inefficiencies, questioning how anyone, let alone those who have faced incarceration, could navigate such a convoluted system.
Serrano-Hall, drawing from his own experiences with the criminal justice system, emphasized the societal barriers these individuals face.
“Someone who makes a mistake at a young age shouldn’t be defined by that mistake for life,” he urged, highlighting the ripple effects of incarceration that reach families and communities.
This immersive simulation at Eastern State Penitentiary serves as an urgent call to awareness concerning the complexities of reentry, underscoring the essential need for systemic reform to ensure successful reintegration into society for formerly incarcerated individuals.
image source from：https://whyy.org/articles/eastern-state-penitentiary-post-incarceration-program/
