A member of the Blair County Prison Re-entry Coalition is preparing for a re-entry simulation event at the Federal Correctional Institution in Loretto where he works — and he’s willing to help organize one at the Blair County Prison, if he can get permission from his warden.

Other coalition members would welcome such an opportunity for county inmates to get a feel for the challenges they’ll likely face upon release — and a feel for how to handle those challenges, according to comments at a recent coalition meeting.

FCI Loretto re-entry affairs coordinator Dusty Bassler has accumulated a thick stack of paperwork and has talked to others who’ve done simulations to help him get ready for his own event.

“(Such events) are starting to catch on,” he told other coalition members.

Bassler has learned that “the first one is the hardest,” but he’d also “like to run it the right way the first time,” he said.

Simulations can involve more than a dozen “stations” that represent places and situations inmates are likely to encounter in the outside world, including the probation office, court, the grocery store, a homeless shelter and medical facilities, Bassler said.

Other possibilities are Social Security and welfare offices, the bank and the counselors’ office.

The game requires “Monopoly” money so inmates can pay for the “goods” and “services” they need.

Each inmate gets a “wallet” for that money.

“To make the game somewhat realistic,” Bassler said.

Organizers generally try to obtain individuals to man the stations who have expertise in playing the roles required of them.

Thus, it would be ideal to have a probation officer at the probation station and a judge at “court.”

Knowledgeable individuals can do a better job of sending inmates out to look for housing or of ordering them to take a urine test, Bassler said.

There are coalition members who are suited for roles in such a simulation, said temporary coalition Director Ken Dean.

That includes workers in fields like probation, mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment and housing, he said.

There can be cards drawn by participants that direct them to appointments or experiences.

“Good or bad, at random,” Bassler said. “Like a big board game of life.”

A simulation event would give inmates “an opportunity to see hands-on what they have to take care of, work with and what happens,” Dean said.

It’s not easy for inmates when they leave prison, he said.

In their first few days out, they may need to attend a mental health appointment, get a drug and alcohol assessment and attend a probation meeting — even as they lack a car or money to ride a bus, he said.

It might not be a pleasant experience to contemplate all those responsibilities and their attendant difficulties in anticipation of their release dates, “but it’s always better to know,” Dean said.

“Just because you’re getting out doesn’t mean there are no chains on you anymore,” he added.

Assistance sought

As a followup to a discussion about the coalition’s lack of resources to accomplish its goals, Bassler suggested tapping the faith community.

“Faith-based organizations generally speaking are more than willing to help,” Bassler said.

In some cases that help can be financial or material, and in most cases, it includes manpower, he said.

It can be assistance with clothing, shelters and counseling, he said.

Most faith communities have contractors as members, and some of those contractors may be willing to help with building repairs, he suggested.

“Reach out to faith leaders,” he urged coalition members. “Talk about it at church.”

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.