Reentry Simulation Exercise

3/30/2023

When Douglas County District Judge Stacey Donovan in 2022 participated in a Douglas County Reentry Simulation exercise, she expected most of the issues would be familiar to her after spending two decades as a public defender representing clients facing felony charges.

“I thought I knew a lot about their struggles, but up until I did the program, I didn’t realize just how everyday little things that we take for granted, like how hard it is to navigate in this world without your ID,” Donovan said.

The simulation is an educational outreach event that Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Reentry staff leads and allows community members, especially those who work in the criminal justice field, to experience challenges that individuals face as they navigate from being in custody back into the community.

DGSO Reentry staff is offering two simulations in 2023, the first one 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 26, at Flory Meeting Hall, 2120 Harper St., at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Register for free using the following link: Link Opens in New Tab

Donovan said she would encouraged fellow judges and anyone who regularly works with people who qualify for indigent services, including assistant district attorneys, attorneys on the indigent defense panel for criminal cases or limited-civil cases, to participate in the simulation this year.

During the exercise, participants are assigned an identity and set of circumstances and work through accomplishing tasks, like to get a government-issued identification and employment, and how to utilize services in the community.

Donovan said the exercise gave her a perspective, especially in court when people who have matters pending discuss issues on why they were not able to accomplish certain things or meet deadlines since the last hearing.

“Hopefully I am a little more patient and a little more knowledgeable about what my expectations should be,” Donovan said. “I think it benefits me as a judge or anyone else as a judge to have a better understanding of what people who are coming before you are going through. If you put yourself in their shoes, it can give you just another step ahead of where you were. Maybe you will think of some things or look at them in a different way than you did before. I never think that can be a bad thing.”

DGSO Reentry staff works with individuals in custody to progress to a successful path into the community. The reentry simulation exercises also highlight services available in Douglas County to help individuals, Donovan said.

“It made me proud, especially the reentry program at the jail,” she said. “I’ve worked in criminal law for more than 25 years, and I think Douglas County should be very, very proud of the things we have to offer.”

To learn more about the importance of the Douglas County Reentry programming and how it can influence people’s lives, watch Brandon Schrimsher’s story at the following link: Link opens in a new tab

Reentry Director Carrie Neis on Reentry Simulations can be watched at the following link: Link opens in a new tab