Richmond County Re-Entry Council and Trillium Health hosting re-entry simulation

The Richmond County Reentry Council invited Trillium Health Resources to host T-STAR, Trillium Support Transition and Re-Entry Simulation at the Robert L. and Elizabeth S. Cole Auditorium, 1042 Hamlet Avenue in Hamlet on Tuesday, June 25 starting at 8:30 a.m.

Experience a hands-on simulation focused on navigating the transition and re-entry process encountered by justice involved individuals. Participants will learn about the many barriers individuals go through when they are released from jail, such as the difficulties of finding a job, keeping a stable home, going to treatment regularly, and following release rules. The event is free and open to the public and will include an interactive workshop, video presentation, and light refreshments. Registration is strongly encouraged by visiting the T-STAR link at bit.ly/3K47NsW.

The Richmond County Reentry Council is a non-profit organization whose goal is to identify resources available in the local community to provide education, information, and services to justice involved individuals and formally incarcerated persons and their families. Its mission is to collaborate with community resource groups to provide needed services and resources to justice involved individuals to assist in their successful reintegration into society, thereby reducing recidivism, supporting victims, and promoting public safety in Richmond County.

Over 20 counties in the state of North Carolina have local Reentry Councils that serve to prepare justice involved individuals for successful reentry into the community. The Richmond County Reentry Council began meeting in January 2023, and since that time has established a board of directors, created by-laws and a mission statement, and collaborated with several local agencies throughout the county, such as NC Works, Probation & Parole, Department of Social Services, Richmond Community College, and faith based organizations.

According to data from Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit, non-partisan research group, North Carolina has an incarceration rate of 617 per 100,000 people (including prisons, jails, immigration detention, and juvenile justice facilities). Approximately 57,000 North Carolina residents are confined in local jails, state or federal prisons.

More than 15,000 individuals return to their home communities after being released from North Carolina state prisons each year. In fact, about 95% of people in prison will eventually return to their home communities.

Reentry begins on the first day of incarceration. Therefore, to facilitate a successful reentry into the community, programs must begin prior to an incarcerated person’s release from prison. While recognizing the need to address incarcerated individuals during the pre-release phase, the Reentry Council works to identify community agencies to assist with employment, vocational rehabilitation, identification, housing, healthcare, financial literacy, and other services upon their release.

The Reentry Council continues to identify service gaps, develop a network of resources and service providers, foster public awareness to change the perception about returning citizens, promote public safety, and identify potential funding to support our initiatives.

The Reentry Council meets monthly on the third Thursday at 1 p.m. at NC Works Career Center, 115 West Franklin St. in Rockingham.